Assistive Technologies - September/October 2020

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Exoskeleton for stroke sufferers to be developed THERAPISTS will be able to remote control a stroke victim’s limbs to help them get better, thanks to a new funding win for the University of Portsmouth.

Robot specialists from the School of Computing will develop the first robotic exoskeleton to help stroke patients regain strength in their upper limbs, which can be controlled remotely.

An exoskeleton is an external frame that can be worn to support the body, giving limbs extra movement, strength and endurance.

This new generation of exoskeleton robot will help rehabilitate nearly 200,000 stroke patients.

The three-year-project, which will bring together cutting-edge technology in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, cloud computing and exoskeleton control, has been awarded €5million funding, with more than €770,000 going to the University of Portsmouth as lead partner.

A team from the University is leading on Project AiBle which aims to benefit stroke patients and healthcare providers across southern England and northern France.

Rehabilitation helps stroke patients make the best recovery possible and re-learn skills for

everyday life.

Dr Zhaojie Ju is the principle investigator of the EU AiBle project.

He said: “This is an exciting project, which will help thousands of people to regain limb function and movement.

“Our novel rehabilitation protocol combined with the updated exoskeleton robot will be designed with improved functionality which will reduce the time of each treatment and allow for simultaneous and remote multiple treatments by therapists.

“There is no other product on the market like this at the moment.”

Dr Ju and colleagues Dr Dalin Zhou and Professor Honghai Liu will develop wearable sensing and interpreting devices to better recognise the motion intention of post-stroke patients during the rehabilitation process.

This wearable technology – with embedded algorithms for biological signal analysis – will be developed to function independently and support the exoskeleton control.

The advanced functionality of this exoskeleton robot will enable remote and active rehabilitation, so patients can exercise by themselves as well as with a therapist controlling movement from a remote location.

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A student has designed a device which supports people in the early to mid-stages of dementia so they can be more independent. Elliot Heffernan, 22, created Activity Aid to help people like his grandmother who experience difficulties in remembering the order in which to carry out day to day tasks.

The device allows a loved one to record vocal instructions on how to make a cup of tea, for instance, which enables people with the condition to follow the instructions step by step and be more self-sufficient.

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NEWS Askham Village Community has launched Askham Rehab, a specialist rehabilitation service incorporating cutting-edge robotics and sensor assisted technology.

Pioneering robotics equipment to revolutionise rehabilitation A CAMBRIDGESHIRE care community is now able to deliver pioneering robotics expertise as part of its rehabilitation offering – becoming one of a very small number of providers in the UK to offer the service.

Building on 10 years of experience in specialist neurorehabilitation, Askham Village Community, based in Doddington, is now bringing all its rehab services together with the launch of Askham Rehab, a specialist rehabilitation service incorporating cutting-edge robotics and sensor assisted technology.

Askham Rehab is a dedicated service that’s been launched in the wake of significant investment, enabling the introduction of state-of-theart robotics equipment – a move which puts it at the forefront of rehabilitation in the East of England and beyond.

Able to enhance the treatment of a range of conditions, including spinal injuries, brain injuries, and various traumas, as well as strokes and other neurological conditions, the technology is set to prove a “game changer” in Askham Rehab’s offering.

Priscilla Masvipurwa, head of rehab and nursing services at Askham, said: “This is going to be a game changer in our approach to rehabilitation.

“Robotics helps to bridge the gap, increasing the frequency and repetitiveness of treatment, something that’s an essential part of the process.

“We anticipate that this will enable us to support our patients to reach their goals in a more efficient and sustainable way.”

With 30 years of experience in the care sector, including 10 years of neurological rehabilitation expertise, Askham Rehab’s wide-ranging capabilities incorporates a variety of disciplines, including physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, psychology, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and nursing.

The introduction of robotics augments Askham Rehab’s traditional disciplines, allowing for a more quantitative and targeted approach to treatment, as well as greater discretion when targeting key areas following neurological events.

Alongside this, the results and outcomes achieved via the new

robotics and sensor assisted technology are second to none, thereby enhancing the overall rehabilitation offering delivered by Askham.

Priscilla added: “Working alongside our patients to establish their personal goals, we deliver a tailored approach to suit individual needs.

