http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/ Assistive Technologies has become established as a vital reference for healthcare professionals, experts and association businesses who have interests in assistive technologies and mobility improvement. The magazine brings the latest news, insights and product information to all clinicians, therapists and equipment suppliers with a professional interest in helping people with disabilities lead more mobile, independent lives. en-uk Copyright Wharncliffe Publishing Limited 2008 2008-08-05 10:05:40 2008-08-05 10:05:40 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/ http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/images/rsslogo.gif http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2008-08 SCIENTISTS in America have pioneered a new total ankle replacement technique that does not make use of permanent metal implants. Dr Daniel Lee, of the San Diego Medical Centre, has developed a procedure that could be useful to patients with severe arthritis as it delivers increased mobility and pain relief without the need for metal implants. 'Up until now, patients have had two options for replacing their ankle joints: metal implants or fusion of the joints,' added Daniel, director of foot and ankle surgery at UCSD Medical Center. 'Now there is an option that actually restores the ankle with an FDA-approved biologic material that is similar to the collagen found in cartilage.' Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-08-05 10:05:40 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2008-08 A RESEARCHER at the University of Southampton has developed a self-powered sensor to monitor progress during knee operations. As part of his final year project of his Masters degree in electromechanical engineering, which he studied at the university's school of electronics and computer science, Fauzan Baharudin explored the potential for the use of thick film technology in the development of medical sensors which could be embedded in the knee during surgery. This new sensor, called Serial In-vivo Transducer (SIT) could measure tendon force during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. "I chose knee surgery because there has been very little research carried out in this field and I felt a self-powered device could work well in the knee," he said. "It remains a mystery to me, given how common knee injuries are among athletes, that devices like ours have not been developed before now." Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-08-05 10:04:53 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2008-07 PATIENTS who have lost limbs are taking part in a pioneering trial which uses computer game technology to ease their pain. A sensor like that used on a Nintendo Wii is attached to the stump and special software recreates the missing limb and its movements on screen. Neuro-rehabilitationist Dr David Henderson Slater has been running trials with patient volunteers at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NOC) in Oxford to test the virtual reality system which is due to feature in a TV documentary later this year. He said: 'It senses where you are - a bit like a Wii. It takes a lot of effort to exist with that level of pain. It would be great if this technology enabled more people to ease their pain without taking lots of pills.' Doctors hope that using it regularly could bring long-term pain relief - potentially benefiting thousands of people nationwide - by making the patient feel like they are moving the whole leg and foot and 'persuading' the brain that the limb is really there. The trial involves patients using a virtual pedal to beat a drum pictured on a computer monitor (or pick up an apple where an arm has been lost).nths. And the next day I was walking around for two-and-a-half hours whereas before I could only stand up for a few minutes.' Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-07-01 13:37:10 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2008-07 By Dominic Musgrave A NEW prosthesis which is set to revolutionise ankle replacement surgery has been designed by orthopaedic surgeons in America. Surgeon Brian Donley has become the first to implant a new total ankle replacement and it is being investigated as a potential alternative to traditional ankle fusion. The replacement was created to better emulate normal ankle movement while preserving more of a patient's original bone. This allows patients to have more natural motion and suffer less pain compared to other treatment options. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-07-01 13:35:57 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2008-06 THE launch of new joint replacement products mean patients can now customise their device to fit with their lifestyle. DePuy Orthopaedics, a global leader in devices for joint replacement, has launched a new portfolio of Sigma knee products that offers surgeons the ability to select from a wide range of instruments and implants based on a spectrum of patient needs and their own surgical preferences. President David Floyd said: 'These significant enhancements to the Sigma knee group are the beginning of a new era of products and solutions designed to offer high performance instrumentation, customisation, quicker recovery, and longer-term durability for the wide range of patients seeking knee replacement today." DePuy Orthopaedics has also launched the Sigma High Performance instruments, a new line of instruments designed to enhance procedure efficiency, surgical precision and flexibility. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-06-03 09:14:56 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2008-06 A NEW energy-capturing knee brace can generate enough electricity from walking to operate a motorised prosthetic joint, an ipod or a mobile phone. The wearable mechanism works in the same way as the power-generating brakes found in hybrid cars, which collect the kinetic energy that would otherwise be lost as heat when a car slows down. The knee brace harvests the energy lost when a human brakes the knee after swinging the leg forward to take a step. The mechanism was developed by Dr. Arthur Kuo of the University of Michigan, who calls his invention a 'biomechanical energy harvester'. He said: 'There is power to be harvested from various places in the body and you can use that to generate electricity - the knee is probably the best place. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-06-03 09:13:23 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2008-05 A NEW device has been launched that enhances grip for upper extremity, body-powered prostheses users. It works on an adjustable cable lock and retainer system that allows people with upper extremity prostheses to grip objects with varying degrees of force and manually lock the device into place. Bob Radocy, an upper limb amputee and founder of TRS - the company that specializes in upper extremity prostheses for active individuals - said: 'The big advantage of the Sure-Lok system is the convenience it offers. Not as much energy or effort is required to grab hold of things and you can lift objects ranging from a suitcase to a cocktail glass with ease. The Sure-Lok system adds a new dimension of functionality and expands the capabilities of any body-powered prosthetic device." Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-05-02 09:27:11 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2008-05 A LANCASHIRE surgeon is leading the way in keyhole hip surgery after developing his own specialist equipment. Aslam Mohammed is at the forefront of the minimally invasive procedure for the hip joint which is provided at only a handful of NHS hospitals in the UK. The consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Chorley and South Ribble District General Hospital has been perfecting the procedure for more than 12 years and has developed instrumentation which gives safe access into the hip joint and to perform the surgery. Now he trains and teaches other surgeons wanting to perform the procedure, which although complicated, allows most patients to go home the same day. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-05-02 09:26:22 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2008-04 The event, will be held at the Technology in Motion Centre in Cardiff and is aimed at physiotherapists and others who work in sports medicine. Speakers include Professor Mike Benjamin from the School of Biosciences at Cardiff University and Swansea University's Dr Liam Kilduff. Professor Benjamin, who helped to organise the event, will open proceedings with a presentation on 'Lower limb fascia with particular reference to the foot.' After years of researching strength and power development in elite athletes, Dr Liam Kilduff will be presenting his findings on developing a powerful rugby player. Dr Kilduff, who has worked on various Welsh Rugby Union and Ospreys Rugby commissioned research projects said: 'There are many elements to consider when developing the perfect rugby player. Over the last number of years we have developed a testing battery, which allows us to perform a strength diagnosis on individual players. From this we can identify any weak links in the players performance with the overall aim of developing a bigger, stronger and more powerful player.' Other speakers at the event, include Dr Nicki Phillips from Cardiff University, who will be discussing returning to sport following a lower limb injury. Also, Professor Julien Baker from the University of Glamorgan will be sharing his findings on the psychological and mechanical issues related to the measurement of anaerobic capacity in elite athletes. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-04-15 10:48:49 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2008-04 HER Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall visited the University of East London (UEL) to open the new Centre for Clinical Education in Podiatry, Physiotherapy, Complementary Medicine and Sports Science. She also visited the SCORE in Leyton, a unique facility for community sport, health and regeneration and a partner in UEL's applied sports science programmes. Her Royal Highness looked at a range of clinical, teaching and research facilities, and met staff, students and partners including Lord Rix, chancellor of the University of East London, vice-chancellor professor Martin Everett, Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham, Tessa Sanderson CBE, Mike Gatting and representatives of Newham Primary Care Trust. Her Royal Highness said: 'Thank you all for showing me round today and teaching me all about feet. I think this is a fantastic place, and I'm very proud to be a patron of podiatry.' The University of East London was the first UK institution to launch a physiotherapy degree programme in 1984, originally run at the Royal London Hospital. In 2003, UEL successfully bid for the NHS training contract to deliver Podiatry in London, previously held by University College London. Prof Martin Everett said: "We were thrilled that her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cornwall, opened our new Centre for Clinical Education. This unique facility, developed in partnership with the NHS, is a major milestone in the provision of clinical education in London, and marks a new phase in the development of our university here in Stratford.' The centre offers state-of-the-art clinical facilities in podiatry, and teaching laboratories and clinics for physiotherapy, sports science and complementary medicine. The upper floor houses orthotics laboratories, minor operations suite, and teaching laboratories for physiotherapy, complementary medicine, including acupuncture and herbal medicine, and sports and exercise science. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-04-01 10:12:46 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2008-03 By Dominic Musgrave STROKE patients at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre will benefit from a unique spring-loaded 'glove' that helps them gain the reuse of a partially paralysed hand. Stroke patients currently under rehabilitation programmes at the NOC's Oxford Centre for Enablement, will be introduced to the Saebo arm training programme which enables patients who have suffered a neurological trauma, such as stroke, to begin to regain some of the muscle tone and coordination to the affected arm. The SaeboFlex orthosis was originally developed in the United States and is an occupational therapy tool that has proven highly effective, even for patients who were advised that their chances for improvement were virtually non-existent. Research has shown that patients following the Saeboflex programme demonstrated improved ability following a relatively short space of time. In one case a patient was able to type, get dressed and even begin to learn to play the guitar after a six-month period of regular treatment. The SaeboFlex does not have any mechanical parts to drive the activity, so the improvements that are experienced result from the efforts put forth by the patient and not through mechanised assistance. NOC senior physiotherapist, Jo Pierce said: "We're very excited about introducing this new way of treating patients at the NOC. It's a relatively new rehabilitative tool that, as yet, is not widely used in this country and not at all within the NHS or other specialist neurological rehabilitation treatment centres. Many of the patients we treat have varying levels of disability that has resulted from some neurological trauma, like stroke. The results that can be achieved by using a tool like the SaeboFlex are really impressive and we're all really excited at having this as part of our treatment equipment." Six spring-loaded Saeboflex 'gloves' have been purchased for the Headington-based centre's neuro-rehabilitation gymnasium, and staff have been trained to teach patients how to use the specialist equipment. Training and assessment for out-patients will be on offer and patients who would benefit from the technology and are staying in the 16 in-patient beds will also be able to use the device. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-03-03 10:42:30 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2008-01 SCIENTISTS from the University of Ulster and the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur have teamed up to investigate how to develop intelligent robotic devices that could help people with severe disabilities achieve greater independence. The project involves researchers from Ulster's Intelligent Systems Research Centre on its Magee campus in Londonderry, and scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology. The three-year project is jointly funded by the Indian and UK Governments under the prestigious UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI). UKIERI grant-aids collaborative projects between higher educational institutions in the UK and India. Dr Girijesh Prasad, a senior lecturer in the School of Computing and Intelligent Systems, who leads the project team, said: 'Thousands of people suffering from neuro-muscular disabilities such as motor neurone disease (MND) and spinal cord injury (SCI), may be completely paralysed. "While these people have all their senses intact to see, feel and dream, they may have no means of communicating with the external world at all. In order to provide greater independence to such people, the project aims to investigate intelligent systems that facilitate development of a low-cost assistive robotic device.' The main project objectives are to investigate: • a brain-computer interface (BCI) that allows a disabled person to control a smart wheelchair and robotic manipulator combination by thinking; • a visual tracking system for operating the wheelchair as an automated guided vehicle (AGV) to provide mobility; • the development of a robotic arm for the natural execution of actions desired by the disabled user. This project involves the recruitment of three new postgraduate research students to assist in the joint programme of research. It also includes intensive research exchanges between the two institutions by Ulster and IIT Kanpur researchers, and senior research students. This innovative project is expected to expedite improvements in the lives of persons with movement disability due to old age, disease or injury. Professor Martin McGinnity, director of the Intelligent Systems Research Centre, said: 'We are delighted to have been successful in gaining this award. There is intense competition for UKIERI research funds and our success is thus all the more pleasing. The project itself addresses important technical and medical issues and we are looking forward to a fruitful collaboration with one of the most prestigious research institutions in India.' The three-year £145,000 project is jointly funded by the Indian and UK Governments under the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI). UKIERI grant-aids collaborative projects between higher educational institutions in the UK and India. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-01-02 14:31:38 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2008-01 NEW software developed at the University of Salford which allows clinicians to rapidly set up nerve stimulation systems to assist stroke patients with grasping and releasing objects is just one of the outcomes of a €23m research project to develop medical devices and associated technologies. The Healthy Aims consortium had its final meeting at the university on December 4 and 5 where representatives of the 26 partners discussed how to commercialise the medical devices and technologies they have developed. The Salford software works in conjunction with a functional electrical stimulation device that provides small electrical pulses to the nerves to replace the natural nerve signals that may be missing after a stroke. By using information from movement sensors to identify when to apply stimulation to activate the muscles that control hand opening, it allows users to pick up and release objects. Another device based on software developed and evaluated by the University is able to monitor how much activity, and which activities, people undertake in their everyday lives. The new device has the potential to be of benefit to people being treated for obesity as their doctors can use the data in their diagnosis and treatments. Devices are due to be commercialised by a number of industry partners in the Healthy Aims consortium including Odstock Medical, Finetech Medical and European Technology for Business Ltd. Other devices developed by the partners in the consortium include an instrumented contact lens to monitor the effects of glaucoma over extended periods, a retinal implant for artificial vision and a device to monitor pressure in the brain cavity. Dr Laurence Kenney and professor David Howard of the University's Centre for Rehabilitation and Human Performance Research led the research team at Salford. Laurence said: "Both of the systems we've been working on have the potential to make a significant difference to many people's quality of life and also to be successful in an industry worth £4bn a year to the UK economy." Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-01-02 14:30:46 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2008-01 LORRAINE Clapham, a chartered physiotherapist from Winchester, has received the physio of the year award from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). Lorraine, 55, works in the Wessex Neurological Centre at Southampton General hospital and was described by a colleague as an inspirational physiotherapist, highly respected in her profession. Her colleague Louise Baker, who nominated her for the award, said: 'Lorraine encompasses everything that a physiotherapist in the current NHS should be. Even after thirty years she is continuously striving for new ways to improve patient care.' The Physio of the Year awards, held by the CSP for the first time this year, are designed to celebrate the achievement of chartered physiotherapists who are delivering excellent services to patients, pushing the boundaries of practice, or engaging in research to the benefit of the profession. The awards were presented at a lunch at the New Connaught Rooms in London. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-01-02 14:29:20 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2008-01 TECHNOLOGY developed by NASA for astronauts is being used in a treatment to help people suffering from circulation problems in their legs. The equipment was originally designed to help people maintain the blood supply to their lower limbs during the periods of weightlessness in space. 'It is estimated that approximately 90 per cent of the UK's population will be affected by lower limb circulatory problems at some point in their lives which means that in the Bicester area literally thousands of people could benefit from this treatment,' said Les Lindsay, biochemist and managing director of the Future Wellbeing clinic. 'Vacumed', which is a non-invasive and pain-free therapy, is designed to both treat and prevent the development of circulatory deterioration. The equipment, which costs £30,000, has been brought to the UK for the first time, having been successfully used in 46 countries worldwide. 'People, primarily women, between the ages of 35 and 50 might experience cold feet, night cramps, leg and buttock pain while walking, spider veins and general pain and swelling in the legs. This is often an indication of a developing circulation problem which, if untreated, can significantly worsen potentially requiring surgery down the line,' added Les. The team at the clinic is now looking to build up UK case studies to demonstrate the enormous value of this treatment to a wide range of people. The Future Wellbeing clinic is offering free treatment to around 70 individuals who will become 'case studies' to show just how effective it is. A course of 10-20 sessions would normally cost £450. Anyone interested in the upcoming trial should contact 01869 252238 to request an information pack. There will be no charge but potential clients will need to complete a short questionnaire that they should return in order to be assessed for treatment. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2008-01-02 14:28:33 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-12 PERSONALITIES from the worlds of sport and politics immortalised their footprints in a 'walk of fame' to launch Salford University's state-of-the-art new £0.75m podiatry clinic. Salford City Reds prop-forward Philip Leuluai and Salford MP and secretary of state for communities and local government, Hazel Blears were among the first celebrities to put their very different sized feet in moulds which will be displayed in the new university facilities for years to come. Designed with the local community in mind, the clinic enables Salford podiatry students to continue their work with real patients under the supervision of fully qualified staff – within brand new hi-tech facilities. Services include gait analysis, nail surgery and children's foot care. Guests at the launch included Salford City Reds coach Shaun McRae and world record-breaking marathon runner Ron Hill, as well as other professionals from the health and sport industries, with the facilities being officially opened by Hazel Blears MP. She said: “I am delighted to officially open the podiatry clinic at Salford University and I would like to congratulate everyone who has been involved. “The state-of-the-art facilities will provide an excellent opportunity for students to gain new skills and I am very pleased indeed that it is operating for the benefit of the local community.” Head of the university's school of health care professions, Sue Braid said: “With its visually stunning interior this new clinic will enable our students – including many of our international students – to maximise their skills while being supervised by our experienced staff. There will also be plenty of opportunities for collaborative research with our gait lab. “The clinic will also serve as a valuable service to the community. It is already frequently visited by celebrities and sports personalities and we have links with Manchester City Football Club and Lancashire County Cricket Club. We intend to add to our collection of 'walk of fame' footprints over the coming months and years – they'll be an entertaining addition to our reception area.” Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-12-05 09:44:26 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-12 CHESTERFIELD Wheelchair Service (WS) has adopted Ethitec’s ELMS2 Wheelchair Module to enable greater flexibility in service management and care delivery. From managing assessment clinics to general stock control, the ELMS2 Wheelchair Module is designed to map and support the day-to-day operations of a busy wheelchair service. Chesterfield WS decided to implement ELMS2 based on the bespoke wheelchair features the system provides. The ELMS2 Wheelchair Module has reduced the administrative burden of coordinating the scheme by electronically recording client preference and then automatically printing the relevant voucher. Judith Taylor, wheelchair service manager for North Derbyshire, said: “Choice is central to client satisfaction, particularly where permanent wheelchair loans are concerned. “Since its introduction we have always endorsed and delivered the voucher scheme, but administration was a lengthy paper-based process. Now we simply check a box on ELMS2 which instantly records the client’s choice and if relevant, prints the voucher straight away.” The advanced reporting features of ELMS2 have also made a positive impact on monitoring the wheelchair voucher scheme. Judith added: “Basically, whatever information goes into ELMS2 we can easily extract a report on. This makes it easy for us to monitor uptake of the scheme as well as review against available budget. It’s extremely user friendly and I wouldn’t be without it now.” The benefit of ELMS2 reports extend far beyond the wheelchair voucher scheme. Superior management information in relation to commissioning and providing can be accessed with ease. Whether to obtain a summary of GP referrers or to evaluate service performance against neighbouring providers, ELMS2 gives Chesterfield WS an efficient and effective reporting tool. From a stock control perspective, ELMS2 offers robust track and trace functionality, delivering real time information on individual wheelchair location and history. In the event of an MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) alert for example, a search can be conducted using a wide range of criteria including Asset ID, the manufacturer or batch number, delivery note number, or external reference number – and then any affected wheelchairs immediately identified and recalled.  Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-12-05 09:43:12 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-12 EXPERTS at the University of Nottingham are looking to recruit men of two specific age groups to help understand the effect of exercise and nutrition on muscle in old age. The team from the School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health at Derby City General Hospital, expect this information will help the elderly avoid falls and fractures by discovering the amount of exercise and the kind of nutrition needed to maintain and rebuild muscles. Leading this research is Michael Rennie, Professor of Clinical Physiology, and an expert on muscle growth and wasting in health and disease. He said: “If we can preserve muscle tissue and maintain health and independence as we get older that in turn would reduce healthcare costs associated with age related muscle wasting. We already know that it is harder for older people to maintain their muscles and we know that exercise can build muscle. What we do not yet know is how much or how little exercise is needed to do this or how best to feed people to maximise the benefit.” They now wish to recruit healthy male volunteers to carry out these studies after obtaining funding from Unilever plc. The researchers are looking for non-smoking volunteers aged between 18 and 30 or 65 and 75. Initially, the volunteers will undergo health screening and a body scan to measure their muscle composition and muscle strength. On two separate occasions, under the supervision of a doctor and scientists, they will take part in exercise of varying intensity and duration. During these visits, a tagged amino acid will be infused and blood samples and muscle biopsies will be taken, under local anaesthesia, from thigh muscle so the researchers can measure the body’s ability to make muscle in response to exercise and feeding. The research group has over 20 years experience of carrying out these types of metabolic studies. Volunteers will also receive an honorarium to cover their expense. Dr Vinod Kumar, who is currently recruiting volunteers, said: “I am really excited to be involved in this project because it is inevitable that we will all grow old. So, if we can determine how to maintain muscle mass as we age it will greatly benefit us all.” The study has just started and they hope to finish by the middle of 2009. The team needs to recruit 78 volunteers over the next 18 months and results should begin to come through by the middle of 2008. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-12-05 09:42:17 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-12 A PIONEERING system which aims to retrain weak or paralysed muscles in patients who have suffered brain damage as a result of a stroke is being trialled at the University of Southampton. Local people are needed to participate in trials so that this technology can be made widely available. Researchers from the University’s School of Health Professions and Rehabilitation Sciences and the School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) have developed a technology to help stroke patients to re-learn movement. Dr Jane Burridge from the School of Health Professions and Rehabilitation Sciences who is leading the research said: “As far as we know, nobody has tried using a technique called iterative learning control, to help people who have had a stroke to move again. It is a great example of how state of the art control theory, normally used for industrial robots, can be applied to challenges in rehabilitation.” Now, 18 months into the three-year project, the researchers have tested the technology on healthy people and proved that it works and now want to carry out trials with local people who have suffered strokes. Working with stroke patients, the team will look at how electrical stimulation to contract appropriate muscles through electrodes attached to the skin can be controlled to enable stroke patients to successfully perform tasks. The patient will attempt to track a moving target over a two dimensional plane by moving a joystick. The patient’s movement will be measured to detect the tracking error and calculations made to adjust the level and timing of stimulation so that the error is corrected. The ultimate aim is that through repetition, voluntary movement will improve, thus gradually reducing the need for artificial stimulation. Dr Paul Lewin at ECS said: “This is a very challenging project as it is the first time in Europe that this technology has been applied to humans. With robots, behaviour is entirely predictable, you can make them perform a task perfectly every time. People often reach a natural plateau in their performance, but if you can get them to repeat moves using certain tasks, they have a much better chance of recovery.” Dr Burridge added: “This is a very exciting development of what could prove to be a user friendly way of enabling recovery of movement in patients who are severely disabled.” Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-12-05 09:40:40 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-11 A NEW rocket-powered mechanical arm, fuelled by liquid hydrogen peroxide and using iridium-coated alumina granules, could lead to "better, stronger, faster" bionic limbs, according to research conducted at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. The new prototype mechanical arm is capable of lifting up to 11kg, which is four times more than current commercial prosthetic arms and around four times faster. Researcher Michael Goldfarb said: "Our design does not have superhuman strength or capability, but it is closer in terms of function and power to a human arm than any previous prosthetic device that is self-powered and weighs about the same as a natural arm." The design of the arm is similar to rocket systems used to help space shuttles and satellites manoeuvre while in orbit and uses a miniature rocket, the size of a pencil, fuelled by pressurized liquid hydrogen peroxide catalysed by iridium-coated alumina granules, which then generates steam that forces pistons into action. The arm also has improved dexterity and manoeuvrability, with a wrist that can twist and bend, Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-11-01 14:20:22 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-11 THE ‘dressing loop’ – a metre-long stretch of elastic – is speeding up the rate at which occupational therapists (OTs) at the Queen Elizabeth and Selly Oak Hospitals can evaluate patients’ functional abilities as part of an assessment screen before they are discharged home. The idea is also proving a boost for patients’ privacy and dignity because they no longer have to undress, dress and wash themselves to demonstrate how well they could cope after leaving hospital. Now a commercial licence deal for the invention – by a team led by Catherine Sykes, deputy head of the Trust’s OT service – has been concluded thanks to MidTECH. MidTECH has brokered the agreement for the production and distribution of the ‘dressing loop’ by Nottingham Rehab Supplies and the product will soon be on sale to other NHS and social care organisations. It was in 1999 that Catherine and two of her then colleagues, Rob Heath and Sarah Winters, had a brainstorming session to see if there was a quicker way of assessing patients’ needs when they were due to be discharged from hospital. OTs used to have to watch as patients dressed and washed themselves to assess whether they would need extra help or disability equipment when they went home. The raw idea for the ‘dressing loop’ initially came from Sarah Winters, who remembered a game from her schooldays in which, as part of a race, children would have to pick up a loop of elastic and pull it over their bodies from toe to head. Catherine, who qualified as an OT in 1990 and has worked for UHB for 15 years, becoming deputy head of the service in 2001, said: “We realised that if somebody could reach down to pull the loop over their feet, up their body and over their head they would have the range of movement needed to get washed, undressed and dressed. “We experimented with different pieces of elastic and came up with the idea for fitting ‘D’ shaped rings so that it could expand or contract depending upon a patient’s size. We teamed this up with a jar, which can show a patient’s hand function in relation to how well they can open things. “Of the 200 referrals a month that our OTs receive from wards needing patients assessed before discharge, around 40 are for people who can benefit from using the ‘dressing loop’. The loop is much better for these patients’ privacy and dignity – and it cuts the amount of time for an assessment by 30 minutes to an hour, meaning they can go home more quickly and free up beds for others who need them.” The invention won the ‘low tech’ category of MidTECH’s innovation awards in 2006 and the £2,000 prize was reinvested to steer forward its development as a commercial product. David Gleaves, chief executive of MidTECH, said: “The beauty of this innovation is that it is simple in concept – yet very effective. We’re extremely pleased that MidTECH has been instrumental in negotiating a commercial licence deal so that this ingenious device will be available to help patients and OTs in other hospitals. The UHB Trust will also benefit financially and will be able to invest the share of the profits that it receives to develop and enhance its services.” Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-11-01 14:19:25 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-11 OSSUR’S Proprio Foot has won a 2007 da Vinci Award in America. The Proprio Foot is the world’s first motor-powered and intelligent prosthetic foot. The foot replaces muscle function that was lost due to an amputation, enabling amputees to perform normal, functional activites by: Sensing. Knowing where their foot is in space is a huge safety issue for amputees. Sophisticated sensor technology mimics the body’s own neural receptors that are sensitive to mechanical change, providing artificial proprioception (that sense of where the limb is in space). Hence the name PROPRIO FOOT. Thinking. Patented artificial intelligence (AI) processes information from the sensors and activates the most appropriate response for the next step. Acting. The AI transmits a constant stream of signals which instruct high-precision actuator technology to act and deliver optimal function. Expertise in real-time motion analysis for the foot was provided by Canadian company, Dynastream. “We take great pleasure in knowing that the Proprio Foot has won the 2007 da Vinci Award,” said Eythor Bender, Ossur America’s president. “The foot was launched in September 2006, and the US Department of Defense and the VA are both actively using it to benefit servicemen returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, as well as veterans of past wars. It is also quickly becoming the foot of choice for diabetic amputees all over the world.” The da Vinci Awards honour outstanding engineering achievements relative to design process, product design and applied research which relate to accessibility and universal design issues. The winners were honoured at a ceremony during a gala reception at the Ritz Carlton in Dearborn, Michigan. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-11-01 14:09:49 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-11 A PROTOTYPE of a multi terrain adventure chair (MTAC) which aims to bring together both able bodied children and children with disabilities was unveiled at The Robert Gordon University. Johanna Doyle, a recent engineering design graduate from RGU, developed the project as part of her honours year. The idea originally came from school pupils from Elrick Primary School after reading a poem about a disabled child who found it almost impossible to move around in a wheelchair in the snow. The pupils came up with the concept of MTAC which would allow children with disabilities to enjoy the outdoors and have fun with their friends. The children entered their design in, 'The Young Inventors Scotland Challenge', which they won in 2004. The School received funding from Wood Group and approached RGU to take MTAC forward. Johanna Doyle (21), from Portlethen, became involved in September last year, moving the project on considerably. The design is innovatively different, featuring a stylish globe made of glass reinforced plastic mounted on a sturdy boxed aluminium chassis. The body chassis is mounted onto four independent 'spider-like' aluminium legs. Using pneumatics and tension springs the chair will lower offering the child easy access into the MTAC and then heighten to improve the child's eye level when socialising. Johanna said: “I kept the colours black and red although there is no reason why it can't be customised to suit the individual.” A controller similar to that used on a Playstation console will be used to control the vehicle. This can be used by the child or by an external carer. Johanna said: “I believe that keeping the steering design similar to a device children are familiar with would keep things simple. “The power pack will be located at the back and covered with mesh so that children cannot tamper with it or get their fingers stuck. This is also the reason why there are no hinges on the exterior of the MTAC, all the springs and rams are tucked away underneath the chassis.” The full scale prototype was funded by Elrick Primary, RGU and Wood Group, with RGU's Alan Owen and Gareth Broxton and John Bethel from Wood Group involved throughout. The staff and pupils from Elrick Primary School were Louise Malcolm the headteacher at the time, teacher Anne Fairley, and pupils Sarah Scott, Shannen Murray, Rebecca Fraser and Neil Melville. Johanna now works at Aker Kvaerner Subsea Limited as a junior designer in the Christmas tree department. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-11-01 14:08:30 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-10 YOUNGSTERS on Ward S3 at Sheffield Children’s Hospital can now enjoy a change of scenery following the donation of two new wheelchairs from leading mobility specialist Remploy Healthcare. As the leading supplier of wheelchairs to the NHS, Remploy Healthcare was delighted to come to the rescue of the ward, which was in desperate need of extra chairs to enable the children to move around the hospital safely and comfortably. Remploy donated two general-purpose attendant propelled 9Trl wheelchairs, which are ideally suited for use in a hospital environment owing to the model’s ease of use, durability and longevity in addition to its lightweight steel frame that enables safer handling and transportation. The children can now leave the ward and visit the canteen or park with their parents. It was a family friend, whose son was receiving treatment on the ward, who made Remploy’s Product Manager Carl Jarvis aware of the hospital’s plight and Carl and his fellow colleagues at Remploy Chesterfield were more than happy to help. Carl said: “Being in hospital is a difficult time for anyone but it’s particularly hard for children who are used to being able to move around freely and play with their friends. Knowing first hand how important good quality wheelchairs are, not just for transporting the kids to and from surgery but also allowing them to take a break from the ward, I was keen to help and hopefully, make the children’s stay in hospital that little bit easier.” Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-10-02 08:45:20 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-10 QUADRUPLE amputee Jamie Andrew completed the biggest challenge yet of his sporting life when he did a titanium man challenge. The mountaineer, who lost both his feet and hands in an Alpine accident eight years ago - has been preparing for the 24 hour event which features a two-and-a-half mile swim, followed by a 112-mile cycle, finished off with a marathon for more than a year. He said: “The swim was probably the hardest part as the water was cold, choppy and very intimidating at six in the morning. The cycle was not helped by a strong headwind for the first half but I stayed tucked in behind my cycle team and we made good steady progress the whole way. The run/walk was a long, gruelling effort through a drizzly night on sore stumps, but by now the end was in sight and nothing was going to stop me.” Jamie wore artificial limbs when cycling and running, but entered Loch Tay in just a wetsuit, relying on the strength of his arms, amputated at the wrist, to power him through the water. The 37-year-old hopes his efforts will raise in the region of £50,000 and help get his new charity 500 Miles for amputee organisations across the world, off to a flying start. He launched his charity with fellow quadruple amputee Olivia Giles. Olivia was a partner in the commercial property department of a large law firm when she contracted the blood poisoning form of meningitis in February 2002, which led to her losing her hands and feet. He added: “I simply couldn't have done it without all the help I received. Fundraising is going fantastically well and we are well on our way to reaching the target. Thanks so much to everyone who has given so generously. The money will make a real difference to amputees less fortunate than myself.” Jamie's never-say-die attitude has won him widespread admiration since his almost fatal accident in the Alps. His climbing companion and close friend Jamie Fisher did not survive the ordeal, which left the pair of them stranded for five days in fierce conditions. Since then, Jamie has devoted his life to recovery, and then helping others. Jamie drew up the titanium man challenge himself and completed it alone. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-10-02 08:44:16 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-10 SOUTH African sprint star Oscar Pistorius and British ultra-marathon runner Richard Whitehead were the special guests at Ossur Academy UK’s first major sport and fitness workshop. The event at the Macclesfield Leisure Centre Attracted almost 100 delegates and aimed to boost the confidence and sporting skills of British amputees, inspiring them to get active and fulfill their potential. Also there to start the day in style was Paralympic gold medal winner Marc Woods. Within seconds he had his audience captivated, gearing everyone up nicely for a day of 'getting stuck in.' The action-packed event consisted of lectures and demonstrations on a number of sporting activities, including running classes, fitness assessments and advanced physiotherapy. Participants came from prosthetic centres nationwide. Oscar highlighted the need for sporting wanabees to first of all get fit. "I've managed to overcome conventional barriers and boundaries," he said. "I don't treat running like a hobby - for me, it's a career. "But I think it's important that when you get new amputees or people who have been amputees for a very long time, they have got that partial hurdle of getting active, getting fit. I think that's an important step to take. There are people at this event who can achieve something in sport, but perhaps right now think that they can't. All they can think of is that they're an amputee and the possibility doesn't exist for them, but Richard and I are here to show them what's possible." UK Athletics coach Glyn Tromans was there, explaining his role and throwing down the gauntlet. "To secure a place in our national Paralympic team, you've got to be good," he said. "But I look after 22 athletes and only one of them is a leg amputee and only one is an arm amputee, so there are certainly opportunities there for the taking. