Development of an implantable wireless ECoG 128ch recording device for clinical brain machine interface.

Brain Machine Interface (BMI) is a system that assumes user's intention by analyzing user's brain activities and control devices with the assumed intention. It is considered as one of prospective tools to enhance paralyzed patients' quality of life. In our group, we especially focus on ECoG (electro-corti-gram)-BMI, which requires surgery to place electrodes on the cortex.

Quality assurance: recommended guidelines for safe heating by capacitive-type heating technique to treat patients with metallic implants.

This article is a redissemination of the previous Japanese Quality Assurance Guide guidelines. Specific absorption rate and temperature distribution were investigated with respect to various aspects including metallic implant size and shape, insertion site, insertion direction, blood flow and heating power, and simulated results were compared with adverse reactions of patients treated by radio frequency capacitive-type heating. Recommended guidelines for safe heating methods for patients with metallic implants are presented based on our findings.

Swallow stent with hyperthermia function.

An operation of an esophagus cancer is one of the most difficult operations even now, when medicine progressed. One of the most important points is the difficulties of esophagus reconstruction. In an operation, since the stomach and intestines are used as a substitute, an invasion becomes large and an operation of elderly people becomes difficult.

Preclinical development of SMA artificial anal sphincters.

This article presents some progress in the development for preclinical trials of an artificial anal sphincter using shape memory alloys. The novel device has been proposed and developed by the author's group at Tohoku University. It has two dominant features different from other systems, which are either clinically available or still under development.

Development of the pulsation device for rotary blood pumps.

A rotary blood pump (RP) is desirable as a small ventricular assist device (VAD). However, an RP is nonpulsatile. We tried to develop a device that attaches a pulse to the RP.

Addition of rhythm to non-pulsatile circulation.

The development of a rotary blood pump (RP) is desirable as it can be used as a small ventricular assistance device (VAD). However, a RP does not generate any pulse. It may be physiologically better for the patient if the RP could generate a pulse.

The possibility of muscle tissue reconstruction using shape memory alloys.

Severe dysfunction of muscle tissues can be treated by transplantation but the success rate is still not high enough. One possibility instead is to replace the dysfunctional muscle with artificial muscles. This article introduces a unique approach using shape memory alloys (SMAs) to replace the anal sphincter muscle for solving the problem of fecal incontinence.

Development of an implantable undulation type ventricular assist device for control of organ circulation.

It is well known that a rotary blood pump (RP) is effective as a small ventricular assist device (VAD). It might be still more effective if pulsation was available. The undulation pump (UP), which is a type of small RP, can also produce pulsation.

Component engineering for an implantable system.

Component engineering is important for the development of implantable-type rotary blood pumps (RP). The authors are conducting elementary development of an implantable artificial heart. A sensor system detects information in the living body.

Functional evaluation of an artificial anal sphincter using shape memory alloys.

This article describes an implantable artificial anal sphincter using shape memory alloys and its in vivo assessment in porcine models. The new design was developed as a low invasive prosthesis with a simple structure to solve the problem of severe fecal incontinence in patients with hypoplastic sphincters or without anal sphincters and especially for ostomates. The artificial anal sphincter consists of two shape memory alloy (SMA) plates as the main functional parts to perform two basic functions when the SMA artificial sphincter is fitted around intestines (i.

Artificial myocardium with an artificial baroreflex system using nano technology.

Where is the place which should be helped in a patient with congestive heart failure? The answer may be contraction of the heart. At Tohoku University, development research of "the artificial myocardium" has been conducted, using a ball screw type electromagnetic motor. Furthermore, super-miniaturization is being attempted at present.

Recent progress in artificial organ research at Tohoku University.

Tohoku University has developed various artificial organs over the last 30 years. Pneumatic driven ventricular assist devices with a silicone ball valve have been designed by the flow visualization method, and clinical trials have been performed in Tohoku University Hospital. On the basis of these developments, a pneumatic driven total artificial heart has been developed and an animal experimental evaluation was conducted.

Fluctuations of the Hemodynamic Derivatives During Left Ventricular Assistance Using Oscillated Blood Flow.

To analyze the autonomic nervous system during left heart bypass with a vibrating flow pump (VFP), fluctuations in hemodynamic derivatives were evaluated by the spectral analysis method using fast fourier transform methodology. After the left pleural cavity was opened through the fourth intercostal space under general anesthesia, a VFP was implanted as the left heart bypass device in chronic animal experiments using 3 healthy adult goats. Hemodynamic parameters with and without VFP assistance were recorded on magnetic tape in awake animals and were analyzed by computer through an analog to digital convertor.