Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2021 - BPK 448 D100

Rehabilitation of Movement Control (3)

Class Number: 5794

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 8 – Dec 7, 2021: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 8 – Dec 7, 2021: Wed, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 17, 2021
    Fri, 3:30–5:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    BPK 201 or 207, and BPK 306, or for biomedical engineering students, BPK 201 and 208.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

This course is aimed at students interested in neuromuscular rehabilitation. Students will learn about movement disorders associated with disease or trauma that cause impaired function of sensory and motor systems. The course will be focused on the stages and strategies for recovery of voluntary control of essential functions. The range of rehabilitation interventions available to assist recovery and restore voluntary control will be explored, with special emphasis on advanced techniques to restore control of movement and bodily functions in paralyzed people.

COURSE DETAILS:

13 weeks x 3 Lecture hours per week

Target students are senior biomedical physiology, kinesiology and biomedical engineering majors interested in

  1. The human body’s intrinsic capacity and physiological limitations for recovery from severe neurological trauma or disease that cause paralysis, movement disorders and/or sensory deficits
  2. Current and emerging approaches to restore, augment or replace the functions of affected muscles or organs
  3. Insights on clinical trials, regulatory requirements & commercialization pathway for innovative therapies. 
The course explores a wide range of rehabilitation options and their risks, ethics, costs & benefits. Emphasis will be placed on advanced neuroprosthetic therapies that use targeted electrical stimulation to protect, restore or enhance voluntary control of basic functions and/or support independence in activities of daily living.

TOPICS:    
  • Review of neuromuscular mechanisms for normal movement control
  • Pathologies that affect sensory and motor functions
    • Brain, spinal cord, spinal roots, peripheral nerves, muscles; somatic & autonomic
  • Capacity for self-repair and regeneration after injury of peripheral vs. central neural systems
    • Acute vs. chronic consequences of neurological injury or disease
  • Assessment of functional loss
    • Classification standards for impairment vs. disability
  • Approaches to restoring or replacing lost or diminished neuromuscular function
    • Physiotherapy - pharmacotherapy - surgical reconstruction - targeted electrical stimulation
  • Neural prostheses      
    • Guidelines for safe and effective electrical stimulation of excitable tissues
    • Approaches designed for temporary or permanent interfacing with the nervous system
    • External vs. partially implanted vs. fully implanted neurostimulation systems
  • Neuromodulation for treatment of chronic pain, epilepsy, movement disorders
  • Preventing or restoring impaired motor/sensory function with functional electrical stimulation
  • Neuroprosthetic approaches for voluntary control of artificial limbs
    • Open-loop vs. closed-loop control
    • Tapping available command signal sources for prosthesis control
    • Sensors and sensory feedback sources for prosthesis control
  • The path to commercialization of therapeutic innovations
    • R&D, funding sources, pre-clinical & clinical validation of safety & efficacy, regulatory approval
  • Determinants of commercial viability and market success                
    • Functionality vs. availability vs. cost: meeting expectations of patients, physicians and payers

 

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Describe differences and similarities in the regenerative capacity of peripheral neurons vs. central neurons after injury.
  • Describe reasons for differences in the acute and chronic consequences of brain injuries.
  • Discuss current classification standards for impairment vs. disability after injury or disease.
  • Design basic therapeutic plans for restoring or replacing lost neuromuscular function using physiotherapy, pharmacotherapy, reconstructive surgery and/or targeted electrical stimulation.
  • Apply accepted guidelines for safe and effective electrical stimulation of excitable tissues.
  • For a given impairment, evaluate the relative benefits and drawbacks of neurostimulation systems that use totally external vs. partially implanted vs. fully implanted components.
  • Describe current uses of neuromodulation for treatment of chronic pain, epilepsy and movement disorders.
  • Evaluate possibilities for using neuromodulation to treat additional neurological disorders.
  • Describe uses of functional electrical stimulation to protect muscles from disuse atrophy or to restore muscle strength in disused muscles.
  • Describe neuroprosthetic systems that enhance voluntary control of artificial limbs by amputees.
  • Explain the roles and uses of sensors and sensory feedback for prosthesis control.
  • Describe regulatory requirements to develop, test and commercialize a therapeutic innovation.
  • Analyze the basic determinants of commercial viability and market success for a new therapy.
  • Apply knowledge learned in class to diagnose and “treat” new patient scenarios in exams.
  • Apply knowledge learned in class to evaluate new therapeutic solutions first described in exams.

Grading

  • See below "NOTES" section for Grading Detail 100%

NOTES:

Grading

Midterm 1

Wednesday Sep 29 10:30   

30%

Midterm 2

Wednesday Oct 27 10:30    

30%

Midterm 3

Monday Nov 22 10:30        

30%

Final Exam

TBA 

40%

* Course marks will be based on the best 2 out 3 scores in in-class exams (worth up to 60%) plus the final exam (40%).   

All exams will be closed-book.

REQUIREMENTS:

TEXTBOOK: none 
The instructor will regularly communicate with the students via email.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

LECTURE SLIDES will be posted weekly by instructor in the course website.
Background articles, news will be posted by instructor in the course website.  

RECOMMENDED READING:

Review articles, suggested background articles, news will be posted by instructor in the course website.  

Department Undergraduate Notes:

It is the responsibility of the student to keep their BPK course outlines if they plan on furthering their education.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2021

Teaching at SFU in fall 2021 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with approximately 70 to 80 per cent of classes in person/on campus, with safety plans in place.  Whether your course will be in-person or through remote methods will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes.  You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the fall 2021 term.