“Enabling patients in this way helps to aid them in their recovery, as they become fully invested in the process.

“The ethos at Askham Rehab is very much focused on a person-centred approach, and the introduction of robotics serves to enhance this further.

“This is very much a team effort, and with each patient we are their own personal team, empowering them to reach their goals.”

Askham’s initial investment in robotics saw funding come from the Cambridge Combined Mayoral Authority, before the Askham board then invested a significant amount themselves as it moved to secure its position as a sector leading provider of specialist rehabilitation services.

Delivered by Tyromotion, a leading

supplier of technology-based rehabilitation devices, the robotics equipment caters to a broad range of needs.

Alongside quantitative, targeted assessments Tyromotion’s products are designed to motivate, helping to merge classic therapy with the latest technology to deliver a highly intensive, rewarding rehabilitative experience for patients.

Aliyyah-Begum Nasser, operations director at Askham Village Community, said: “We put the individual at the heart of our offering, and this approach is supplemented by our robotics offering.

“Much of it is focused on motivating the recipient to push themselves, providing goal-driven therapy that brings in an element of challenge and fun, helping patients to achieve more in a shorter timeframe.

“Delivering a high-quality service is essential and we feel a moral obligation to take steps to ensure the best for our patients and residents.

“Robotics was the next step in our evolution at Askham Rehab and we’re excited to be able to provide it to those who need it most.”

Medequip chosen for community equipment services MEDWAY Council, which according to research released in February 2020 is one of the highest performing councils in the country for adult social care, has appointed community equipment specialists Medequip to manage CES provision across the area covered by the council including Rochester, Gillingham, Chatham and the Hoo Peninsula.

This is the third CES contract gain announced by Medequip in 2020, which means that the UK’s leading CES provider now manages more than 40 contracts supplying a range 2

of equipment from simple aids for daily living through to more complex pieces of equipment enabling people to receive appropriate care and remain safely in their home environment.

Medequip will also provide Medway Council with advanced equipment management and reporting facilities, using the new TCES Community platform and Microsoft BI reporting capabilities to ensure greater visibility of information and customised reports to match council requirements.

Medequip is currently working with

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

the existing provider to retain the existing depot premises, supporting minimal disruption to service delivery team members.

“The Medequip team is proud to have been selected by Medway as their chosen partner for the supply of community equipment,” said Neil Harris, Medequip’s implementation manager for Medway.

“Working with the council, we plan to first evaluate existing service delivery systems, current community equipment and then, in partnership, begin training and implementation of new products and an enhanced IT

solution.

“To support the implementation process and going forward into the future, Medequip will work closely with service users to develop service provision to best match their needs.”

A recent survey by IMPOWER highlighted Medway as one of 15 councils achieving greater than average outcomes from a less than average spend per head.

This research indicates that Medway residents using social care are receiving better outcomes, alongside the council making better use of public funds.

BIOMEDICAL startup Adapttech has formed a strategic partnership with Cascade Orthopedic Supply, LP, a North American distributor of orthotics and prosthetics products.

Frederico Carpinteiro

Under the terms of the agreement, Cascade will provide Adapttech’s INSIGHT system through its distribution network across the US and Canada.

A wholesale distributor of orthotics, prosthetics, materials, and equipment for nearly 50 years, Cascade serves O&P practitioners across the US from four strategically located distribution centers, and in Canada through its subsidiary, OrtoPed. “We target the latest advancements in technology to provide practitioners the products they need quickly and efficiently,” said John Cronin, director of sales and marketing at Cascade.

“With technology like INSIGHT that aims to reduce the time needed for clinical evaluation and prosthesis fitting, there has never been a better time for this type of product.

“Patients spend less time in the clinical environment, and with a

better fitting prosthesis, each patient can take control of their own daily activities and overall health.

“We are looking forward to bringing the INSIGHT System to our customers.”

INSIGHT is designed to improve the socket fitting process involved with lower-limb prostheses.

It combines a 3D scanner, sensors, wearable technology and a mobile app to make it faster and easier to reach a comfortably fitting prostheses and monitor a patient’s rehabilitation process.

Following successful outcome studies at two US prosthetics clinics, the INSIGHT system is now being made available to the broader North

American market.

