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Rehabilitation robot simulating hippotherapy for patients in different phases of neurological rehabilitation

Country of Origin: Austria
Reference Number: TOAT20180223001
Publication Date: 23 February 2018

Summary

An Austrian company developed a certified medical rehabilitation robot for improved trunk control based on hippotherapy with real horses. The robot enables an individualized, predictable and continuous therapy over nearly all treatment stages with improved rehabilitation results at lowered operational costs compared to conventional therapeutic approaches.
The company is looking for commercial agreements with technical assistance and research agreements.

Description

An Austrian company developed a novel rehabilitation robot which simulates hippotherapy for patients who had an acute singular dysfunction (e.g. a stroke) and for patients with chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, parkinson or cerebral palsy. The aim of this therapy is to increase the activity of trunk and back muscles and to improve the targeted movement of the pelvis. 



Currently in clinics state of the art physiotherapy is applied to treat patients with such kind of singular dysfunctions and chronic diseases. Once the patient regained a specific level of trunk stability a hippotherapy with real horses can be applied.



To rebuild the hippotherapy, 3D scans of real horsebacks as well as motion capture analyses of moving horses were made. Subsequently an artificial horseback was reproduced which simulates the natural 3D horse movements. Patients sit on top of this horseback and react on the robot's movements while a therapist controls the patients position. Thereby the therapist can choose between the movement patterns "walk", "trot" and "galop" and can vary the speed as well as the intensity of the movements. Additionally individualised movement patterns can be downloaded on the robot's computer. Consequently this therapy can already be started when the patient still remains in high-maintenance medical care. From this early stage on the therapy can be intensified in subsequent rehabilitation stages. Furthermore the robot can also be used for prophylaxis and for the treatment of common backache. Currently this robot is the only known technology which can be applied to all these rehabilitation stages. 

In addition to the horseback movement a virtual reality application can be implemented in order to make patients move in a therapeutic manner and to motivate patients via gamification.



Application areas:

- Rehabilitation therapy after singular dysfunctions (e.g. a stroke)

- Permanent therapy of chronic diseases (e.g. multiple sclerosis, parkinson, cerebral palsy)

- Prophylaxis for people who sit most of the time at work (e.g. office work, airports,...)



The technology is already successfully applied for research and development purposes in medical facilities and a first clinical study (9 weeks) demonstrated advantageous rehabilitation results such as:

- increased activity of the trunk and back muscles

- enhanced selective pelvis movement

- improved ability to maintain a straight  pelvis and upper body posture

- improved static and dynamic balance

In fall 2018 an extensive, interdisciplinary study is scheduled to gain diagnostically conclusive results in various medical disciplines.



Certification standards:

- Type examination completed

- ISO 13485 certification (planned February 2018)

- System certification (1.Audit) according to medical device regulation (planned February 2018) 



Awards:

An Austrian award that honours the most marketable and most innovative concepts



Partners are sought for:

1) Commercial agreements with technical assistance to distribute the technology and ensure a professional installation of the robot as well as a professional training of the operating staff. 

2) Research agreements to implement further clinical studies.

Advantages and Innovations

In comparison to conventional physiotherapy, this technology poses remarkable advantages as:



1) Improved rehabilitation results 

2) The therapist does not have to move the patient by himself and can concentrate on the patient's posture

3) Only one therapist is necessary to take care of the patient instead of 3-4 therapists.





In comparison to hippotherapy with real horses this technology poses remarkable advantages as:



1) Customization to the patient's specific needs (movements,  speed, intensity, virtual reality)

2) Tailor made movements based on the patient's needs even beyond moves of a natural horseback

3) The possibility to provide a therapy over almost all therapy stages (from high-maintenance medical care to aftercare) while real hippotherapy can be used only at advanced stages of rehabilitation.

4) Only one therapist necessary to take care of the patient instead of 3-4 therapists for patient stabilization, management of the horse's movements and management of the patient's posture.

5) Costs: i) Lower operational costs than horses and ii) only one therapist necessary to take care of the patient instead of 3-4 therapists.

6) Availability of hippotherapy even in cities

7) High predictability and continuity of the therapy

8) Easy patient transfer

9) Lowered injury risk

10) Improved hygienic situation specifically in case of allergies

11) Improved muscular activity due to room temperature and a heated artificial horseback

Stage Of Development

Already on the market

Requested partner

SPECIFIC AREA OF ACTIVITY:

The Austrian company is looking for :



1) Companies with existing distribution networks in the field of medical robotics. Ideally the partner should be in direct contact with the end customer to ensure a skilled installation of the robot as well as professional training of the operating staff. 



2) Doctors, therapists, hospitals universities or R&D institutions with innovative ideas and an excellent scientific infrastructure to further develop the technology and to conduct specific clinical studies and give feedback.



TASK TO BE PERFORMED BY THE PARTNER:

The Austrian company is looking for partners:



1) who distribute the technology in their existing networks, organize the installation of the technology and offer general after sales services via a commercial agreement with technical assistance.



2) who are keen to conduct further clinical trials. The Austrian company aims to become a leader  in the area of robotics and rehabilitation and therefore needs partner who give feedback and inputs.



The Austrian company will transfer the necessary expertise. Thus, the partners will be able to ensure that the technology is installed in a technically correct manner. 

This transfer of expertise can include:

- Initial training

- Support for the first installation and assembly

- Technical consultancy



The robot is produced in Austria. General service and maintenance would be done by the Austrian company. A remote servicing of the robot is possible via the integrated computer.