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-10-02 08:43:17 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-10 A SALFORD University academic is hoping to do his bit to improve Anglo-Russian relations after he was awarded a grant from the EU to improve the care of people with prosthetic limbs in the Russian Federation. Dr Glyn Heath of the School of Health Care Professions received £297,000 from the EU to help establish a Western European style of prosthetics training and care in a country which has a higher than average number of amputees. Industrial accidents and injuries from landmines in places such as Chechnya are common causes of people requiring prosthetic limbs, and though equipment is generally good, there are some areas of training which Glyn feels can be improved. Glyn, who also runs a company Lacerta Rehabilitation Ltd, which makes artificial limbs for animals and humans, said: “I’ll be working at the St. Petersburg Institute of Prosthetics with colleagues from Finland to try and address any needs in the training system. “At the moment the Russian scientists feel that they are not getting the best out of the equipment they have, so we’ll be helping them with this and developing a training system that can be used across the country.” Glyn will be making his first visit to St Petersburg in November and will return for two weeks three or four times a year until the project is completed. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-10-02 08:37:05 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-09 LAURENCE Llewelyn-Bowen was the guest of honour as 300 people flocked to ‘a special day at MERU’ to see how the charity uses its design and engineering skills to make equipment for children and young people with disabilities The Carshalton-based charity’s new patron Laurence was joined by his wife Jackie and their daughters Cecile and Hermione, along with Laurence’s brother Edward and his family. Laurence and Edward’s late father, orthopaedic surgeon Trefor Llewellyn Bowen, was one of MERU’s founders and Laurence unveiled a plaque commemorating his pioneering role. Before the unveiling Laurence said: “It’s amazing to come back to something that was so important to my father, and to see how the charity he helped found continues to solve everyday problems for disabled children. They do this by using good design, intelligence and creativity – it’s very powerful.” He also explained how pleased he felt at being able to use his own profile to bring visibility to MERU’s work. The event was also attended by the family of MERU’s other founder, medical engineer Bill Bond. Bill’s son Peter also spoke, paying proud tribute to his father’s ground-breaking work. All the staff and volunteers at MERU were greatly saddened to hear that Bill passed away the day after the event following a long illness. However Peter Bond was able to let them know that his father had been delighted to hear about the success of MERU’s ‘special day’. As well as displays of MERU’s work, the day included plenty of fun activities for families – such as making foam cowboy hats, plastic fridge magnets and jumping beans. There was also a raffle, a tombola and stalls from other charities and organisations working with disabled children. Laurence took the opportunity to try ‘The Bugzi Challenge’, which involved steering MERU’s innovative powered wheelchair for toddlers round a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ themed obstacle course, achieving a very respectable time. He then went on to draw the raffle and present prizes. Over £1000 was raised as a result of the event. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-09-03 09:48:16 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-09 AN artificial big toe attached to the foot of an ancient Egyptian mummy could prove to be the world's earliest functional prosthetic body part, say scientists. Research at The University of Manchester is hoping to prove that the wood and leather artefact in the Cairo Museum not only looked the part but also helped its owner walk 'like an Egyptian'. If true, the toe will predate what is currently considered to be the earliest known practical prosthesis - an artificial leg from 300BC - by several hundred years. Jacky Finch, who is carrying out the study at Manchester's KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology, is recruiting volunteers whose right big toe has been lost in order to test an exact replica of the artificial toe. A model of a second false Egyptian big toe on display in the British Museum, albeit without its mummy, will also be tested at the Human Performance Laboratory at nearby University of Salford. "The toes date from between 1000 and 600BC, so if we can prove that one or both were functional then we will have pushed back prosthetic medicine by as much as 700 years," said Jacky. "The Cairo toe is the most likely of the two to be functional as it is articulated and shows signs of wear. It is still attached to the foot of the mummy of a female between 50 and 60 years of age. The amputation site is also well healed." The British Museum artefact - named the Greville Chester Great Toe after the collector who acquired it for the museum in 1881 - is made from cartonnage, a sort of papier mach?ade using linen, glue and plaster. It too shows signs of wear, indicating that it may have been worn by its owner in life and not simply attached to the foot during mummification for religious or ritualistic reasons. However, unlike the Cairo specimen, the Greville Chester toe does not bend and so is likely to have been more cosmetic. "The Human Performance Laboratory will use state-of-the-art technology to test whether the replicas of the artificial toes benefit the wearer and could therefore be deemed functional," said Jacky. "If either one is functional it may be interesting to manufacture it with modern materials and trial it for use on people with missing toes." Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-09-03 09:42:58 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-09 LANDMINE survivor Chris Moon MBE is to cycle across Cambodia to raise funds to provide prosthetic limbs for children disabled by landmines Chris, who lost an arm and a leg while clearing landmines in Mozambique, will cycle from the Thai border to Sihanoukville, Cambodia to help raise funds and awareness for British NGO The Cambodia Trust. Moon’s fundraising will help the Cambodia Trust to provide prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs and the opportunity to go to school for many Cambodian children disabled by landmines, polio and other conditions. “In 1993 I was clearing landmines for a charity in Cambodia and I saw the terrible circumstances in which Cambodian disabled people struggle to survive,” he said. “In 1995 I learned the importance of artificial limbs when I lost my lower right arm and leg walking in a supposedly clear area in a minefield in Mozambique.” Moon has undertaken a number of extreme challenges to raise funds for the Cambodia Trust, including a 300-mile run across Death Valley. “I’ve witnessed the work of the Cambodia Trust first hand for more than10 years. It’s a very worthy organisation doing excellent work,” he added. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-09-03 09:41:08 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-09 US scientists have perfected a more accurate way to detect infection in prosthetic joints. The new method, which samples bacteria which stick to surface of the joint, was tested on 331 patients with a problematic prosthetic hip or knee. It accurately detected 78.5 per cent of cases of infection, compared with 60.8 per cent using the conventional approach. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester study features in the New England Journal of Medicine. While most people who have their hips or knees replaced experience dramatic benefit, a small percentage of patients suffer from pain caused by an infection or loosening of the prosthetic joint, and require additional surgery. The conventional method for detecting infection samples tissue around the prosthetic joint at the time of surgery. “The problem with the conventional method is that you need multiple tissue specimens, because the sensitivity of a single specimen is not good - in other words, the infection might be missed with just one sample,” said Robin Patel, M.D., Mayo Clinic professor of medicine, who led the multidisciplinary team of orthopedic surgeons, infectious diseases physicians and laboratory researchers. Another issue is that bacteria normally found on the skin can be picked up on the tissue specimen as it is extracted and passes through the skin, yielding a false-positive result. These same bacteria may actually cause the infection, so doctors can't always tell just by the type of bacteria detected whether the patient has an infection or not. If multiple specimens are positive for the bacteria, then this indicates that the bacteria are causing the infection.” The new test involves surgeons removing the prosthetic joint as they normally would, placing it in a special container, and sending it to the laboratory. In the laboratory, a solution is added to the container and then the container is subjected to a combination of vortexing (shaking) and sonication (exposure to ultrasound) which has been shown to remove biofilm bacteria. The bacteria, which are in the solution, are then cultured. Using the technique, researchers found a wide variety of different types of bacteria. