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SMART Network New Website

Facilities: A Closer Look

Device Development & Biological testing

The Device Development and Biological Testing Core supports discovery work in the nervous system, prototyping of innovative implantable and wearable medical devices, testing of neuro-inflammation and biological reactivity to implantable micro-technologies.​  A Quality Management System (QMS) for medical device development has been implemented to prepare our devices for manufacturing and ensure regulatory compliance.

This core houses the only Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) preclinical testing facility in Western Canada.  It supports the completion of preclinical research services to help University researchers and client companies develop therapeutic products or establish product safety in compliance with regulatory approval under the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Good Laboratory Practice regulations or FDA 21CFR Part 58.

Micro-engraving on a platinum ribbon

Spinal cord micro-implant

Laser-microfabricated polymer multi-electrodes

3D imaging of micro-structures

Laser fabricated micro-gears

Nanosecond  & femtosecond lasers

Laser micro-channels in acrylic and aluminum

Laser fabricated micro-fluidic devices

Fiber laser micro-welding

Laser micro-fabrication suite

Device development & Biological Testing: Capabilities

  • Developing and testing interventions that improve mobility and prevent secondary complications after neural injury or disease.
  • Investigation of the physiological, cellular and moDeveloping new strategies and therapeutics to improve device compatibility and integration with
    ​the central nervous system
  • Studying the relationship between inflammation and psychiatric disorders, neurodegenerative disorders and implanted device biocompatibility
  • Studying the bidirectional relationship between inflammation and neuropathology
  • Identifying, targeting and modulating specific microglial phenotypes to promote recovery or repair of injured tissue
  • 3D hydrogel culture for testing impact-induced injury and device biocompatibility
  • Development, design and prototyping techniques applied to Micro and Nano-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS/NEMS) and applying it in sensors used in remote Structural Health Monitoring of critical systems such as pipelines, civil transportation systems, automotive and aerospace systems
  • Intraspinal microstimulation (ISMS) is micro-device for restoring standing and walking in people with paralysis due to spinal cord injury
  • Implanted in the spinal cord below the level of an injury and minute levels of current are
    delivered to activate remaining locomotor-like networks that then activate muscles in the legs ​in a coordinated manner
  • Developing the device for long-term testing in persons with spinal cord injury
  • Advancing the development of models and instrumentation to study the biomechanics of injuryand protection devices
  • Developing miniature stimulators and sensors for wearable devices for biomedical applicationsand biomechanical assessment of human motion
  • Miniature stimulators for devices such as the SOCC (Smart Ongoing Circulatory Compressions)
    for preventing the formation of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  • Lends support to numerous projects requiring microfabrication
  • Experience with polymer and standard micromachining technologies with applications in the field of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), microfluidics, soft robotics, nerve injury and bioinspired systemslecular ramification of injury
  • Studying injury biomechanics and instrumentation such as impact exposure in athletes
  • Developing methods to enhance neuroplasticity to improve the effects of rehabilitation and functional outcomes
  • Work in restoring the gut microbiome resulting in improvements in anxiety (mental health) in rodents with spinal cord injury
  • Research investigations involving persons with spinal cord injury
  • Developed a functional electrical stimulation (FES)-assisted arm and leg cycling paradigm that has resulted in larger improvements in over-ground walking capacity than those produced by paradigms focused on training the legs alone
  • Developing methods to combine the use of FES and exoskeletons to improve mobility in people with paralysis
  • Combining FES for active contraction of muscles with exoskeletons, which passively move the legs, to produce longer walking distances than currently
  • Developing slimmer and lighter exoskeletons with batteries that can last for longer durations than currently possible
  • Developing interventions to prevent secondary complications associated with neural injury or disease
  • Developing surface electrical stimulation and training paradigms that would reduce spasticity in individuals with spinal cord injury and stroke
  • Investigating factors leading to deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  • Validating and implementing wearable devices and digital solutions in the treatment of respiratory diseases

Sampling in biological testing

Device Development & Biological testing: Equipment

Device Development

Device Development

Device Development

  • Laser microfabrication suite
    • ​​Femtosecond laser 
    • Optical profiler 
    • ​Fibre laser micro-welder 
    • Excimer nanosecond laser
    • Phenom XL scanning electron microscope
    • Industrial grade dual extrusion 3D printer
    • 3-axis vertical HAAS CNC milling machine
    • 5-axis bench top CNC milling machine
    • Stereolithic apparatus printer
  • Micro system analyzer with scanning laser vibrometry, topography measurement, planar motion analysis, high frequency and dual dual beam measurement option
  • Beveller Suite, function generators, power supplies, oscilloscopes and wet bench  microscopes
  • Electrochemical Testing: cyclic voltammetry electrical impedance spectroscopy and voltage transients
  • Micromanipulators, soldering stations and  microeclectrode arrays​
  • Spin Coater

