Tetragrip II - restoring hand function to people with tetraplegia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
TETRAGRIP II – Usability trial of a FES orthosis for people with tetraplegia.
IRAS ID
238528
Contact name
Ian D Swain
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bournemouth University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Functional Electrical Stimulation is an established technique in which small electrical impulses are used to cause a contraction in muscles and thereby enable movement, in people with neurological or musculoskeletal problems who are unable to undertake those movements themselves. People with spinal cord injuries of the neck at C5, C6 and C7 account for 35% of all spinal cord injuries. Despite this, there is only one commercial FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation) based orthosis currently available. Even that has limitations in that it as it has a single size, rigid exoskeleton, so it does not fit all people who could benefit - also due to its rigidity it does not allow people with lower injuries to utilise any remaining tenodesis grip. As a result, it is not widely used within the spinal injured communities. Therefore what is required is a more flexible system that can benefit a larger number of people whilst still being affordable within the constraints of the NHS. A previous INSPIRE funded project, TETRAGRIP I demonstrated that a surface FES system controlled by an inertial sensor, measuring movement of the opposite shoulder, could meet this specification and was successfully tried on two people with tetraplegia. What is now required is a more detailed study in which the principle components of that system are incorporated into a practical system suitable for use at home without clinical supervision. It is therefore proposed to develop and build such a system which ten people with tetraplegia will try in the clinic and then to conduct extended home based use in three of those people.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/PR/1228
Date of REC Opinion
26 Oct 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion