Todd Kuiken
· Professor of Physical Medicine & RehabilitationVerifiedNorthwestern University · Chemical Engineering
Active 1994–2024
About
Todd Kuiken is a Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Northwestern University, affiliated with the Master of Science in Robotics Program. His research interests include prosthetic control systems, utilizing nerve-muscle grafts to obtain additional myoelectric control signals, bioelectromagnetics modeling, prosthetic design, human gait, and the care of amputees. He is a practicing Physiatrist and serves as the Director of Amputee Services at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Dr. Kuiken's clinical focus encompasses the care of individuals with limb loss, amputee pain, phantom limb pain, gait disorders, spinal cord injury, fitting of orthotic devices, and patient emotional well-being. His work integrates engineering, rehabilitation, and clinical expertise to improve outcomes for amputees and advance prosthetic technologies.
Research topics
- Computer Science
- Ecology
- Biology
- Artificial Intelligence
- Political Science
- Geography
- Human–computer interaction
- Biomedical engineering
- Business
- Law
- Economics
- Environmental protection
- Computer hardware
- Psychology
- Embedded system
- Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Data science
- Computational biology
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation
- Natural resource economics
- Simulation
- Finance
Selected publications
16. Bioengineering Horizon Scan 2020
Open Book Publishers · 2024-09-03
book-chapterOpen accessThis chapter reproduces the second horizon scan for bioengineering conducted by the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk in 2020, one of the most significant pieces of horizon scanning that has been undertaken in the field to-date. Identifying the top 20 emergent issues, the authors group them according to a likely timeline for their realisation, and discuss each throughout the chapter. This allows for the most notable issues that may impact the planet and humanity to be tracked, and the most pressing issues to be identified. The early identification of such issues is relevant for researchers, policy-makers, and the general public, providing an opportunity to consider what anticipatory or future action might need to be taken.
PLoS ONE · 2023-01-26 · 25 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorrespondingBACKGROUND: Despite the growing availability of multifunctional prosthetic hands, users' control and overall functional abilities with these hands remain limited. The combination of pattern recognition control and targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) surgery, an innovative technique where amputated nerves are transferred to reinnervate new muscle targets in the residual limb, has been used to improve prosthesis control of individuals with more proximal upper limb amputations (i.e., shoulder disarticulation and transhumeral amputation). OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine if prosthesis hand grasp control improves following transradial TMR surgery. METHODS: Eight participants were trained to use a multi-articulating hand prosthesis under myoelectric pattern recognition control. All participated in home usage trials pre- and post-TMR surgery. Upper limb outcome measures were collected following each home trial. RESULTS: Three outcome measures (Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure, Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test, and Box and Blocks Test) improved 9-12 months post-TMR surgery compared with pre-surgery measures. The Assessment of Capacity for Myoelectric Control and Activities Measure for Upper Limb Amputees outcome measures had no difference pre- and post-surgery. An offline electromyography analysis showed a decrease in grip classification error post-TMR surgery compared to pre-TMR surgery. Additionally, a majority of subjects noted qualitative improvements in their residual limb and phantom limb sensations post-TMR. CONCLUSIONS: The potential for TMR surgery to result in more repeatable muscle contractions, possibly due to the reduction in pain levels and/or changes to phantom limb sensations, may increase functional use of many of the clinically available dexterous prosthetic hands.
iGEM and Gene Drives: A Case Study for Governance
Health Security · 2022-01-12 · 13 citations
articleOpen accessGene drives have already challenged governance systems. In this case study, we explore the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition's experiences in gene drive-related research and lessons in developing, revising, and implementing a governance system. iGEM's experiences and lessons are distilled into 6 key insights for future gene drive policy development in the United States: (1) gene drives deserve special attention because of their potential for widescale impact and remaining uncertainty about how to evaluate intergenerational and transboundary risks; (2) an adaptive risk management approach is logical for gene drives because of the rapidly changing technical environment; (3) review by individual technical experts is limited and may fail to incorporate other forms of expertise and, therefore, must be complemented with a range of alternative governance methods; (4) current laboratory biosafety and biosecurity review processes may not capture gene drive research or its components in practice even if they are covered theoretically; (5) risk management for research and development must incorporate discussions of values and broader implications of the work; and (6) a regular technology horizon scanning capacity is needed for the early identification of advances that could pose governance system challenges.
medRxiv · 2022-06-05
preprintOpen accessSenior authorAbstract Transradial amputation is the most common level of major upper limb amputation. Despite the growing availability of multifunctional prosthetic hands, users’ control of these hands and overall functional abilities remain limited. The combination of pattern recognition control and targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) surgery, an innovative technique where amputated nerves are transferred to reinnervate new muscle targets in the residual limb, has been used to improve prosthesis control of individuals with more proximal upper limb amputation levels (i.e., shoulder disarticulation and transhumeral amputation). The goal of this study was to determine if similar prosthesis control improvements could be seen for individuals with amputations at the transradial level. Participants controlled 3-5 grips with a multi-articulating hand prosthesis under myoelectric pattern recognition control for at least 8 weeks at home pre- and post-TMR surgery. Users gained some significant functional control benefits using a multi-articulating hand prosthesis with pattern recognition at 9-12 months post-TMR surgery. Additionally, a majority of subjects noted an improvement in their residual limb and phantom limb sensations post-TMR. An additional offline EMG analysis showed a decrease in grip classification error post-TMR surgery compared to pre-TMR surgery.
Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis · 2022-08-01 · 12 citations
articleOpen accessBackground: Thrombosis is a frequent and severe complication in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Lupus anticoagulant (LA) is a strong acquired risk factor for thrombosis in various diseases and is frequently observed in patients with COVID-19. Whether LA is associated with thrombosis in patients with severe COVID-19 is currently unclear. Objective: To investigate if LA is associated with thrombosis in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Patients/Methods: The presence of LA and other antiphospholipid antibodies was assessed in patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU. LA was determined with dilute Russell's viper venom time (dRVVT) and LA-sensitive activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) reagents. Results: Of 169 patients with COVID-19, 116 (69%) tested positive for at least one antiphospholipid antibody upon admission to the ICU. Forty (24%) patients tested positive for LA; of whom 29 (17%) tested positive with a dRVVT, 19 (11%) tested positive with an LA-sensitive aPTT, and 8 (5%) tested positive on both tests. Fifty-eight (34%) patients developed thrombosis after ICU admission. The odds ratio (OR) for thrombosis in patients with LA based on a dRVVT was 2.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-5.7), which increased to 4.5 (95% CI, 1.4-14.3) in patients at or below the median age in this study (64 years). LA positivity based on a dRVVT or LA-sensitive aPTT was only associated with thrombosis in patients aged less than 65 years (OR, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.3-11.4) and disappeared after adjustment for C-reactive protein. Conclusion: Lupus anticoagulant on admission is strongly associated with thrombosis in critically ill patients with COVID-19, especially in patients aged less than 65 years.
Direct and indirect impacts of synthetic biology on biodiversity conservation
iScience · 2022-10-20 · 59 citations
reviewOpen accessThe world's biodiversity is in crisis. Synthetic biology has the potential to transform biodiversity conservation, both directly and indirectly, in ways that are negative and positive. However, applying these biotechnology tools to environmental questions is fraught with uncertainty and could harm cultures, rights, livelihoods, and nature. Decisions about whether or not to use synthetic biology for conservation should be understood alongside the reality of ongoing biodiversity loss. In 2022, the 196 Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity are negotiating the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that will guide action by governments and other stakeholders for the next decade to conserve the worlds' biodiversity. To date, synthetic biologists, conservationists, and policy makers have operated in isolation. At this critical time, this review brings these diverse perspectives together and emerges out of the need for a balanced and inclusive examination of the potential application of these technologies to biodiversity conservation.
2022-11-13
preprintOpen accessSenior authorWith the increasing availability of more advanced prostheses individuals with a transradial amputation can now be fit with single to multi-degree of freedom hands. Reliable and accurate control of these multi-grip hands still remains challenging. This is the first multi-user study to investigate at-home control and use of a multi-grip hand prosthesis under pattern recognition and direct control. Individuals with a transradial amputation were fitted with and trained to use an OSSUR i-Limb Ultra Revolution with Coapt COMPLETE CONTROL system. They participated in two 8-week home trials using the hand under myoelectric direct and pattern recognition control in a randomized order. While at home, participants demonstrated broader usage of grips in pattern recognition compared to direct control. After the home trial, they showed significant improvements in the Assessment of Capacity for Myoelectric Control (ACMC) outcome measure while using pattern recognition control compared to direct control; other outcome measures showed no differences between control styles. Additionally, this study provided a unique opportunity to evaluate EMG signals during home use. Offline analysis of calibration data showed that users were 81.5% [7.1] accurate across a range of three to five grips. Although EMG signal noise was identified during some calibrations, overall EMG quality was sufficient to provide users with control performance at or better than direct control.
2022-05-25
preprintOpen accessSenior author<p>With the increasing availability of more advanced prostheses individuals with a transradial amputation can now be fit with single to multi-degree of freedom hands. Reliable and accurate control of these multi-grip hands still remains challenging. This is the first multi-user study to investigate at-home control and use of a multi-grip hand prosthesis under pattern recognition and direct control. Individuals with a transradial amputation were fitted with and trained to use an OSSUR i-Limb Ultra Revolution with Coapt COMPLETE CONTROL system. They participated in two 8-week home trials using the hand under myoelectric direct and pattern recognition control in a randomized order. While at home, participants demonstrated broader usage of grips in pattern recognition compared to direct control. After the home trial, they showed significant improvements in the Assessment of Capacity for Myoelectric Control (ACMC) outcome measure while using pattern recognition control compared to direct control; other outcome measures showed no differences between control styles. Additionally, this study provided a unique opportunity to evaluate EMG signals during home use. Offline analysis of calibration data showed that users were 81.5% [7.1] accurate across a range of three to five grips. Although EMG signal noise was identified during some calibrations, overall EMG quality was sufficient to provide users with control performance at or better than direct control. </p>
IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering · 2022-11-10 · 38 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorWith the increasing availability of more advanced prostheses individuals with a transradial amputation can now be fit with single to multi-degree of freedom hands. Reliable and accurate control of these multi-grip hands still remains challenging. This is the first multi-user study to investigate at-home control and use of a multi-grip hand prosthesis under pattern recognition and direct control. Individuals with a transradial amputation were fitted with and trained to use an OSSUR i-Limb Ultra Revolution with Coapt COMPLETE CONTROL system. They participated in two 8-week home trials using the hand under myoelectric direct and pattern recognition control in a randomized order. While at home, participants demonstrated broader usage of grips in pattern recognition compared to direct control. After the home trial, they showed significant improvements in the Assessment of Capacity for Myoelectric Control (ACMC) outcome measure while using pattern recognition control compared to direct control; other outcome measures showed no differences between control styles. Additionally, this study provided a unique opportunity to evaluate EMG signals during home use. Offline analysis of calibration data showed that users were 81.5% [7.1] accurate across a range of three to five grips. Although EMG signal noise was identified during some calibrations, overall EMG quality was sufficient to provide users with control performance at or better than direct control.
Exploring the value of a global gene drive project registry
Nature Biotechnology · 2022-12-15 · 10 citations
letterOpen access
Recent grants
NIH · $982k · 2009
NIH · $163k · 2006
NIH · $218k · 2008
NIH · $5.3M · 2014–2028
NIH · $326k · 2007
Frequent coauthors
- 613 shared
Dudley S. Childress
Canadian Standards Association
- 612 shared
Daniel P. Ferris
University of Florida
- 612 shared
Hojjat Adeli
The Ohio State University
- 612 shared
Joseph Lillie
X-Fab (Germany)
- 612 shared
Witold Kinsner
University of Manitoba
- 612 shared
C José
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
- 612 shared
James Jefferies
Glasgow Royal Infirmary
- 612 shared
Kara Mcarthur
Pasadena City College
Education
- 2007
Ph.D. , Environmental Science
Tennessee Technological University
- 2003
master of arts , Environmental Resource Policy
George Washington University
- 2000
Bachelor of Science , Environmental Management and Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
Awards & honors
- American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists, Member
- American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Me…
- Association of Academic Physiatrists, Member
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Member
- International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Member
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