The US study was conducted at two independent clinics – De La Torre Orthotics and Prosthetics in Pittsburgh, PA, and Prosthetics & Orthotic Associates in Middletown, NY. Validated outcome tests for health, function, satisfaction and pain level were utilised to substantiate results produced by the INSIGHT system.

“The positive results from our US clinical trials led to our decision to offer INSIGHT to the whole North American market,” said Frederico Carpinteiro, founder of Adapttech.

“We have shown that, using INSIGHT, clinicians spend less time attending to patients with limb-socket problems; consume fewer hours fitting, assessing and refitting sockets; and patients spend less time visiting and re-visiting the clinic.

“Increasing the socket comfort for patient has increased their activity level and our initial tests have shown more than 30 per cent of patients going from a K3 to a K4 activity level.”

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Pioneering programme helps stroke survivors during Covid-19 lockdown A PIONEERING programme to empower people living with complex long-term conditions such as a stroke or multiple trauma manage their own rehabilitation has been kept on the road during the coronavirus pandemic – thanks to an expert from Kingston University and St George’s, University of London taking the service to online.

was about providing acute care for people with Covid,” she said.

Professor Fiona Jones, founder of the Bridges Self-Management programme, and her team worked tirelessly in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown to ensure health and social care staff across the country could adapt their support to patients that were not able to receive rehabilitation in person.

“We want those joining us to find it useful so we cover the themes they ask us to,” Professor Jones added.

The Bridges Self-Management team reached out to people with disabilities to see how they could cope in isolation, together they created films and podcasts on how to self-manage their rehabilitation.

“Due to lockdown, some people went from receiving three or four homecare visits a day to none – that must have been really difficult,” said Professor Jones.

“We wanted to create something to fill this gap and support NHS staff

Since early April, fortnightly webinars have been delivered to NHS workers by the Bridges team on topics including how to be resilient, how to deliver care remotely and a Covid-19 specific one where there was a talk from a major trauma survivor.

to continue ensure patients still felt valued and could continue their rehabilitation remotely.

long-term conditions through new approaches delivered by health and care practitioners across the UK.

“Our whole focus with Bridges is how we can be person-centred and help people self-manage. We pride ourselves on how we network with people – if you’re going to have one interaction with someone make it meaningful and worthwhile.”

She said it was really important to support staff working in rehabilitation and community services during lockdown.

Professor Jones, who was awarded an MBE for her services to stroke rehabilitation in 2018, launched Bridges Self-Management in 2013 as a social enterprise and it has since helped the rehabilitation of thousands of patients with diverse and complex

“At the start of the pandemic many NHS staff working in rehabilitation felt a lack of direction and purpose, which can have an impact on your wellbeing.

“We felt it was important to find new ways to support staff work remotely and ensure personalised care for patients was not lost as everything

“We did one about creating meaningful one-off interactions with patients, which they all found really helpful, we had an occupational therapist from Guernsey present a webinar on triage and a physiotherapist from Cardiff sharing her innovative rapid improvement work.”

The webinars attract people from as far as Canada, Australia and New Zealand and from across all healthcare professions, including nursing, psychology and therapy.

“We feel the webinars are a great, comforting place for a practitioner to be and somebody even fed back saying the sessions felt like a clinical soul restoration,” she added.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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LIMB-art expanding and looks to target American market NEWS

A WELSH company that designs and manufactures prosthetic leg covers is expanding rapidly with an increasing number of international customers.

Toby Carlsson and Carolyn Hirons of Pace Rehabilitation at the clinic in Bredbury.

Clinic steps up to support solicitors and amputees A SPECIALIST clinic has stepped up to the COVID-19 challenge of evolving its practice to continue supporting its patients who have experienced lifechanging injuries.

Pace Rehabilitation was launched in 2003 by a small team of experienced clinicians who wanted to provide a more integrated approach to the treatment of people who had sustained limb loss.

“All our work is aimed at enabling our patients to return to the quality of life they had before their lifechanging incident.

“Anyone can become an amputee and we see people from all walks of life.

The business has now expanded its geographical footprint and now employs 39 staff across two sites at Bredbury in Greater Manchester and Amersham in Buckinghamshire.

