Peckham, P. Hunter, Ph.D.

Research Statement

Electrical activation of the paralyzed neuromuscular system (functional electrical stimulation-FES) provides a means for restoration of control of the paralyzed extremities. My research involves the development of neuroprostheses that use FES to restore hand/arm control to individuals of cervical level spinal cord injury (quadriplegia). Research activities focus on:

  • FES systems for control of the extremity including acquisition of myoelectric control information, activation and coordination of multiple muscles to produce synthesized movement, and sensory feedback.
  • Implantable FES systems including sensors, telemetry, stimulators and electrodes.
  • Evaluation of neuroprostheses supplying upper extremity function in human subjects.

Professional Affiliations

    • Executive Director, Cleveland FES Center
    • Donnell Institute Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Professor of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
    • Senior Research Career Scientist, and Biomedical Engineer, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH
    • Director of Orthopaedic Research, Member Bio-scientific Staff MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH

    Publications (Select)

      • Kilgore KL, Peckham P, Keith MW. Twenty year experience with implanted neuroprostheses. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2009;2009:7212-5. PubMed PMID:  19965280.
      • Wheeler CA, Peckham PH. Wireless wearable controller for upper-limb neuroprosthesis. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2009;46(2):243-56. PubMed PMID: 19533538.
      • Pancrazio JJ, Peckham PH. Neuroprosthetic devices: how far are we from recovering movement in paralyzed patients? Expert Rev Neurother. 2009 Apr;9(4):427-30. PubMed PMID: 19344294; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2685465.
      • Kilgore KL, Hoyen HA, Bryden AM, Hart RL, Keith MW, Peckham PH. An implanted upper-extremity neuroprosthesis using myoelectric control. J Hand Surg Am. 2008 Apr;33(4):539-50. PubMed PMID: 18406958; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2743484.
      • Ackermann DM Jr, Smith B, Wang XF, Kilgore KL, Peckham PH. Designing the optical interface of a transcutaneous optical telemetry link. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2008 Apr;55(4):1365-73. PubMed PMID: 18390327; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2676105.

      Research Programs

      • Implantable FES for Control of the Extremities in Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Veterans Affairs
      • Multichannel Implantable System for Neural Control, National Institutes of Health
      • Development of Networked Implantable Neuroprosthesis, National Institutes of Health
      • Biomedical Research and Technology Transfer Partnership Award, Neurostimulation and Neuromodulation Partnership, State of Ohio
      • Restoration of Hand-Arm Function with Neuroprostheses
      • Cleveland Center of Excellence in Functional Electrical Stimulation
      • Implanted Myoelectric Control for Restoration of Hand Function in SCI

      Co-Investigator

      • Restoration of Hand and Arm Function by Functional Neuromuscular Stimulation, National Institutes of Health

      Contact Information

      Contact Name: Laura Polacek
      Contact Number: (216)778-3480
      Contact Email: lkp3@case.edu, pxp2@case.edu