According to the World Health Organization, over 15 million people
suffer from stroke worldwide each year. Of these, it is estimated that over 5
million die and another 5 million are permanently disabled, making it the
second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability. High-dose
intensive training and repetitive practice of specific functional tasks are
important for recovery, making rehabilitation a labor-intensive process. As a
result, we have seen a remarkable development of robotic technologies in recent
years that promise to deliver a task-specific, intensive training, improving
functional outcomes and leading to faster recovery. However, existing devices
are expensive, meaning most stroke sufferers cannot access this hugely
beneficial technology.
The London-based startup Motus Innovations is determined to empower
stroke patients and increase access to technologies that can help them recover
their independence. They are developing and commercializing a simplified, easy
to operate robotic device that assists patients in regaining essential upper
limb functions. It supports all key movements of the hand and arm, while
adapting to the patients’ specific needs as they recover. The inexpensive, state
of the art rehabilitation technology allow patients to complete daily physiotherapy
from the comfort of their own home, improving the quality of recovery after
stroke. In addition, the startup has developed a software platform where patients
can set therapy and recovery goals, play games to track their progress. Part of this software is Keira, an interactive AI rehab assistant that help to coach the patient along the way, democratizing care and making therapy more fun.
It is well known that participation in daily physiotherapy
significantly improves recovery after stroke. Yet, less than a third of
patients actually receive the necessary care to lessen disability and regain
full limb function. A major barrier is limits to resources, staff and distance
to rehabilitation providers. And new technologies that promises faster recovery
and more efficient care are too expensive to actually benefit the majority of
patients. Motus Innovations is developing an innovative recovery system, based
on principles of robotic rehabilitation and neuroplasticity, which every stroke
sufferer can afford. Their system supports the patient throughout the rehabilitation
process, accelerating recovery of vital functional movements of the upper limb
for a significantly lower cost than currently available options.
The digital platform quantify the recovery, helping patients understand
and track the rehabilitation process. At the same time, it give healthcare
professionals a unique opportunity to monitor patient’s progress. This enable them to manage multiple patients more efficiently and identify who are
not recovering as expected, allowing the reallocation of resources to those who need them the most. Most importantly, Motus Innovations’ system not only
increase access to care, but empower patients and give them greater control over
actions and decisions that affect their recovery. The startup make robot-assisted
therapies available for all stroke patients, accelerating recovery and health
outcomes, ultimately improving quality of life. For millions of people
worldwide, it could be the difference between independence and relying on
caregivers for the rest of their lives.
Motus Innovations was founded in 2016 by Ross Ward after witnessing his
grandmother struggle with disability following a stroke. He turned to robotic
assistive devices, but it quickly became clear that few stroke sufferers could
access these beneficial technologies due to their high cost. The
startup has been recognized internationally and have among others taken part of MassChallenge UK and Switzerland, and Panacea Innovation’s BioStars 2017 accelerator program.
