by developing the concept of an Assistive Sleeve.
As an outgrowth of the platform technology developed by the Company for its Orthodynamic
Rehabilitator the Company is developing a conceptual “Assistive Orthodynamic Sleeve” for
muscle-impaired individuals. The Sleeve will facilitate movement of a damaged or disabled
limb in order to improve an individual’s quality of life and provide a cost-effective solution for
patients who have lost partial use of a limb resulting from CVA, injury, paralysis, or other
causes.
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disabilities who no longer benefit from rehabilitation therapy but who could benefit from a
device that will amplify their limited muscle strength and movements and assist them in
performing certain ADL functions such as getting dressed, picking up a telephone, opening
and closing doors or drinking from a cup.
The Assistive Sleeve will enable the device to extend the user’s range of movement and amplify
the user’s power. It will be easy to use and allow for precise movement control: the patient will
be able to activate the actuator at will, generating responses similar to the human body’s
natural muscles. The company's Artificial Muscle will act as a small, highly powerful,
lightweight, bi-directional actuator whose working parts will be compactly contained within a
flexible, selective elastic polymer sleeve.
According to the National Stroke Association, of the more than 4.6 million stroke survivors in the
US, up to half require daily assistance. Over half a million people survive stroke each year and,
as the elderly population increases, this number is expected to rise. In addition to stroke and
other neuromuscular diseases, head and spinal cord injuries account for tens of thousands of
Americans each year who suffer temporary and permanent disabilities. Statistics gathered by
the World Health Organization indicate that 15 million people worldwide survive minor strokes.
The Company knows of no mobile robotic assisting device on the market for this target group.