Blink Prosthesis for Facial Paralysis Patients
Abstract
The proposed innovation will provide a fundamental improvement in the treatment of facial paralysis. These improvements will apply to both the aesthetic and functional use of the paralyzed eyelid by preventing painful dry eye complications and profound facial disfiguration. The goal of this program is to create an implantable blink prosthesis to restore functional eye blink in patients with paralysis on one side of their faces. The system will use electrodes implanted in the eyelid to stimulate the adjacent muscles to close the eye. Another set of electrodes implanted in the healthy eyelid will listen for the onset of a blink and send a timing signal to the electronic system to turn on the stimulator to produce a bilateral symmetric blink. The device consists of an implant with stimulation electrodes for the paralyzed eyelid, recording electrodes for the healthy eyelid, and a sealed electronics package that is placed behind the ear. The device also includes an external module worn over the ear (appears similar to a hearing aid) to provide a wireless power source for the implant and to control stimulation levels. Patients suffering from facial nerve damage experience substantial disfigurement and dysfunction due to the inability to produce eye blink and convey facial expression. The loss of the blink response is very painful and predisposes patients to corneal exposure and dry eye complications that are difficult to effectively treat. Facial paralysis patients may suffer from resulting infections, corneal ulceration, loss of vision, and, in some cases, loss of the eye. Although the dysfunction that accompanies facial paralysis poses substantial risk to the exposed eye, patients report suffering more from the resulting disfiguration. Having had a lifetime with a certain appearance, they must now cope with looking different and the stigmatization associated with facial disfiguration. Psychological investment in the head and neck area is greater than any other part of the body because social interaction and emotional expression depend to a great extent upon the integrity of the face. Communication of affection and closeness to spouse, children, and friends depend largely upon facial expressiveness. This enormous threat to self-image, confidence, and identity produces marked anxiety, depression, and in severe cases, suicide. Traumatic injuries to the head and neck have been a major contributor to the mortality and morbidity of US Armed Forces injured during hostile action. Although these areas comprise only 12% of the total body surface area exposed during combat, these body areas sustained proportionately more injuries. The mean relative incidence of head, face, and neck injury was approximately 16% based on a meta-analysis of major armed conflicts from 1914 to 1986. This pattern remains evident in current warfare. During the major combat phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF-I), US Navy and Marine Corps forces wounded in action sustained approximately 12% of all wounds to the face. A majority of these injuries could threaten eyelid function.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 04, 2016
- Source ID
- W81XWH1510601
Entities
People
- Daniel Mcdonnall
Organizations
- Ripple (United States)
- United States Army