Technologies applied to rehabilitation

Background
Many people have significant difficulty eating independently, due to motor deficits in the upper limbs, such as muscle spasms or tremors, in connection with diagnoses such as cerebral motor impairment, spinal cord injury or Parkinson’s disease.

Solution
The research team has developed a mechanical arm to assist movement during feeding. The arm attaches to the table with a suction cup. The user guides the mechanism via a handle, between the plate and his mouth. The mechanism amplifies the user’s movement and keeps the spoon always straight. In the end, the mechanical arm ensures that less force and less range of motion are required from the user to feed.

Valuation
This technology is in the pre-commercial improvement phase for commercial transfer.

Background
Work-related shoulder injuries affect workers’ quality of life and lead to absenteeism or loss of productivity. Despite prevention efforts, the prevalence of these attacks is increasing. There is also a glaring lack of tools to improve the prevention of these injuries. Indeed, there is no device capable of quantitatively measuring over a long period of time the muscular effort and movements of the upper limb in relation to the physical demands of the work.

Solution
The rehabilitation engineering team has developed an electronic bracelet for the prevention of workplace injuries. The strap, which looks like a smartwatch, attaches to the user’s arm. It acquires data with the help of a sensor and analyzes the person’s movements in real time. The bracelet then warns the person if they are in a non-ergonomic position or do too many repetitions of movement. This causes the person to change their movement strategy or take a break to avoid injury.

Valuation
This technology is in the pre-commercial improvement phase for commercial transfer.

Problem

In-cab clinical audiometric assessment is usually performed in a test environment that is not representative of the everyday hearing experience. However, the sound spaces of everyday life are often significant obstacles to the perception of speech and sound, especially for people with impaired hearing.

Solution

Thanks to the unique capture/reproduction process of the Immersion 360 system, the clinician can now place his client in sound environments that correspond to the real situations of life, both in an evaluation and rehabilitation context.

Valorization

Spin-off of Immersion Technologies Inc., a company focused on innovation in audiology that relies on a long experience in auditory assessment and training applications, as well as solid technical expertise.