“Some patients have been involved in a motorcycle accident and need a lower limb amputation whilst others have sustained an upper limb injury at work.

It has treated almost 3,000 patients from across the UK during the past decade.

“They all have one thing in common which is the need to get their lives back on track with minimum delay so they can go back to work and support their families.

The company also works with researchers from some of the world’s leading universities, including Salford University and Strathclyde University, to provide expert input on research projects and participate in testing and advising on new technology as the sector evolves.

Patients are referred to the clinic by serious injury law firms, insurers and case managers working with individuals who have sustained major trauma in a road accident or workplace incident.

Most patients have undergone major amputations of the upper or lower limbs.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak the business has evolved areas of its service to continue providing lifechanging treatment and support for patients.

Toby Carlsson, founding director of Pace Rehabilitation, said: “As well as the physical rehabilitation we also provide psychological rehabilitation for patients who are 6

often traumatised by the incident which led them up to seeing us and need treatment to help them cope mentally.

“Covid-19 has certainly been a challenge for a business like ours which relies so heavily on physical appointments but we adapted quickly and we are experienced in preparing risk assessments for every aspect of our clinic environment and easing the journey for patients who are often already anxious.”

The clinic manufactures bespoke prosthetic devices in-house.

Patients are assessed, measured and treated over several sessions to optimise their outcome.

As well as providing physical rehabilitation in the form of prosthetic and therapy input, the clinic also provides psychological support to safeguard the mental wellbeing of its patients who have often experienced a major traumatic event.

New technology used by the clinic enables patients who have lost part of their hand or fingers to have function restored.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

LIMB-art, which was established by former Paralympian Mark Williams, is now looking to target customers in America.

The company already has customers in Australia, Singapore, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Israel and the Canary Islands.

Mark said: “In combination with Business Wales, we commissioned an in-depth market analysis of the American market with renowned international development group IBDG. “The analysis found that there are more than three million amputees in America who could benefit from a prosthetic leg cover.

“We’re excited to be poised and ready to emerge from the pandemic with a strong Welsh export offer.”

LIMB-art has also been selected as a finalist for Global Start-up of the Year

by Wales Start-up Awards.

A record number of companies entered this year’s awards which are due to take place on Friday, September 18 at the Depot in Cardiff.

The company is on a mission to give prosthetic legs a better shape – traditionally offered on the NHS and which resemble ‘poles’ – as well as allowing the wearer to express their personality.

LIMB-art founder Mark Williams with an NHS prosthetic leg.

LIMB-art’s covers are a completely customisable accessory, lightweight and easy to fit and they are suitable for all users of above and below knee prostheses.

The covers not only give the wearer a full leg shape and restore balance to their silhouette, they also boost their confidence and allow them to show their personality because the brand offer a whole range of colours and designs.

One of its ambassadors is Darren Greenfield, currently the World’s Strongest Disabled Man and a LIMBart fan.

Association launches its updated website BRITISH Healthcare Trades Association has launched its new website to help healthcare professional and consumers.

The new product search is designed to make it easier to find products including PPE and a wide range mobility and independent living equipment.

The search facility connects website visitors to a wide range of BHTA member companies who are specialists in their chosen fields.

Once you have found the product you need you can call, email or click through to the website to get more help and advice.

With many NHS services restarting their services, and consumers looking for products after lock down eases, these two search facilities will help you find the products and information you need.

Steve Perry, marketing and

communications manager for the BHTA, said: “We get lots of telephone calls into our office from consumers looking for retail showrooms to visit, and product information requests from our face to face meetings with healthcare professionals at exhibitions and conferences.

“We could see sourcing information is important to help their jobs.

“These new search facilities will make it easier for everyone to make contact with our members and get advice on product information, demonstrations and ordering.”

The website information centre is a good resource for topics such as flying with a disability, and their Get wise publications covering pressure care, stairlifts, advice for parents, decontamination and infection and many other subjects are used by professionals across the UK.

PODartis offloading shoes: clinical trial evidence LEADING brand PODartis specialises in crafting a range of orthopaedic footwear, including forefoot offloading shoes.

