Orthopaedics’ Katherine Bogie secures nearly $3M research award for the translation of flexSTIM
Katherine Bogie, assistant professor of orthopaedics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and a team of researchers recently secured a research award from the Department of Veterans Rehabilitation Research & Development Service.
This award, worth nearly $3 million, provides valuable funding support for Bogie’s work related to the translation of flexSTIM, a biomimetic implanted pattern generator for effective long-term pressure injury prevention through automated weight shifting and enhanced tissue health. It also supports development and pre-clinical testing of a wireless and fully implantable system for the prevention of pressure injury (PrI) through intermittent gluteal muscle stimulation.
Other CWRU affiliates on Bogie’s team include:
- Christian Zorman, PhD, senior associate dean of research and innovation at Case School of Engineering;
- Mary Kristina Henzel, MD, PhD, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at CWRU School of Medicine; and
- Douglas Shire, PhD, research health scientist at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center and an alumni investigator of the Advanced Platform Technology Center.
The team also is collaborating with Phil Troyk of Sigenics, Raja Hitti of Med-Ally and Dave Keicher.
Through previous studies, the team has found that:
- Long-term use of intermittent gluteal stimulation (iGSTIM) effectively prevents pressure injuries by providing automated weight shifting; and
- Users reported fewer concerns about recurring skin problems and said the system fit seamlessly into their daily lives, but they requested a fully implanted version.
In response, researchers developed the VA-patented flexSTIM implantable system, which enables automated weight shifting at the push of a button. The project will now advance critical preclinical testing needed to support the first human clinical feasibility study.
