J. Thomas Mortimer

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Case Western Reserve University
Case School of Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Professor EmeritusAppointed: 1981

Mailing Address

Wickenden Bldg. Rm 117
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4912
United States

Contact Information

Phone: (216) 368-3973
Fax: (216) 368-4969
jtm3@case.edu

Qualifications

Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University, Engineering, 1968.
M.S., Case Institute of Technology, Engineering, 1965.
B.S., Texas Technological College, Electrical Engineering, 1964.

Expertise and Research Interests

My research interest is in the area of applied neural control. Applied neural control is an emerging technology that is based on the electrical excitability phenomenon of nerve. A neural impulse can be evoked with an electrode placed near the nerve and exposing neural tissue to a pulsed electric field. This evoked response will be propagated to the nerve terminal and cause the release of a chemical substance that will in turn act on the end organ normally controlled by that nerve. Because the end organ (or body system) responds only to the incoming signal from the nerve, we have the possibility of using this technique to control any body system that is normally under the control of the nervous system; for practical purposes this is nearly the entire body. Current work focuses on electrodes and selective activation of specific neural elements and structures.

Industrial Relevance

I offer on-site short courses on electrically activating the nervous system This course is a compact version of a graduate-level course on applied neural control and is specifically designed for professionals in the neural prosthesis and neural modulation industries.

Module I. Introduction to electrically activating the nervous system, provides a starting point for understanding how electrical stimulation works for treatment of neurological impairment. Module II. Electrochemistry of stimulating electrodes, provides insight into how stimulating electrodes work, Module III. Tissue response around stimulating electrodes (brain, nerve muscle), provides insight into electrode design considerations and parameters of charge injection, and in Module IV. Selective activation techniques, techniques for future devices are developed .

Keywords

COS Keywords:

Bioelectric Phenomena, Biomedical Engineering.

Additional Terms:

Applied Neural Control, Electrical Activation of the Nervous System, Neural Prosthesis.

Languages

(Reading, Writing, Speaking)

German: (None, None, Basic)
Swedish: (None, None, Basic)

Memberships

American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Society for Engineering Education
Biomedical Engineering Society
Society for Neuroscience

Honors and Awards

2000, Electrical Engineering Academy, Texas Tech University
1996, United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation’s Isabelle and Leonard H. Goldenson Technology Award, For advances in technology that improve quality of life for persons with cerebral palsy and other disabilities and their families
1992-1992, JSPS Research Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tohoko University, Sendai, Japan
1976-1977, Humboldt-Preis Senior U.S. Scientist Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

Previous Positions

1986-1988, Chairman, Case Western Reserve University, Computer Engineering and Science
1985-1986, Dean, Case Western Reserve University, Engineering

Patents

Customizable Interactive Texbook (CITbook, Patent Number: 6091930, 2000, Institution-owned, .
Spiral Nerve Cuff Electrode Implantation Tool, Patent Number: 6093197, 2000, Industry-owned, .
Nerve Cuff Electrode Carrier, Patent Number: 5899933, 1999, Industry-owned, .
Implantable helical spiral cuff electrode method of installation, Patent Number: 5964702, 1999, Institution-owned, .
Polymer-metal foil structure for neural stimulating electrodes, Patent Number: 5987361, 1999, Industry-owned, .
Electrode Delivery Instrument, Patent Number: 5797923, 1998, Institution-owned, .
Method of Manufacturing an Implantable Helical Spiral Cuff Electrode, Patent Number: 5689877, 1997, Institution-owned, .
Implantable Helical Spiral Cuff Electrode, Patent Number: 5505201, 1996, , .
Laprocopic Vacuum Delivery Appratus for a Diaphragm Pacer, Patent Number: 5472438, 1995, , .
Thin Film Implantable Electrode and Method of Manufacture, Patent Number: 5324322, 1994, Institution-owned, .
Double Helix Functional Stimulating Electrode, Patent Number: 5366493, 1994, Institution-owned, .
Micturitional Assist Device, Patent Number: 5199430, 1993, , Unites States of America.
"Implantable Cuff, Method of Manufacture, and Method of Installation," U.S. Patent No. 4,602,624, 1986
"Asymmetric Shielded Two Electrode Cuff, " U.S. Patent #4, 628, 942, Patented 1986
"Asymmetric Single Electrode Cuff for Generation of Unidirectionally Propagating Action Potentials for Collision Blocking," U.S. Patent No. 4,649,936, 1987
"Antidromic Pulse Generating Waveform for Collision Blocking," U.S. Patent No. 4,608,985, 1986

Publications

  • Tarler, M.D, J.T. Mortimer, Comparison of Joint Torque Evoked With Monopolar amd Tripolar-Cuff Electrodes, IEEE Trans. on Rehabilitation Engineering, 6, 227-235, 2003
  • Aiyar H, Stellato TA, Onders RP, Mortimer JT, Laparoscopic implant instrument for the placement of intramuscular electrodes in the diaphragm., IEEE Transactions On Rehabilitation Engineering, 7(3), 360-71, September 1999 Abstract
  • Schmit BD, Mortimer JT, The effects of epimysial electrode location on phrenic nerve recruitment and the relation between tidal volume and interpulse interval., IEEE Transactions On Rehabilitation Engineering, 7(2), 150-8, June 1999 Abstract
  • Grill WM, Mortimer JT, Stability of the input-output properties of chronically implanted multiple contact nerve cuff stimulating electrodes., IEEE Transactions On Rehabilitation Engineering, 6(4), 364-73, December 1998 Abstract
  • Grunewald V, Bhadra N, Creasey GH, Mortimer JT, Functional conditions of micturition induced by selective sacral anterior root stimulation: experimental results in a canine animal model., World Journal of Urology, 16(5), 329-36, 1998 Abstract
  • Bhadra N, Mortimer J T, Extraction forces and tissue changes during explant of CWRU-type intramuscular electrodes from rat gastrocnemius., Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 25(6), 1017-25, November 1997 Abstract
  • Grill, W.M, J.T. Mortimer, Inversion of the Current-Distance Relationship By Transient Depolarization, IEEE Transactions on Rehabilitation Engineering, 44, pp 1-9, 1997
  • Bhadra, N, J.T. Mortimer, Extraction Forces and Tissue Changes During Explant of CWRU- Type Intramuscular Electrodes form Rat Gastrocnemius, Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 25:6, pp1017-1025, 1997
  • Schmit, B.D, J. T. Mortimer, The Tissue Response to Epimysial Electrodes for Diaphragm Pacing in Dogs, IEEE Transactions on BME, 44, No, pp921-930, 1997
  • Schmit, B.D., T.A. Stellato, J.T. Mortimer, Staple Penetration and Staple Histological Response for Attaching an Epimysial Electrode onto the Abdominal Surface of the Diaphragm, Surgical Endoscopy, 11, pp 45-53, 1997
  • Grill WM, Mortimer JT, Inversion of the current-distance relationship by transient depolarization., IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 44(1), 1-9, 1997 Abstract
  • Grill, W.M, J.T. Mortimer, Quantification of recruitment properties of multiple contact cuff electrodes, IEEE Transactions on Rehabilitation Engineering, 43, pp 49-62, 1996
  • Peterson DK, Nochomovitz ML, Stellato TA, Mortimer JT, Long-term intramuscular electrical activation of the phrenic nerve: safety and reliability., IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 41(12), 1115-26, December 1994 Abstract
  • Peterson DK, Nochomovitz ML, Stellato TA, Mortimer JT, Long-term intramuscular electrical activation of the phrenic nerve: efficacy as a ventilatory prosthesis., IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 41(12), 1127-35, December 1994 Abstract
  • Grill WM, Mortimer JT, Electrical properties of implant encapsulation tissue., Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 22(1), 23-33, 1994 Abstract
  • Bonner, M.D., M. Daroux, T. Crish, J.T. Mortimer, The Pulse-Clamp Method for Analyzing the Electrochemistry on Neural Stimulation Electrodes, Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 141, pp2740-2744, 1993
  • Fang, Z.-P, J.T. Mortimer, Selective Activation of Small Motor Axons by Quasitrapezoidal Current Pulses, IEEE Trans. BME(40), 168-174, 1991

Profile Details

Last Updated: 11/21/2008

COS Expertise ID #255946
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