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.

Areas of Interest

  • 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.

Research Activities

  • A neural prosthesis for prevention of aspiration in post-stroke patients
  • Neural prostheses for production of voice
  • Animal Experimentation
  • Clinical Studies
  • Histology and Immuno-histochemistry
  • Computer Modeling and Simulation

Research Programs

  • Electrical Activation of Afferent Nerves to Restore Bladder Function
  • Producing micturition by combined afferent and efferent electrical stimulation
  • Development of a muscle-powered piezoelectric energy convertor.

Publications (Select)

Entire publication list can be found here.

  • Graczyk EL, Delhaye BP, Schiefer MA, Bensmaia SJ, Tyler DJSensory adaptation to electrical stimulation of the somatosensory nerves. J Neural Eng. 2018 Aug;15(4):046002. doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/aab790. Epub 2018 Mar 19. PubMed PMID: 29551756; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6034502
  • Charkhkar H, Shell CE, Marasco PD, Pinault GJ, Tyler DJ, Triolo RJ. fHigh-density peripheral nerve cuffs restore natural sensation to individuals with lower-limb amputations. J Neural Eng. 2018 Jun 1;15(5):056002. doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/aac964. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29855427.
  • Brill NA, Naufel SN, Polasek K, Ethier C, Cheesborough J, Agnew S, Miller LE, Tyler DJEvaluation of high-density, multi-contact nerve cuffs for activation of grasp muscles in monkeys. J Neural Eng. 2018 Jun;15(3):036003. doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/aa8735. Epub 2017 Aug 21. PubMed PMID: 28825407; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5910281.
  • Brill NA, Tyler DJQuantification of human upper extremity nerves and fascicular anatomy. Muscle Nerve. 2017 Sep;56(3):463-471. doi: 10.1002/mus.25534. Epub 2017 Apr 1. PubMed PMID: 28006854; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5712902.
  • Zendejas B, Jakub JW, Terando AM, Sarnaik A, Ariyan CE, Faries MB, Zani S Jr, Neuman HB, Wasif N, Farma JM, Averbook BJ, Bilimoria KY, Tyler D, Brady MS, Farley DR. Laparoscopic skill assessment of practicing surgeons prior to enrollment in a surgical trial of a new laparoscopic procedure. Surg Endosc. 2017 Aug;31(8):3313-3319. doi: 10.1007/s00464-016-5364-1. Epub 2016 Dec 7. PubMed PMID: 27928664.
  • Christie BP, Freeberg M, Memberg WD, Pinault GJC, Hoyen HA, Tyler DJ, Triolo RJ. “Long-term stability of stimulating spiral nerve cuff electrodes on human peripheral nerves”. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2017 Jul 11;14(1):70. doi: 10.1186/s12984-017-0285-3. PubMed PMID: 28693584; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5504677.
  • Freeberg MJ, Stone MA, Triolo RJ, Tyler DJThe design of and chronic tissue response to a composite nerve electrode with patterned stiffness. J Neural Eng. 2017 Mar 13;14(3):036022. doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/aa6632. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28287078.
  • Brill NA, Tyler DJ. Quantification of human upper extremity nerves and fascicular anatomy.Muscle Nerve. 2016 Dec 22. doi: 10.1002/mus.25534. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28006854.
  • Zendejas B, Jakub JW, Terando AM, Sarnaik A, Ariyan CE, Faries MB, Zani S Jr, Neuman HB, Wasif N, Farma JM, Averbook BJ, Bilimoria KY, Tyler D, Brady MS, Farley DR. Laparoscopic skill assessment of practicing surgeons prior to enrollment in a surgical trial of a new laparoscopic procedure. Surg Endosc. 2016 Dec 7. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 27928664.
  • Graczyk EL, Schiefer MA, Saal HP, Delhaye BP, Bensmaia SJ, Tyler DJThe neural basis of perceived intensity in natural and artificial touch. Sci Transl Med. 2016 Oct 26;8(362):362ra142. PubMed PMID: 27797958.
  • Tan D, Tyler D, Sweet J, Miller J. Intensity Modulation: A Novel Approach to Percept Control in Spinal Cord Stimulation. Neuromodulation. 2016 Apr;19(3):254-9. doi: 10.1111/ner.12358. Epub 2015 Oct 19. PubMed PMID: 26479774.
