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FORNY20-FORNY2020

STUD: Vilje Bionics - Assistive exoskeleton with motorized movement for individuals with arm impairment

Alternative title: STUD: Vilje Bionics - Et motorisert eksoskjelett som assisterer bevegelse for individer med kraftnedsettelse i arm.

Awarded: NOK 0.99 mill.

Project Manager:

Project Number:

327460

Project Period:

2021 - 2022

Funding received from:

Location:

Many conditions can lead to paralysis of the arm and hand. Traumatic events such as brain injury, spinal cord injury, and brachial plexus injury occur, but stroke (stroke) is the most common cause. Globally, there are 101 million people who are alive and have experienced a stroke, 16% of whom are between the ages of 15-49. Stroke is the most common cause of disability and admission to a nursing home in Norway. Each year, 143 million quality years are lost due to death and disability related to stroke. This is not only a loss for the individual and their relatives but also a significant loss for society. In 40% of cases, the person will experience paralysis in the arm. Today, it is common practice to train stroke victims and others with impaired function in the arm using compensatory aids. This will increase the independence of the user but will prevent the affected arm from being used. This can lead to other sequelae such as "learned non-use" of the arm and in the worst case, stiffening in the form of contractures and "frozen shoulder." Vilje Bionics is a Norwegian start-up company founded in 2021. The company is developing the aid ABELarm, a motorized arm exoskeleton that will make people with paralysis in one arm due to stroke and other conditions more independent. By assisting movement in the elbow, shoulder, and wrist as well as grip, ABELarm is a multifunctional aid that can give the user significantly improved performance of activities in daily life. This especially applies to tasks that require two hands, such as cooking. Today, the aid is attached to the patient's upper body with a body harness adapted to the individual, and the user controls the aid using muscle signals. The STUD-ENT project aims to improve the aid by developing the grip function. The project will also ensure the rest of the development course for Vilje Bionics by securing the company's first investment round and a pilot project.

The project results are an important step on the way toward commercialization of the aid. The aid will be the first commercial motorized exoskeleton to restore mobility and independence to people with paralysis of the entire arm. This will be of great importance to the user and the user's immediate family. Major benefits for the municipal health service has also been identified through a pilot project with Oslo municipality. The project also sheds light on the socio-economic savings linked to an increased quality of life for the user. Assistive exoskeletons are a rapidly developing field of research, but very few solutions are commercially available. This means there is a lack of data on how this technology works in real-use scenarios. This project, and further projects, will culminate in a commercial product that will create knowledge about how exoskeletons can be used in real situations.

Funding scheme:

FORNY20-FORNY2020