These shoes are designed to protect and unload injured feet after surgery and for conservative treatments, reducing the contact area between the ground and the shoe itself.

Many clinical studies into

the effectiveness of offloading footwear have been carried out, with the results of each study proving that PODartis shoes reduce pressure and improve comfort.

4. Results showed that, compared to a standard shoe, the WPS significantly reduced forefoot pressure by a remarkable 60 per cent.

One such study, published in the authoritative Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, focused on WPS half shoe Podartis and TD Podartis and was designed to evaluate the offloading efficacy of these compared to normal shoes.

The TD with ZERO insole reduced pressure peaks by 47 per cent more than a standard shoe.

The research team concluded that the two types of PODartis footwear ‘represent two valid opportunities for the offloading of forefoot lesions, with an important reduction of forefoot peak pressure’.

In addition to evaluating efficacy, the study also analysed transfer of load in contra lateral feet and perceived comfort of the patients involved.

The study involved 13 diabetic patients, all of whom had lesions to the forefeet as a result of their condition.

Plantar pressure was evaluated during three distinct walking tests: 1. This was the control test, with both patients wearing standard shoes.

2. In the second test, the patients

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wore a WPS half shoe Podartis on their ulcerated foot and a standard shoe on their other foot.

3. The final test saw patients wear a TD Podartis offloading shoe (with rigid biomechanical outsole and ZERO insole with 8° of forefoot dorsiflection) on their ulcerated foot and a standard shoe on their other foot.

They also noted that the shoes were ‘well tolerated without important transfer of load on contra lateral foot’.

The Reed Medical website offers access to the details and results of more studies and clinical trials of PODartis footwear, of which we are a proud official supplier.

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Accessibility = success says number one GB para-rower Benjamin BENJAMIN Pritchard, a 28-year-old wheelchair user from South West Wales is currently the UK’s leading PR1 men’s single sculler and has achieved Paralympic qualification for Team GB – success he attributes to greater accessibility and independence at home.

Before becoming a successful fulltime para-athlete, Benjamin was a high achiever in sport at school.

He became a powerful triathlete with cycling as his main focus – helping him achieve category three classification in 2016.

Max Wilson’s parents have praised equipment provided by Jiraffe.

Postural support specialists help toddler to play THE parents of a 22-month-old boy from Greater Manchester with cerebral palsy have praised the equipment provided by a leading Sheffield-based postural support specialist.

Max Wilson, from Northenden, was born with cerebral palsy and received an Atom chair from postural support specialists Jiraffe shortly after his first birthday.

Atom by Jenx is a seating system designed to give children with additional postural needs the right amount of support in order to develop correct seating posture and maximise function.

The chair has enabled Max to join family activities with ease – the adjustable height means he can sit up high with his parents or lower it to his sister Mia’s table height.

Max’s dad Simon said: “We love the Atom chair and use it every day in a variety of ways – the fact it’s on wheels is great.

“We move him from room to room – so whether we’re dancing in the kitchen or zooming around the living room, Max can join in.

“It has helped us join together as a family for important communal activities, such as eating and playing, while enabling Max to be supported and comfortable.

“It gives us the freedom as parents to facilitate these daily activities and 8

ensure he gets the most of out of them.”

The seating system also aids Max’s development by giving him the ability to engage with sensory play – the big tray allows for a variety of toys big and small, allowing him to comfortably sit and play for up to an hour.

Simon added: “The chair has really helped Max physically – he has improved weight bearing through his arms on the tray and his foot shape has improved by using the sturdy footrest.

Inspired by category one rider Bradley Wiggins, Ben pushed himself to the max in his last season 2016/17 race aiming to achieve category two standing, when tragedy struck and he lost his front wheel, resulting in a high speed crash.

Ben suffered a T6 spinal fracture and paralysis from the waist down. He underwent months of rehabilitation at The National Spinal Injuries Centre in Stoke Mandeville during which time he was introduced to rowing.

Originally from Swansea, Ben moved to Greenwich in London after his studies and worked as a marine insurance broker in the City.

He thrived in this competitive environment, however, following his accident, combining life in a wheelchair with the daily commute and sports training became challenging.

Ben decided to move back to Ammanford in Wales, buying his own property so he could be nearer his family and girlfriend.