Tissue Processing

Device Development

Device Development

  • Low rpm centrifuge
  • Refrigerated microfuge centrifuge
  • Microplate reader and washer
  • Infrared imaging system
  • Ultra-low freezer
  • Milli Q Water purification System
  • Microtome
  • Cryostats
  • Confocal fluorescent Inverted microscope
  • Upright Fluorescent microscope
  • Multi-photon microscope
  • Ultrasonic System
  • Neural Signal Processor



High Throughput Cell Culture


  • Cell counter
  • Digital inverted microscope 120V
  • Digital water bath
  • Autoclave
  • Universal water jacketed C02 incubator
  • Stereomicroscope
  • Digital shaking incubator
  • Biosafety cabinet
  • Allevi 3 ​Bioprinter
  • Multi-channel microstimulators​

Engineering

Device Development

Engineering

  • Custom adhesion test system (useful for the gecko adhesive work and other soft materials characterization)
  • Ultrasonic welder
  • Laminators
  • Customized FDM 3D printers
  • Screw extruders
  • Vacuum ovens
  • Microinjection molder
  • 3-roll mill
  • Twin-screw polymer compounder and glove box for carbon based nanoparticle handling
  • Optical and IR imagery
  • Custom optical and electronic transducers



Diagnostic Equipment


  • Urisys 1100
  • Procyte DX Hematology Analyzer​

Sensorimotor Integration & Machine Learning

The Sensorimotor Integration & Machine Learning core focuses on enhancing the function and acceptability of advanced assistive devices (e.g., exoskeletons, artificial limbs and neural prostheses) by addressing the human-machine interface, resulting in more efficient cooperative interactions. 

This core also aims to reduce the cognitive burden of controlling a device by endowing the devices with intelligence using cutting-edge machine learning approaches.

Motion markers, eye tracking

Nao, bipedal robot

Makerbot, 3D Printer

AX-18 Smart Arm

Bento Arm and HANDi Hand

Sensorimotor & Machine Learning: Equipment and Capabilities

Equipment

Capabilities

Capabilities

  • Modular prosthetic limb
  • Bipedal robots
  • Wireless electromyography systems​
  • Cyberglove
  • Real-time machine learning
  • Mac mini servers
  • 3D printer
  • Eye tracking system
  • Bento arm
  • Handi-hand
  • ​Brachioplexus





Book equipment

Capabilities

Capabilities

Capabilities

  • Validated gaze and movement assessment technology
  • Effective sensory-motor training strategy for prosthesis control
  • Studying the effects of an innovative augmented sensory feedback protocol for motor control training using a virtual environment and a desktop mounted robotic arm
  • Developing an inexpensive, modular prosthetic socket platform to reduce time and resource costs for evaluation of myoelectric control
  • Determining if the use of the 3D-printed modular socket is quantitatively and qualitatively similar to that of a user-specific prosthetic socket
  • Exploring integration of sensory feedback systems into our modular sockets
  • Development and translation of the Gaze and Movement Analysis (GaMA), a novel testing protocol using synchronized motion and eye tracking to explore and quantify human visual-motor behaviour during goal-directed reaching tasks
  • Translation of this metric to other sites in North America
  • Conducting studies on lower limb osseointegration (direct skeletal fixation of a prosthesis)

Rehabilitation Innovations

The Rehabilitation Innovations core develops new rehabilitation interventions that harness multiple networks in the nervous system for restoring function using innovative training strategies augmented with pharmacological assistance, cell-based therapies and devices.

This core also promotes the development of cost-effective interventions for preventing secondary complications after neural injury ​or disease.