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-09-03 09:39:31 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-08 EDINBURGH-based bionic technology company Touch Bionics has disclosed further information about its much anticipated i-LIMB system - demonstrating both replacement hand and replacement finger bionic technology. The company, which specialises in Upper Limb Prosthetics (ULP), has demonstrated the much anticipated i-LIMBTM Hand which has been described as a ‘true next generation bionic product’. The i-LIMB Hand has five individually powered digits which provide the end-user with completely new grip options that enhance dexterity and activities of daily living. Stuart Mead, CEO of Touch Bionics, said: “The i-LIMB Hand is the result of many years of development by Touch Bionics – the company’s technology was in fact the UK National Health Service’s first commercial spin out. “We are very excited to have the product out of the laboratory and ready to fit to early patients in Europe and the US.” The full commercial release of Touch Bionics’ product in Europe and the US is scheduled for later this year, after the company has finalised its current marketing preference study with clinics in the US and the UK. Touch Bionics’ Phil Newman, who is responsible for sales and marketing, added: “We plan to stay out of the wider public domain for a little while longer as we identify and engage with the right commercial partners to support our US market entry and growth – this is one of our main reasons for being at AAOP – our early focus is on the US commercial market as it offers a more consistent reimbursement structure – patient numbers are also easier to identify fund than in Europe.” Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-08-17 09:56:08 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-08 A FORMER Stafford athlete has returned to her home town to open a new sports injury and physiotherapy clinic. Alison Glover and her husband Brett Nagata have taken over the former lingerie shop in Mill Bank and turned it into Achilles Heal. And the couple have a prolific pedigree with both being physiotherapists to national sports teams and in fact met at the Sydney Paralympics. They have ventured down from the west end of Glasgow, where they also ran a clinic, to launch their business in Stafford. Alison, aged 38, has represented Staffordshire in athletics and hockey and said being closer to her family was one of the reasons for her return to the town. She also believes there is a need for physiotherapists in the town and its central location will make their national and international travel easier. Alison is a former pupil of Sir Graham Balfour High School and went on to train as a physiotherapist at Manchester University. She has spent two years working in Australia and has just accepted a post with UK Athletics, working with British teams towards the Beijing games in 2008. Brett works with the Canadian wheelchair basketball team, double Paralympic gold medallists and looking for their third in Beijing. Before moving to Stafford they were both employed by the Scottish Institute of Sport, where Brett was lead physiotherapist for Scottish Judo and Alison was lead physiotherapist for Scottish badminton at events including World and Commonwealth championships. More recently Alison was physiotherapist to Britain’s silver medal-winning wheelchair curling team at the Turin winter Paralympics. Between them the pair have 25-years experience in treating musculoskeletal injuries and Brett said Achilles Heal will aim to treat all musculoskeletal conditions: “Whether you injure yourself playing sport or pottering in the garden. “We pride ourselves on taking time to assess the injury fully and explaining our findings to the client before progressing with treatment,” he added. The new clinic, which opens on Monday, will offer treatments ranging from manual therapy, massage and acupuncture to biochemical assessment for foot orthotics. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-08-17 09:56:03 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-08 THE Government has given the go-ahead to reforms influenced by the BHTA which could lead to England’s loan stores being replaced with a prescription-based service involving the retail sector. They believe the move that could transform the provision of healthcare products for consumers in England in the same way as the spectacles market was transformed 30 years ago, Minister for health, Ivan Lewis, has agreed to the recommendations of a report by the Transforming Community Equipment Services (TCES) team at the Department of Health, which could result in the largest single upheaval in the healthcare market for the last three decades. Initially this relates only to England and applies to community and homecare equipment, not yet applicable to wheelchairs, orthotics, prosthetics, stairlifts, audiology and visual impairment. The pilot scheme is planned to start this Autumn in the North East, with the likely roll out nationwide in April 2008. BHTA Director General, Ray Hodgkinson, said: “This is very exciting for the industry and has huge, and potentially very good, implications for our members. The supply chain will change, and products will become more desirable and available, resulting in a potential four-fold increase in demand over the next decade. He added: “The success of the Hillingdon model, set up in 1992 by Duncan Wilson and detailed in the BHTA commissioned paper ‘Value for Money’ began the process, and after a nine month review with wide consultation, the Government has given the green light, demonstrating its willingness to embrace innovation and change. “Consumers will be able choose and browse the market, buy the most suitable style at a price they are prepared to pay. But there will be a requirement for trained advisors, so those companies with clinical professionals on site will have an advantage. “Our Registration Scheme, which gives official recognition for the job competency of people working in the sector, coupled with the BHTA Code of Practice (which has gone through Stage One of the Office of Fair Trading Consumer Codes of Practice approval process) shows that our members have the knowledge and expertise to dominate this new market. However, our dealer members need to work fast to grab this opportunity by investing in stock and staff training to demonstrate they are up to the challenge – as many existing multiple retailers and third sector organisations will also be keen to jump on the bandwagon.” Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-08-17 09:55:58 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-08 The David Beckham Academy Medical Centre has opened its doors and sports rehabilitation services to the general public. A private clinic now operates alongside the medical support that the Centre provides to the Academy programmes. The Academy’s fully trained professionals can now offer expert physiotherapy assessment and treatments ranging from musculoskeletal conditions, muscle and ligament injuries and shoulder problems. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-08-17 09:55:53 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-06 RESEARCHERS believe they have scored a world breakthrough in prosthetic arm technology by developing a mechanical arm that allows users to move and feel objects like that of a biological arm. An international team, led by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), say that they have created a prototype of the first fully integrated prosthetic arm that can be controlled naturally, provide sensory feedback and allow for eight degrees of motion. The prosthetic arm technology, named Proto 1 - developed for injured soldiers as part of the American Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Revolutionizing Prosthetics Programme - is a complete limb system that includes a virtual environment. Stuart Harshbarger from APL, who leads the program, said: “The development of this first prototype is a remarkable accomplishment and serves as validation that we will be able to implement DARPA’s vision to provide, by 2009, a mechanical arm that closely mimics the properties and sensory perception of a biological limb.” The arm is connected to the wearer's remaining healthy nerves, transferred to nearby pectoral muscles, a process called Targeted Muscle Reinnervation, pioneered by Dr. Todd Kuiken from the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), which enables users to have a sense of touch and grip strength even with a prosthetic arm. In patient trials earlier this year at the RIC, Proto 1 wearers were able to re-adjust their prosthetic thumb for various grips, allowing them to have fine motor skills for things like removing a credit card from a pocket. Users could also gently stack plastic cups without crushing them and they had better arm movement when walking. Dr. Kuiken, the director of the Neural Engineering Center for Bionic Medicine at RIC, said: “The results are very exciting and I am confident that these discoveries will bring more natural control of prostheses, better artificial limbs and make a difference in the lives of amputees worldwide.” The research team are currently working on the second prototype of the prosthetic arm, which is expected to be unveiled this summer. It will have more than 25 degrees of freedom and the strength and speed of movement approaching the capabilities of the human limb, combined with more than 80 individual sensory elements for feedback of touch, temperature, and limb position. Stuart added: “There is still significant work to be done. It remains a significant challenge, but the progress to date should give hope that the performance of the final limb will significantly improve the capabilities of upper extremity prosthetic limbs.” Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-06-01 10:59:41 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-04 MOUNTWAY, one of the UK's leading manufacturers of living aids, held its first annual awards recently, to recognise and reward the achievements of mobility dealerships. The awards rewarded members of Mountway's approved dealership scheme, and attracted entrants from all over the UK. The categories included awards for the Dealer of the Year and an award for Customer Service, with winners receiving a presentation certificate and discounts off Mountway products. Beactive Mobility of Lowestoft, Suffolk was named Dealer of the Year for their large year on year growth, which has seen the dealership move to larger premises, along with the dedication to customer care evidenced by the many letters of thanks and gratitude customers had written. International Dealer of the Year went to movingpeople.net after new marketing support led to an increase in new contracts and sales in its Canadian market, while the Most Improved Dealer was named as Northern Healthcare of Northern Ireland, who are celebrating after winning a large contract to supply Mountway's Neptune Bath Lift to local authorities. The Customer Service Award went to Peterborough-based Tansor Assessments, which offers customers one to one assessments by an occupational therapist, as well as acupuncture and physiotherapy on site in a dedicated therapy centre. Finally the Dealer Marketing and Sales Award was won by Tellan Access Solutions of Leicestershire, who have seen a large increase in sales through self-marketing. Graeme Notley, managing director of Mountway, said: "The first annual awards were a great success. We wanted to reward members of our approved dealership scheme for a fantastic year of growth and development, and their progress in just one year shows how with the right support business plans can grow. "It was clear from the many letters of support and thanks our dealers had included from their customers that the important role they play in helping people remain living independently and commitment to customer care is as strong as ever. We are delighted all our entrants have had such a great year, and special congratulations to our well-deserved winners." David Smith from Beactive Mobility added: "We are absolutely thrilled to have received this award, which is a great boost as we start an exciting new year in our new premises. We are especially pleased to have had our commitment to customer service recognised, and I know all our customers will be delighted to hear this news in our next newsletter." Mountway Limited is one of the leading companies in the healthcare industry, having been designing, manufacturing and retailing daily living aids for over 25 years. The company has grown into a global business, and has won awards for product innovation, customer care, investment in staff and commitment to protecting the environment. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-04-25 15:43:21 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-04 DOCTOR Olivia Carlton, the Head of Occupational Health at Transport for London (TfL), won the Peter Isaac Award for her role in developing and leading London Underground's 'Health Improvement Plan'. The five year Health Improvement Plan for London Underground was launched in 2004/5 and is now in its third year. It aims to reduce lost working days due to back pain, stress, anxiety and depression, and has delivered significant health and work benefits. Dr Carlton heads up TfL's occupational health team, which includes medical and nursing advisers, a counseling and trauma service, a drug and alcohol assessment and treatment service and a physiotherapy service. She will receive a trophy and certificate at the BOHS Annual Conference Dinner. Dr Carlton said: "I am delighted to win the award on behalf of TfL and my team who have worked extremely hard to improve the lives of the workforce, by integrating the physical, mental and social aspects of good occupational health management. "The Health Improvement Plan has already reduced the number of employees on sick leave with back pain, and those off sick due to stress, anxiety and depression has decreased in most working groups. Staff off sick (for all causes) who attend the stress reduction groups have been reduced by 30 per-cent in the year following the intervention." Three key strands of the work on back pain has been the development of 'Working Back' guides for employees and managers, the introduction of a back exercise class which has a large educational component and a work focus, as well as workplace assessments to identify specific needs. The number of staff off sick for back pain has already decreased. Those who are referred for physiotherapy and the exercise class within six weeks of being off sick, return to work on average three weeks sooner than those referred later, and employees report marked reductions in pain and disability. A consultation period to identify the key issues leading to stress, anxiety and depression has led to the introduction of a number of initiatives, including: 'hot spots' work using a facilitator with training in mental health issues to coach managers and encourage teams to find their own solutions and the setting up of stress reduction groups, led by trained counselors, to encourage participants to develop the skills and resilience to take greater control over their lives. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-04-25 15:35:39 http://www.assistivetechnologies.co.uk/?page=news&monthyear=2007-04 MORE than 100 Parliamentarians had their feet checked out by podiatrists at the Palace of Westminster's first foot health check event. The event, led by the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (SCP), was a huge success, with 100 MPs and Peers attending for a foot check and an opportunity to find out more about this important and hugely popular service. Each set of feet was closely examined by a podiatrist, who also asked general questions about foot health, analysed the way they walked, and offered further examination and treatment where necessary. The event was supported by key campaigning and representative organisations including Diabetes UK, Help the Aged, Age Concern England, UNITE - the National Federation of BT and Royal Mail Pensioners, the National Pensioners Convention and emPOWER. These organisations all work closely with SCP to promote good foot health as an essential component of promoting a high quality of life. Podiatry and chiropody keep people mobile for longer, ensure everyone can take part in sport and exercise and helps prevent a range of illnesses from depression to heart disease. In conjunction with the foot health event members of the Society also met their constituency MPs to raise awareness of issues in their constituencies including access to services. This was very important due to the decisions made by Commissioners and spending plans. Ralph Graham, Chairman of the Society said: "We were delighted at the high level of interest in podiatry and chiropody services among MPs and Peers. The event helped ensure that Parliamentarians fully understand the importance of this cost effective service and their influence on Commissioners when allocating financial resources. "Investing in podiatry services will help the Government meet its objectives to prevent illness, to reduce health inequalities and to promote healthy and active life at all ages. He added: "Podiatrists can often keep people walking, for example, when suffering rheumatoid arthritis or vascular impairment. This reduces costly hospital visits, surgical intervention and saves GP time. ìPodiatric surgery is a valuable additional service that provides day case treatment for the surgical foot condition in a timely and effective manner. It is not available universally and this inequality must be corrected." Orthotech provided orthotics to MPs on the day and used their ScanAny digital casting system. "In reality, the total casting and order placement time for MPs on the day was about 2-3 minutes per person. The cast itself is taken in less than a second once the foot is in the desired position. Many of them were quite astonished about the speed," said Hamish Wilson, Orthortech Commericial Development Manager. Assistive Technologies - editorial@wharncliffepublishing.co.uk 2007-04-25 15:30:15