Chair of Surgical Innovation
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Dr Raymond P. Onders is Chief of General Surgery at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Professor of Surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. He is honored with the Walter and Margaret Remen Chair of Surgical Innovation. Over the last 24 years, he has focused his research efforts on ways to help people breathe naturally using their own diaphragm. He has authored multiple publications and book chapters on the primary muscle of breathing –the diaphragm. He has trained surgeons around the world on the technique of diaphragm pacing to allow patients freedom from tracheostomy mechanical ventilation.
Diaphragm pacing, electrical stimulation of the diaphragm muscle, was a new technology aimed at either replacing or delaying the need for mechanical ventilation or maintaining and improving normal breathing. One of his first research subjects was the late Christopher Reeve (Superman). Diaphragm pacing technology was recognized as one of the most important medical innovations at the 6th Medical Innovation Summit.
He has given invited lectures around the world and presented his research at numerous scientific meetings. He has helped spread this knowledge training surgeons to do the diaphragm pacing operation in over 30 countries which has helped countless patients worldwide. His present research focuses on using diaphragm pacing to shorten the time to wean from a ventilator on all intensive care unit patients which is one of the largest health care expenditures in the United States. His advancements in the technology of pacing the diaphragm have led to multiple patents. He co-founded the medical device company Synapse Biomedical which helped to bring this technology to patients.