He invested in a ‘Dormer Bungalow’ which has now been fitted with specialist equipment for wheelchair accessibility.

“It’s great that we can remove the head rest too, as this has improved his trunk strength and head control.”

One of the key adaptations has been the installation of a contemporary homelift to give Ben seamless access upstairs.

Jenx is a family-run business that manufactures products to help children with special postural needs including seating, standing, sleeping and therapy equipment.

As a finely tuned athlete, having to ‘bum shuffle’ up and down stairs was becoming inconvenient, undignified and particularly unsafe when transferring out of a wheelchair.

Jiraffe is its UK distribution division.

With the help of his Stiltz Homelift, Ben has full and independent use of his home which has immeasurable value as a wheelchair user.

Holly Jenkins, director at Jiraffe, added: “We’re thrilled to hear that Max has gained so much more freedom through his use of the Atom.

“Atom is designed to support the child, ensuring a good seating position and allowing them to focus on the important tasks of playing and learning.

“It is fantastic to see Atom transforming the lives of children like Max and his family.”

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

Ben said: “My homelift makes a massive difference to my life and my ability to focus on training.

“When I am at home, I don’t worry about how to get up and down the stairs, plus I only need one wheelchair.

“Previously I needed two chairs – one upstairs and one down. Transferring

Ben Pritchard

between them was a pain and the continual fear of falling from a wheelchair at the top of the stairs was really preying on my mind and causing me stress and worry.

“Whereas now I can wheel myself between floors safely and without interruption.”

Since making his international debut for GB Rowing and claiming two bronze medals at the Gavirate International Regatta, he has won bronze at World Cup II in Poznan, Poland and represented Great Britain at the World Championships.

He has also secured qualification for Team GB at the Paralympics. During the pandemic lockdown he has been training at home as he’s unable to access his usual rowing regime which takes place near Reading in Berkshire.

As a professional sportsperson, focus is everything.

“When you are training six days a week as I do, you must remain 100 per cent focused at all times, you can’t afford any distractions or stress,” he added.

“Problems at home with usability must be avoided at all costs; assisted living has to be as easy as possible.

“All sports at this level are highly competitive and I am under extreme pressure to qualify for the Paralympics. As the Games have been delayed for a year, I now have to sustain my utmost performance levels for longer.

“I may have won a place in the Team GB Paralympics squad, however there is no guarantee I will sit in the boat. Having my home adapted, especially with the Stiltz Homelift, has strengthened my mental health and wellbeing – resulting in greater speed, better technique and faster times on the water.”

World’s first ‘open assisted living lab’ seeks solutions to care sector’s coronavirus crisis “Successful innovation in this field is crucial to alleviate the strain on our health and social care services and enhance the resilience of our communities.

The multi-disciplinary lab will target the fast co-creation of scalable and affordable solutions to support the care of vulnerable people whose urgent need has been exemplified by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“By collaborating across sectors and mobilising Scotland’s ground-breaking technology, this project has the potential to bridge considerable gaps in communication, break down institutional silos and facilitate wide-scale industry cooperation.”

The project is funded by EPSRC under the Impact Acceleration Accounts scheme and has already gained support from NHS Lothian, The Digital Health and Care Institute, Blackwood Home and Care Group, Consequential Robotics, Alcuris Ltd, Cyberselves and The Data Lab – Scotland’s innovation centre for data and AI. Additional collaborators from the care sector are now urged to join the project.

The Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland will play a key role in connecting the project to members in its supporting organisations, including more than 80 of the most significant care and support providers in Scotland’s third sector.

Part of the National Robotarium, based at HeriotWatt University, the OpenAAL lab will use digital twin, Internet of Things and Cloud technologies to provide a platform where researchers, industry and care providers, alongside end users of assisted living services, can co-create technology.

The platform, which utilises the facilities from Heriot-Watt’s existing living lab – a complete flat with adjoining workshop – will ensure both time and distance are no longer barriers to research and

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effective solutions to the wider challenges faced by individuals with assisted living needs in the home.

SCIENTISTS from Heriot-Watt University have launched what is believed to be the world’s first open and remote access living lab to research and create solutions for Ambient Assisted Living (OpenAAL).