  • Schiefer M, Tan D, Sidek SM, Tyler DJSensory feedback by peripheral nerve stimulation improves task performance in individuals with upper limb loss using a myoelectric prosthesis. J Neural Eng. 2016 Feb;13(1):016001. doi: 10.1088/1741-2560/13/1/016001. Epub 2015 Dec 8. PubMed PMID: 26643802.
  • Nguyen JK, Jorfi M, Buchanan KL, Park DJ, Foster EJ, Tyler DJ, Rowan SJ, Weder C, Capadona JR. Influence of resveratrol release on the tissue response to mechanically adaptive cortical implants. Acta Biomater. 2016 Jan;29:81-93. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2015.11.001. Epub 2015 Nov 6. PubMed PMID: 26553391; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4727752.
  • Tyler DJNeural interfaces for somatosensory feedback: bringing life to a prosthesis. Curr Opin Neurol. 2015 Dec;28(6):574-81. doi: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000000266. Review. PubMed PMID: 26544029.
  • Tan DW, Schiefer MA, Keith MW, Anderson JR, Tyler DJ. Stability and selectivity of a chronic, multi-contact cuff electrode for sensory stimulation in human amputees. J Neural Eng. 2015 Jan 28;12(2):026002. doi: 10.1088/1741-2560/12/2/026002 Pubmed PMID: 25627310
  • Hadley AJ, Krival KR, Ridgel AL, Hahn EC, Tyler DJNeural Network Pattern Recognition of Lingual-Palatal Pressure for Automated Detection of Swallow. Dysphagia. 2015 Jan 25; doi: 10.1007/s00455-014-9593-y Pubmed PMID: 25618539
  • Tan DW, Schiefer MA, Keith MW, Anderson JR, Tyler J, Tyler DJ. A neural interface provides long-term stable natural touch perception. Sci Transl Med. 2014 Oct 8;6(257):257ra138. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3008669 Pubmed PMID: 25298320
  • Nguyen JK, Park DJ, Skousen JL, Hess-Dunning AE, Tyler DJ, Rowan SJ, Weder C, Capadona JR. Mechanically-compliant intracortical implants reduce the neuroinflammatory response. J Neural Eng. 2014 Oct;11(5):056014. doi: 10.1088/1741-2560/11/5/056014 Pubmed PMID: 25125443
  • Hadley AJ, Thompson P, Kolb I, Hahn EC, Tyler DJ. Targeted transtracheal stimulation for vocal fold closure. Dysphagia. 2014 Jun;29(3):346–354. doi: 10.1007/s00455-014-9517-x Pubmed PMID: 24562508
  • Peterson EJ, Tyler DJ. Motor neuron activation in peripheral nerves using infrared neural stimulation. J Neural Eng. 2014 Feb;11(1):016001. doi: 10.1088/1741-2560/11/1/016001 Pubmed PMID: 24310923
  • Schiefer MA, Freeberg M, Pinault GJC, Anderson J, Hoyen H, Tyler DJ, Triolo RJ. Selective activation of the human tibial and common peroneal nerves with a flat interface nerve electrode. J Neural Eng. 2013 Oct;10(5):056006. doi: 10.1088/1741-2560/10/5/056006 Pubmed PMID: 23918148
  • Hadley AJ, Kolb I, Tyler DJLaryngeal elevation by selective stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve. J Neural Eng. 2013 Aug;10(4):046013. doi: 10.1088/1741-2560/10/4/046013 Pubmed PMID: 23838089
  • Hess AE, Potter KA, Tyler DJ, Zorman CA, Capadona JR. Environmentally-controlled microtensile testing of mechanically-adaptive polymer nanocomposites for ex vivo characterization.J Vis Exp. 2013;(78):e50078. doi: 10.3791/50078 Pubmed PMID: 23995288
  • Harris JP, Tyler DJBiological, mechanical, and technological considerations affecting the longevity of intracortical electrode recordings. Crit Rev Biomed Eng. 2013;41(6):435–456. Pubmed PMID: 24940658
  • Fisher LE, Tyler DJ, Triolo RJ. Optimization of selective stimulation parameters for multi-contact electrodes. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2013;10:25. doi: 10.1186/1743-0003-10-25 Pubmed PMID: 23442372

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Investigator
Cleveland FES Center

Associate Director, Cleveland Advanced Platform Technology Center; and Biomedical Engineer
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center

Kent H. Smith II Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Case Western Reserve University

Bioscientific Staff, Department of  Orthopaedics
MetroHealth Medical Center

CONTACT INFORMATION

Program Contact
Dustin Tyler

Contact Number
(216) 368-2960

Contact Email
dxt23@case.edu