Impactor
(assesses impact to head)

Redliner
(to assess shoulder exertion)

PEDAR
(pressure sensing insoles)

FES Bike

Indigo FES powered exoskeleton

Rehabilitation Innovations: Equipment

  • Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer​​
  • High-density EMG system
  • Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulator
  • Bodyweight supported walking system
  • ​Woodway treadmill with embedded force plates
  • Electrophysiological amplifier systems
  • Digitimer stimulators
  • Transcranial magnetic stimulator system
  • Motion analysis systems

  • Vicon motion tracking system
  • Functional electrical stimulation (FES) bikes (Ergys, RTI and Birkel bikes)
  • Indego FES powered exoskeleton
  • Bilateral Kinarm exoskeleton
  • Injury assessment models
  • Force Plates
  • Inertial sensors
  • Electromyography - Wired and wireless systems
  • Pressure insoles
  • Galvanic skin response sensor


Book equipment

  • ​Wobble board
  • Caren system
  • Electroencephalography  ​(EEG) system
  • High speed camera system
  • High rate transducers
  • Data acquisition systems
  • ​Biomechanical impact assessment equipment
  • Examination beds
  • Person transfer systems
  • ​Pressure mattress systems
  • Sewing machines

rehabilitations Innovations: Capabilities

  • Developing and testing interventions that improve mobility and prevent secondary complications after neural injury or disease.
  • Investigation of the physiological, cellular and molecular ramification of injury
  • Studying injury biomechanics and instrumentation such as impact exposure in athletes
  • Developing methods to enhance neuroplasticity to improve the effects of rehabilitation and functional outcomes.
  • Work in restoring the gut microbiome resulting in improvements in anxiety (mental health) in rodents with spinal cord injury
  • Research investigations involving persons with spinal cord injury
  • Developed a functional electrical stimulation (FES)-assisted arm and leg cycling paradigm that has resulted in larger improvements in over-ground walking capacity than those produced by paradigms focused on training the legs alone
  • Developing methods to combine the use of FES and exoskeletons to improve mobility in people with paralysis
  • Combining FES for active contraction of muscles with exoskeletons, which passively move the legs, to produce longer walking distances than currently
  • Developing slimmer and lighter exoskeletons with batteries that can last for longer durations than currently possible
  • Developing interventions to prevent secondary complications associated with neural injury or disease
  • Developing surface electrical stimulation and training paradigms that would reduce spasticity in individuals with spinal cord injury and stroke
  • Investigating factors leading to deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  • Validating and implementing wearable devices and digital solutions in the treatment of respiratory diseases

EEG and bilateral kinarm

Robotics & Virtual REality

The Robotics & Virtual Reality core develops virtual and augmented reality applications for diagnosis of the impact of injury or disease, rehabilitation training and evaluation of functional outcomes, innovative telehealth applications to provide care in remote communities as well as providing an effective new medium for learning.

Virtual Reality Cube

VR headset

Vertetrack

Robotics assisted surgery

Motion capture cameras

Medbike

Robotics & Virtual reality: Equipment and Capabilities

Equipment

Equipment

Equipment

  • Virtual reality immersion system
  • Portable metabolic analysis device
  • Wheelchair ergometer & simulator
  • Optotrack Certus system
  • Computing equipment


Equipment

Equipment

  • Augmented Reality (AR)/​Virtual Reality (VR) systems
  • Tele-rehabilitation
  • Biomechanics and low back pain

Book equipment

Capabilities

  • Developing AR/VR simulations for education and health care
  • Developing Tele-Rehabilitation 2.0 (or Tele-Rehab 2.0) – a program that uses technology to mediate communication between remote patients/clinicians and urban specialists
  • Working on providing equal access to quality care for all Albertans, regardless of identity or abilit
  • Simulations by applying video game development strategies, including programming and digital art expertise and incorporation artificial intelligence
  • Wheelchair biomechanics, which involves understanding the most efficient ways in which manual wheelchair users (MWUs) can propel themselves
  • Filling these gaps by using an immersive, virtual world where the participant can go through similar real-world movements within the stationary confines of a VR cube
  • Capturing recordings that would be otherwise difficult in the real-world, including motion capture, electromyography and metabolic analysi
  • Development of technology interfaces and manipulators for children who have physical and communicative impairment
  • Development of new techniques for telemedicine, patient-specific modeling using sensor fusion, and the application of telepresence technologies to medical training, simulation, and collaborative diagnostic
  • Developing new technologies to assess spinal structure and function, then using those technologies to evaluate various clinical intervention
  • Studying haptics and telerobotics, surgical and therapeutic robotics, and image-guided surgery

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SMART Network Centre

Katz Group Centre for Pharmacy and Health Research, 87 ave and 114 st, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1G7, Canada

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