Tyler, Dustin, Ph.D.

Research Statement

My research interests are in the areas of neural interfacing and neural prostheses. The neural interface is the interface between man and machine. It presents significant challenges in the development of advanced devices to restore function in neurologically impaired patients.

My research activities in neural interfacing include:

  • Peripheral nerve electrodes for upper and lower extremity neural prostheses.
  • Development of cortical electrodes, particularly examining novel materials and methods of insertion for maximal integration with cortical tissue.

My neural prostheses interests are in stimulation of the larynx. The larynx is an intricate and complicated organ responsible for many functions, ranging from protection of the airway to production of voice. My research activities include:

  • A neural prosthesis for prevention of aspiration in post-stroke patients.
  • Neural prostheses for production of voice.

My fundamental research tools include animal experimentation, clinical studies, histology and immuno-histochemistry and computer modeling and simulation.

 Professional Affiliations

  • Investigator, Cleveland FES Center
  • Associate Director, Cleveland Advanced Platform Technology Center; and Biomedical Engineer,
    Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH
  • Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering,
    Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
  • Bioscientific Staff, Department of  Orthopaedics,
    MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH

 Publications (Select)

  • Schiefer MA, Polasek KH, Triolo RJ, Pinault GC, Tyler DJ. Selective stimulation of the human femoral nerve with a flat interface nerve electrode. J Neural Eng. 2010 Mar 8;7(2):26006. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 20208125
  • Broniatowski M, Grundfest-Broniatowski S, Hadley AJ, Shah NS, Barbu AM, Phillipbar SA, Strohl KP, Tucker HM, Tyler DJ. Improvement of respiratory compromise through abductor reinnervation and pacing in a patient with bilateral vocal fold impairment. Laryngoscope. 2010 Jan;120(1):76-83. PubMed PMID:19877193.
  • Schiefer MA, Polasek KH, Triolo RJ, Pinault GC, Tyler DJ. Intraoperative demonstration of selective stimulation of the common human femoral nerve with aFINE. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2009;2009:610-3. PubMed PMID: 19963718.
  • Polasek KH, Schiefer MA, Pinault GC, Triolo RJ, Tyler DJ. Intraoperative evaluation of the spiral nerve cuff electrode on the femoral nerve trunk. J Neural Eng. 2009 Dec;6(6):066005. Epub 2009 Nov 9. PubMed PMID: 19901448.
  • Polasek KH, Hoyen HA, Keith MW, Kirsch RF, Tyler DJ. Stimulation stability and selectivity of chronically implanted multi contact nerve cuff electrodes in the human upper extremity. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2009 Oct;17(5):428-37.Epub 2009 Sep 22. PubMed PMID: 19775987
  • Fisher LE, Tyler DJ, Anderson JS, Triolo RJ. Chronic stability and selectivity of four-contact spiral nerve-cuff electrodes in stimulating the human femoral nerve. J Neural Eng. 2009 Aug;6(4):046010. Epub 2009 Jul 15. PubMed PMID:19602729.
  • Grinberg Y, Schiefer MA, Tyler DJ, Gustafson KJ. Fascicular perineurium thickness, size, and position affect model predictions of neural excitation. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2008 Dec;16(6):572-81. PubMed PMID: 19144589
  • Fisher LE, Miller ME, Bailey SN, Davis JA Jr, Anderson JS, Rhode L, Tyler DJ, Triolo RJ. Standing after spinal cord injury with four-contact nerve-cuff electrodes for quadriceps stimulation. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2008Oct;16(5):473-8. PubMed PMID: 18990650.
  • Broniatowski M, Grundfest-Broniatowski S, Zobenica NS, Tyler DJ. Artificial manipulation of voice in the human by an implanted stimulator. Laryngoscope. 2008Oct;118(10):1889-93. PubMed PMID: 18758384.

 Research Programs

Contact Information

Contact Name: Dustin Tyler
Contact Number: (216)368-2960
Contact Email: dxt23@case.edu