The project will initially support key priority groups in the UK whose conditions have been compounded by the social isolation measures necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic. innovation. It is hoped that, as the project expands, researchers from all over the world may use the space to collaborate.

Dr Mauro Dragone, assistant professor at HeriotWatt University, is leading the OpenAAL project.

He said: “Our priority is to ensure that the devised solutions we create are practical and feasible, so they can be quickly implemented in the face of challenging social and economic conditions.

“There is huge potential to unify efforts and provide better support to the nation’s most vulnerable at this time.

“By combining the University’s unique laboratories with expertise in the care sector, we have the opportunity to tackle the current challenges head-on, but also establish long-term and cost-

These include those with multi-morbidity conditions, disabilities, and those in acute stages of mental ill health.

Heriot-Watt University has unique laboratory facilities and world-leading expertise including microsystems, (wireless) sensing, antenna, microwave and embedded systems, signal processing, data science, machine learning, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, humancomputer-interaction and Robotics.

These technologies can be used to enable nonintrusive monitoring of behaviour and vital signs, detect patterns and trends in behaviour and individual health status, identify problems, support self-management, decision-making and risk assessment, triage issues, facilitate communication and social connectedness, and provide social, cognitive and physical assistance when needed.

Student’s device to support those, like his gran, who have dementia they are performing.

A STUDENT has designed a device which supports people in the early to mid-stages of dementia so they can be more independent.

The device is also situational, and more than one can be placed in the home, with one in the kitchen with another one in the bedroom, for example.

Elliot Heffernan, 22, created Activity Aid to help people like his grandmother who experience difficulties in remembering the order in which to carry out day to day tasks.

The device allows a loved one to record vocal instructions on how to make a cup of tea, for instance, which enables people with the condition to follow the instructions step by step and be more selfsufficient.

“An issue that people in the early to mid-stages of dementia encounter is they struggle to remember the sequential order of even simple tasks, such as making a cup of tea,” said Elliot, from Chuckery in Walsall, who’s studying BSc Product Design at Nottingham Trent University.

“This is an issue that I have seen personally with a family member so had a good idea of the struggles that people with dementia go through.

Elliot produced a working prototype which has gone on public display for NTU’s 2020 virtual product design degree show.

“Dementia can completely change people’s lives and leave them feeling very frustrated, so I wanted to do something which would help others in a similar situation.

to all of us.”

“I’ve shown my prototype to my grandad and he said that it would have been useful when my grandma was in the early stages of dementia, as she was still trying to complete tasks but couldn’t quite remember how to do them.

His design enables the user to only have to press the button of the task they need assistance with before a voice guides them through it step by step.

“It would have helped her maintain a better degree of independence, something which is really important

Elliot arrived at the idea for Activity Aid after carrying out interviews with carers and a professional who is researching dementia.

This voice can be recorded by a carer or family member so it is more personal and reassuring.

An LED lights up in front of the task button to remind the user which one

The virtual show – named NTU Design Industries – encompasses a range of final year designs, products and furniture, by graduating students in the university’s School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment.

Dr Matthew Watkins, senior lecturer in BSc Product Design, said: “Elliot has taken his personal experience to design something which could help thousands of people around the world who have dementia.

“Consulting with professionals and carers to gain a full understanding the user experience, to deliver a simple product that can extend independence.”

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NEWS

Digital approach helps vulnerable people live more independently RESEARCHERS at Northumbria University are testing and developing a range of smart digital technologies to help some of the most vulnerable people in society live more independently.

than someone they don’t know on a generic tutorial video.”

Ana-Maria is currently looking at the most effective home sensors that can detect motion and if something seems out of the ordinary, an alert can be sent to a person’s family member or carer.

Tools including virtual assistants, sensors, apps and off-the-shelf smart devices, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home, are being tested as part of a ‘living lab’ and bringing together researchers from across faculties at the University.

The lab at Gateshead Innovation Village – an award-winning housing development created by Home Group, and designed by ID partnership with Project management

by Elliott associates – is the base for a 12-month research project examining how various digital technologies can assist vulnerable people in different ways.

These include home automation, prompts and reminders about their everyday activities, developing and maintaining their skills, and even monitoring their day-to-day behaviour.

