At present, although there are steroidal medications that reduce local inflammatory reactions and local anesthetics that block sensory nerve fibers, there are no medications that act directly to supress the sensation of itch by inhibiting the response of the itch-signaling receptors thatinnervate… More

During the tenure of this grant, topical testing will build,test, and evaluate a prototype model of its automated tactile tester. this device is designed to provide for repeatable, reliable, and largely automated testing of touch, temperature, and pain sensations from the skin as a diagnostic tool… More

Topical testing proposes the development of a non-invasive device to monitor core temperature by sampling the maximum temperature of the respiratory air during expiration. phase i development will examine the feasibility of using a fast-rise time thermistor to monitor the temperature of the… More

Functional neuromuscular stimulation is a new method of assisting paraplegic patients in leading productive lives. with this technique, electrical stimulating electrodes are placed over the peripheral nerves that innervate specific muscle groups in the lower limbs. when the nerves are stimulated in… More

The automated tactile tester performs repeatable, reliable, and largely automated testing of touch, temperature, and pain sensations from the skin. it is intended for use as a diagnostic tool in evaluating peripheral and central neuropathies and for experimental studies of somatic sensation. the… More

At present, no drugs have been developed that act directly to suppress the sensation of itching by inhibiting the response of the itch-signaling receptors that innervate the skin, in spite of the fact that there is a potentially large market for such products. unlike pain research where there are… More

Due to the basic nature of military operations, it is sometimes necessary for air force personnel to be exposed to toxic chemicals in their work environment either as a protracted low-level exposure or as a high-level, acute exposure. the application herein proposes to use the anterior eye (cornea… More

Measurement of core temperature remains a significant problem, especially in hypothermic environments. oral temperature readings are inaccurate and inappropriate for some types of patients. rectal temperatures also often do not reflect true core temperature readings, are often considered invasive,… More

We will use the anterior eye (cornea and conjunctiva) and its sensory innervation as an assay of irritancy and toxic effects. the anterior eye has unique characteristics: extensive use in toxicology, permeability, relative ease of observation, and importance to the input of visual information. in… More

Functional neuromuscular stimulation is a new and potentially viable method of assisting paraplegic patients in leading productive lives. with this technique, electrical stimulating electrodes are placed over the peripheral nerves that innervate specific muscle groups in the lower limbs. when the… More