Implants

Robovox

Soft robotics for restoration of voice, breathing and swallowing. Our role is to produce an implant to record muscle responses to control an artificial larynx (for laryngectomy patients). This project is funded by the Wellcome Trust (FEC value: £2,310,309).

Project team

Prof. Martin Birchall | UCL Ear Institute (PI)
Dr Anne Vanhoestenberghe | Aspire CREATe
Dr Henry Lancashire | Aspire CREATe
Dr Kylie de Jager | Aspire CREATe
Johnny McNulty | Aspire CREATe
Prof. Wenhui Song | Surgical Biotechnology
Mr. James Graveston | UCL Ear Institute
Prof. Jonathan Rossiter | University of Bristol

Capitel

Our role is to produce an implantable device capable of recording the activity of up to six muscles and sending the signals to an external device (e.g., controlling a prosthetic limb). This project is funded by the charity Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust (RAFT).

Project team

Dr Anne Vanhoestenberghe (PI)
Dr Michael Mentink
Dr Steve Taylor
Dr Kylie de Jager

More Aspire CREATE research

Human Machine Interaction

Concept image. Medic touches digital screen showing brain activity

Human Machine Interaction

Our work focuses in three areas: brain-computer interfaces (hardware and software), haptics, and adaptive shared control systems that assist when needed.

Neuromodulation

Neuromodulation

Neuromodulation is the use of technology in delivering electrical or pharmaceutical agents to affect nerve activity.

Mobility devices

Man with amputations gets attached to assistive technologies

Mobility devices

We work on mobility to improve the lives of paraplegic people, from assistive technologies for wheelchairs to offering new and alternative ways to have fun or exercise.

About Aspire CREATE

Navigate to Aspire Create

A projection mapping demonstration. A model wearing sensors stretches into a pose and a silhouette is shown on a monitor screen

Aspire Create

The Centre for Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology (Aspire CREATE) is an exciting joint research venture working to improve the quality of life of people with spinal cord injuries.

Our experts

Professor Steve Taylor

Professor of Musculoskeletal Instrumentation and Telemetry

Dr Henry Lancashire

Lecturer

Professor Wenhui Song

Professor of Biomaterials and Medical Engineering

Professor Martin Birchall

Chair of Larynogology

Dr Anne Vanhoestenberghe

Honorary Associate Professor (2014-2022)

Funding / Partnerships

Select publications

Jiang, D., Liu, F., Lancashire, H.T., Vanhoestenberghe, A., et al. (2021). A Versatile Hermetically Sealed Microelectronic Implant for Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Applications. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 15, 681021.
McNulty, J., de Jager, K., Lancashire, H.T., Graveston, J., Birchall, M. & Vanhoestenberghe, A. (2021). Prediction of larynx function using multichannel surface EMG classification. IEEE Trans Med Robot Bionics. Nov, 3(4),1032-1039.
Lancashire, H.T., Habibollahi, M., Jiang, D. & Demosthenous, A. (2021). Evaluation of Commercial Connectors for Active Neural Implants. 2021 10th International IEEE/EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering (NER), 973-976.
Lancashire, H., de Jager, K., Graveston, J., Birchall, M., Vanhoestenberghe, A., Rossiter, J., et al. (2021). An Assistive Coughing Device for Post-Laryngectomy Patients. IEEE Trans Med Robot Bionics, Jul 28,3(3), 838-846.
McNulty, J., de Jager, K., Lancashire, H., Graveston, J., & Vanhoestenberghe, A. (2020). Surface EMG of Larynx Functions [Dataset]. IEEE DataPort.
de Jager, K., Mentink, M., Lancashire, H., Al-Ajam, Y., Taylor, S. & Vanhoestenberghe, A. (2019). Characterisation of a multi-channel multiplexed EMG recording system: towards realising variable electrode configurations. Presented at: BIOCAS19.
de Jager, K., Lancashire, H., Graveston, J., Vanhoestenberghe, A., & Rossiter, J., et al. (2019). CoughAid - an Assistive Device for Cough Insufficiency. Presented at: BioMedEng19.
Rojas, M. A., Donaldson, N., Lancashire, H. & Phillips, J. (2019). Design and Development of an Implanted Biohybrid Device for Muscle Stimulation Following Lower Motor Neuron Injury. Presented at: ISPNR.
Lancashire, H., de Jager, K., Graveston, J. & Vanhoestenberghe, A. (2019). ECG reduction in thoracic EMG during coughing with the Teager-Kaiser Operator. Presented at: BioMedEng19.

Related courses

Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Healthcare & Rehabilitation MSc

Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Healthcare & Rehabilitation MSc

This MSc teaches the scientific principles of physical therapy and allows you to experience the clinical application of specialist rehabilitation techniques.

Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technologies MSc

Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technologies MSc

This MSc focuses on the design, development and clinical application of new rehabilitative and assistive technologies to help restore motor functions.