Contract Management Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Neuroscience Center, Suite 3287, 6001 Executive Blvd., MSC 9531, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9531

A -- RESTORATION OF HAND AND ARM FUNCTION BY FUNCTIONAL NEUROMUSCULAR STIMULATION!! SOL RFP No. NIH-NINDS-00-07 DUE 040400 POC Contact Point, Patricia S. Denney, 301/496-1813, Contracting Officer, Kirkland L. Davis, 301/496-9203!! The Repair and Plasticity Cluster of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, has a requirement for the continued research and development of Functional Neuromuscular Stimulation (FNS) systems to restore hand grasp in quadriplegic individuals. Evaluation of these FNS systems will be conducted, in part, in human subjects who have paralyzed upper extremities as a result of upper motor neuron lesions. FNS is being used to restore functional hand movements in quadriplegic individuals by electrically stimulating the paralyzed muscles in their hands and arms. Although the FNS systems provide significant hand function compared to the quadriplegic hand without FNS, further improvement is needed and can be expected with further research. Individuals with the current FNS system still have a performance level well below normal. For example, they are unable to reach overhead because of weakness/paralysis of the muscles that extend the elbow. There is also an inability to pronate the wrist. These both result in a decreased working space for the individual. There is also a need for finer control and better synchronization of hand movements. The proposed research project will include: 1) identify the target populations of individuals who are not candidates for current hand grasp systems because of the level of their injury and devise and develop new FNS systems or enhancements to current systems that provide some hand function to these individuals. Consideration shall be given to control of the elbow and shoulder; 2) evaluate in quadriplegic volunteers, including women and minorities, the performance of these FNS grasp systems; 3) identify extensions of FNS of the upper extremity that could provide improved function to current users of FNS systems and devise and develop methods to provide this improved function to the current users of FNS grasp systems. Consideration shall be given to elbow extension, ease of control, finer control of the hand, sensation, and bimanual FNS; 4) evaluate in quadriplegic volunteers, including women and minorities, the performance of these improved FNS grasp systems; 5) in conducting the research on FNS, a variety of interventions ranging from established surgical techniques such as tendon transfer, nerve transfer and arthodesis to experimental methods such as reinnervation of denervated muscle, functional activation of spinal cord circuitry, and development of new methods to electrically activate paralyzed nerves and muscle can be considered. Personnel with established expertise in neural prostheses, hand surgery, control theory, biomechanics, and biomedical engineering will be needed to perform this research. It is anticipated that one award may be made for a period of four years in September 2000. This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP). THE SOLICITATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY ONLY. It will be available at this website (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/cmb) 15 or more calendar days after the issuance of this synopsis. OFFERORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ROUTINELY CHECKING THIS WEBSITE FOR ANY POSSIBLE SOLICITATION AMENDMENTS THAT MAY BE ISSUED. NO INDIVIDUAL NOTIFICATION OF ANY AMENDMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the agency. Refer to numbered Note 26.**** Posted 01/19/00 (W-SN417038). (0019)

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