Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation as a Novel Non-Invasive Therapeutic Approach for Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain
As a leading cause of disability worldwide, chronic low back pain (cLBP) represents a significant medical and socioeconomic problem with estimated health care spending of $87 billion/annually. Currently, epidural electrical spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is one of the most efficacious therapies for combating cLBP and reducing opioid utilization for managing cLBP symptoms. This CDMI project is focused on investigating the application of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation as a novel non-invasive alternative to implantable SCS devices for cLBP. Successful outcomes of this study will open avenue for investigation of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation to treat other chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Jeannie Bailey
Trainee: Anastasia Keller
Feasibility and Utility of Point of Care Ultrasound-Based Bone Density and Lumbar Muscle Assessment in Preoperative Planning for Reconstructive Spine Surgery
This study will evaluate the implementation and utility of novel POC AI-enabled US (REMS + B-mode) in the Spine Clinic setting. This is a portable FDA approved device that may enable Point of Care (POC) assessment of bone density, fracture risk, and lumbar paraspinous muscle metrics which are felt valuable in diagnosing bone and muscle conditions and potentially will be valuable in risk prediction and Clinical Decision Support in the care of patients in need of reconstructive Spine Surgery. This POC AI-enabled US has the following advantages over currently used DXA: no ionizing radiation; portable device (point of care application); decreased delay in scheduling; increased access to more patients; decreased cost.
Principal Investigator: Aenor Sawyer
Principal Investigator: Sigurd Berven
Trainees: Ayush Arora, Caressa Chen
Developing a Useful, Usable, and Desirable Case Hook Design that Reduces the Demands on the Back and Shoulder Muscles When Grocery Selectors Are Picking From 2-Tier Racks
Case hooks are tools that can be used by product selection personnel in distribution centers to help them reach the boxes located on the back half of a pallet. This study aims to develop a case hook design that effectively reduces the biomechanical loads during 2-tier picking in distribution center operations, and is perceived by selectors to be useful, usable, and desirable, thus making it more likely that case hooks will be routinely used by selectors in case pick operations.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Carolyn Sommerich
Principal Investigator: Dr. Steven Lavender
Trainee: Anas Kachlan
