BME-Talk #1

Overcoming paralysis with Assistive Technology

Rüdiger Rupp (Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg)

June 17th, 2024, 5:30 pm
Aula, Alte Technik
Rechbauerstraße 12, 8010 Graz

Abstract

A spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to paralysis of lower and in people with cervical SCI also upper extremities. Although a causal therapy is not available, with assistive technology (AT) a substantial improvement of motor functions can be achieved. In incomplete SCI, robotic exoskeletons are nowadays routinely used for training. Spinal cord stimulation holds promise to boost the outcomes beyond the current limits. A complete loss of hand function can be compensated by neuroprostheses based on functional electrical stimulation. Due to current legal constraints, early testing of innovative AT in end-users has become highly challenging.


Bio

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rüdiger Rupp received the Dipl.-Ing. degree in electrical engineering with focus on biomedical engineering and his Dr.-Ing. degree from the Technical University of Karlsruhe, Germany, in 1994 and 2008, respectively. He received his venia legendi in 2018 in Experimental Neurology from Heidelberg University and since 2021 he has a professorship for Assistive Neurotechnology at Heidelberg University.

After working at the Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Biocybernetics (Prof. G. Vossius) until 1996, since 1997 he is with the Spinal Cord Injury Center (Head: Prof. N. Weidner) of Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany, where he holds the position as the head of the section Experimental Neurorehabilitation.

His main research interests are in the field of rehabilitation engineering for people living with spinal cord injury. This includes neuroprosthetics mainly of the upper extremity, man-machine interfaces, gait analysis, development and clinical validation of novel methods and devices for locomotion therapy and realization of software projects for standardized documentation of rehabilitation outcome.

He is author of more than 320 journal, book chapter, textbook and conference publications and holds two patents. He has been awarded several times for his work and is a member of IEEE, IFESS, VDE, DMGP, DGOOC, NervClub, ISCoS and ASIA. Since 2017, he is chair of the ASIA International Standards Committee. He is member of the Board of Directors of ASIA and DSQ and president-elect of the DMGP.

Contact
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Lisa Windisch
CSBME - Markting, PR, Fakultätskommunikation
Graz University of Technology

Email: marketing.csbme@tugraz.at
Phone: ++ 43 873 4055

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