The project will look to assist older people, those with mental health needs, and people with learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorder.

It is drawing upon expertise from academics in health, design and computer science.

Ana-Maria Salai, senior research assistant in the Department of

The project and its findings have been well-received by Home Group and now other local councils are showing interest in Northumbria’s innovative approach to support in the home.

Nursing, Midwifery and Health, has been living in the house at Gateshead Innovation Village as she examines and develops a range of smart digital technologies.

She has helped to develop personalised and agile approaches to existing everyday technology.

One solution that has been developed is IntraVox, which is a process that analyses data collected from the sensors and then sends a message in a familiar voice to control a virtual assistant.

This audible sending of commands makes the things that go on in the home clearer and more understandable, which is particularly important for residents that are not

used to “smart” technology.

“The voices on these devices such as Alexa and Google Home also sound quite synthetic,” she said.

“Programming these devices so that they have a human voice makes them a lot more user-friendly. These can be the voices of a family member, friend, or even a person’s carer.”

“We have also identified the benefits of developing a person’s skills using digital technologies, for example, using a tablet to show a friend or family member making a cheese sandwich, giving clear instructions along the way.

“This has proven more valuable to vulnerable people who respond better to a familiar voice and face, rather

Glenda Cook, Professor of Nursing at Northumbria University, who leads the project from a health care perspective, said: “Incredible social impact can be achieved through use of digital technologies that are becoming widely available to everyone and can support independence and improve quality of life. We hosted numerous workshops, bringing together health and social care organisations, city councils, people with learning disabilities, older people and family members who act as carers.

“We wanted the project to be very research-focussed, working closely with our partners to ensure maximum impact for the customer.”

Northumbria’s research in Integrated Health and Social Care looks at shaping interventions that have impacts on a health, educational, behavioural, economic and social basis at local, national and international levels.

Innovative wearable tech receives official medical device certification AN INNOVATIVE wearable solution which helps to identify certain health risks early on thereby enabling people to maintain their independence for longer, has been certified as an official medical device after conforming to EU standards.

Developed by HAS Technology with support from Edinburgh Napier University and Scotland’s Digital Health and Care Institute, ARMED empowers users with easy access to data allowing for better self-management, while healthcare professionals can be quickly alerted to potential issues.

Combining pioneering predictive analytics with wearable technology and health and social care data, ARMED can identify risks, such as a fall, by using this information to create a ‘risk profile’.

As a certified medical device, in 10

accordance with the Medical Device Directive, ARMED can now be used in clinical settings.

The ARMED clinical evaluation stated that a “proactive approach to falls is considered crucial” and “significant reductions in falls have been observed in trials when a risk of falling is identified, and the risk is managed.”

It also highlighted that “evaluations to date have identified clinical trends in patient groups including dehydration, weight loss, restlessness nocturnally, muscle wasting and reduced grip strength,” all of which can be monitored by ARMED. As a result, ARMED can improve the quality of life for individuals allowing them to stay healthier at home for longer; enables conditions to be monitored remotely reducing the

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

need for outpatient appointments; and helps to reduce costs by helping identify issues at an earlier stage, taking pressure off acute services.

Brian Brown, director of ARMED at HAS Technology, said: “We are delighted that ARMED has received certification as a medical device.

“Technology has a huge role to play moving forward and with so much evidence to support the benefits of early detection, this places ARMED in a much more credible position, especially within NHS spheres, to help make a real difference.

“This process can usually take up to nine months but, with the herculean effort of my colleagues, we reduced that timescale by several months.

“I would like to take the time to thank them all for their hard work and dedication to getting this done.”

Dr Kes Khaliq, clinical director of DigiTEC Innovation, who supported the team through the process and signed off on the 52-page clinical evaluation report, added: “I am pleased to have helped support the ARMED team during this process, receiving this end result.

“ARMED has been shown to have a huge impact for users, identifying potential issues at an early stage – up to 32 days in advance – thereby looking after the patient and also relieving pressure on already strained services. It is great that its benefits have been officially recognised.”

The multi-award winning solution is currently being used by hundreds of end users in multiple countries including councils, housing associations, health and social care partnerships and private care home providers.