Device boosting brain and body communication in stroke survivors

AND WE WATCHED HOW IT WORKS. >> Alright, let’s do it. ERIKA: SINCE HIS STROKE TWO YEARS AGO, DAVID SULLIVAN HAS HAD TO STRUGGLE USING HIS LEFT SIDE. >> IT’S GOOD. ERIKA: A 40-YEAR-OLD FATHER OF TWO GIRLS, SAYS A LOT IS GOING ON IN HIS HEAD EVERY TIME HE SWINGS A BAT OR PICKS UP A TOWEL. >> EXTEND. NOW I KNOW MY HAND IS OPEN. BEN: AFTER THE STROKE, HIS BRAIN AND BODY COMMUNICATE DIFFERENTLY, OR NOT WELL AT ALL. >> I WORK ON WRIST ROTATION. BE ABLE TO GRAB SOMETHING AND LET GO EASILY. LOTS OF SHOULDER WORK REACHING SHELVES. ERIKA: REPETITION HELPS, BUT SOMETIMES IT’S NOT ENOUGH. AND MANY PATIENTS LIKE DAVID REACH A PLATEAU. >> HE WAS VERY MOTIVATED TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE. ERIKA: TERESA JACOBSON KIMBERLEY UNDERSTANDS DAVID’S FRUSTRATION. A PROFESSOR AT THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS INSTITUTE AT MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL, SHE SPECIALIZES IN REHABILITATION SCIENCE. >> THEN YOU COULD SAY, MOVE YOUR HAND, MOVE YOUR HAND, AND THIS ONE DON’T MOVE. THAT’S NOT ENOUGH OF A SIGNAL TO MAKE IT GO. ERIKA: HIS RESEARCH LEADED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS DEVICE TO HELP BOOST THIS SIGNAL TO THE BRAIN. >> THIS IS NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO JUST HAD A STROKE. IT MAY BE SOMEONE WHO HAD A STROKE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WHO HAS BEEN TOLD THEY HAVE PLATEAU AND WILL NOT IMPROVE. THIS IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR THEM. ERIKA: IT’S THE VIVISTIM SYSTEM. TO WORK, A SURGEON IMPLANTS THIS DEVICE JUST UNDER THE SKIN ON THE CHEST. A WIRE RUNS ALONG THE VAGUS NERVE FROM THE NECK TO THE BRAIN. WHEN ACTIVATED, EITHER AT HOME OR IN REHABILITATION, THE DEVICE SENDS A LIGHT ELECTRIC PULSE THROUGH THE WIRE. >> IT DIRECTLY STIMULATES THE NERVE, WHICH THEN SENDS ITS MESSAGE TO THE BRAIN, HELPING TO RELEASE THE NEUROTRANSMITTERS THAT ARE FORMING, HELPS YOU FORM THE CONNECTIONS YOU NEED FOR THOSE NERVES TO STRENGTHEN. ERIKA: IN CLINICAL TRIALS, PATIENTS WHO USED THE SYSTEM DURING EXERCISES HAD DOUBLE, EVEN TRIPLE, THE IMPROVEMENT AFTER SIX MONTHS. DAVID HAD THE PROCEDURE IN SEPTEMBER. >> IN TWO MONTHS, I WATCHED FOR ARM OR SHOULDER GAINS, SO THAT’S ENCOURAGING. THE HAND IS DEFINITELY SLOWER, BUT I EXPECTED THIS. ERIKA: SUCCESS SO FAR MOTIVATE DAVID TO DO MORE. AND HER DAUGHTERS TOO. BEN: – >> THAT’S MY JOB RIGHT NOW, THAT’S IT. SO EVERY DAY, SEVERAL TIMES A DAY, UM, IT’S CONSTANT. ERIKA: AT THIS TIME, THE VIVISTIM SYSTEM IS ONLY APPROVED TO TREAT UPPER LIMB MOTOR FUNCTION. BUT NEW RESEARCH IS UNDERWAY TO ASSESS ITS IMPACT ON OTHER AREAS, LIKE THE LEGS, AND EVEN SPEECH. TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE TREATMENT, LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE

Device boosting brain and body communication in stroke survivors

Updated: 4:43 PM EST December 7, 2022

After the stroke, David Sullivan’s brain and body communicate differently or not well at all.

After the stroke, David Sullivan’s brain and body communicate differently or not well at all.