2010 Bright Ideas Challenge winner Im-Able going from strength to strength
The 2010 winners of the Bright Ideas Challenge, Im-Able continue to grow and develop devices to accelerate neurological recovery.
Im-Able develops affordable, home friendly devices to help accelerate neurological recovery, especially stroke recovery.
Im- Able’s first product, Able-X is a concentration and arm exercise system. The system uses computer games to keep the user fully absorbed and entertained. Able-X complements traditional therapy and can be used in many environments, especially at home. Able-X systems are being used by people recovering from stroke events, stroke clubs, people with traumatic brain injuries, rest homes and children with learning disorders.
Able-X has won two prizes:
Able-X : First Prize - Biomedical Engineers Australia
Im-Able: First Prize - Bright Ideas Competition (1233 entrants)
The product was tested on chronic stroke patients (15 months to 7 years post stroke event) and all users gained benefits, some more than others. These included:
• ability to use both hands on steering wheel;
• ability to tie shoelaces;
• eat using knife and fork without making a mess;
• better control in shower;
• better body balance;
• more control of wheelchair.
• All uses mentioned an improvement to memory and concentration
Users were assessed before the trial and after the trial of 9 sessions (1 hour each).
Im-Able directors Sunil Vather and Geoff Todd, both former managers of IRL, helped Marcus King’s team kick off the project to use computer games to assist rehabilitation back in 2003. Both later left to pursue careers in the private sector, but after meeting Marcus King again in 2009, who was heading the project for IRL, they decided "it was just too good to be left on the shelf", Dr Vather said.
The pair, along with five friends and business contacts – including three medical professionals, raised money to start the company and launch the product, with IRL receiving royalties on sales.
Im-Able believes there is a gap in the market because people recovering from neurological disorders have few, if any, tools to help them recover at their own pace, in their own environment in their own time. Private health services are expensive, and simple exercises become "tedious". Non-compliance of exercises with traditional therapy is known to be low because the exercises are repetitive and boring. Worldwide over 15 million new stroke patients require rehabilitation each year.
“This technology is affordable, easy to use, enjoyable and internationally has a large market”, says Mary-Anne Webber, General Manager Business Growth, Grow Wellington.
“With the global medical technology industry worth more than $400 billion annually, and growing by 6 to 7 per cent each year, we saw a unique opportunity for application of innovative technology to help improve the quality of life for people with neurological disorders. Each product is based on formal clinical research, is affordable, motivational and can easily be used in the home. The combination of medical, IT and engineering knowledge is uncommon,” says Sunil.