Tomorrows world – today
MICHELE O’CONNOR looks at high-tech medical developments that could transform lives
DEMENTIA TABLE
The Tovertafel, which translates as “Magic Table” from Dutch, is an award-winning innovation from the Netherlands now being used in the UK. It was created by former corporate lawyer John Ramsay, whose father was diagnosed with earlyonset dementia in his 50s, when John was just 12.
John quit his job in the City to create and develop the tool to help those with dementia interact with others.The Tovertafel comprises a ceiling-mounted projector with an infrared sensor which projects simple light-animated games onto a surface.
Aimed at those with mid-to-late stage dementia and children with learning difficulties and autism, users interact with the games – which include bursting bubbles, catching fish and bouncing a beach ball – independently or with relatives or carers.
It has been designed to encourage instinctive participation and stimulating both physical and social activity and is used in around 500 care homes and hospitals around the UK (from £6,250, including eight original games, free installation, training and a three-year service).
Hollyfields Care Home in Kidderminster, which provides care for those with complex dementia needs, has seen significant improvements in residents’ interaction since the introduction of the Tovertafel.
Michael Butler, activities coordinator, says: “Residents who didn’t tend to join in conversations or were prone to becoming agitated have become engaged and many have shown absolute delight when playing these games.”
MITT, THE WEARABLE PROSTHETIC
Studies show 35 per cent of amputees don’t use their prosthetic limbs because they’re uncomfortable, cumbersome and frustrating, say two young engineering graduates who hope to change that with their below-elbow prosthetic. Now Mitt Wearables, a UK-based start-up, is set to transform the world of amputees.
There is currently a huge divide in the prosthetics market with heavy, non-adjustable, medieval-looking devices at one end and eye-wateringly expensive, high-tech, bionic arms at the other, explains Ben Lakey, 27, co-founder of the company together with Nate Macabuag, 24.
Unlike typical prosthetic arms that come in two parts (the socket, which is worn by the user, and a device such as a replacement hand on the end), their invention – the Mitt Arm – is slipped on like a sleeve but has rigid supports to give it structure to the lower “arm”.
It combines elements from sportswear and shoe design to create a light, simple, customisable and affordable prosthetic to which an ever-growing range of interchangeable tools can be attached: “Users can fit the prosthesis themselves and are immediately then able to cut vegetables or draw,” explains Ben.
Alex Lewis, a 33-year-old quadruple amputee, was the first person to test the Mitt, and could immediately write his name on a piece of paper – a task so simple yet one he was unable to do with standard prosthetics.
“We aim to sell the Mitt for the price of a decent pair of trainers – £150 to £200 – rather than a car,” says Ben, explaining they use more economical, durable and flexible fabrics combined with a cheaper manufacturing cost, making it far more affordable than other prosthetics. “The clinical trials are now completed so, by October, those interested in trying the Mitt will be able to sign up to our waiting list (wearmitt.com) and get it at a trial sale price to enable us to get more feedback,” he adds.
The invention is a life-changer for Alex: “I actually enjoy wearing my Mitt. I’ll play with my son, butter his toast, work on my iPad and enjoy a glass of wine – small things that mean so much.”
The company aims to launch worldwide in 2020 and, eventually, hope Mitt will be available on the NHS. “The current NHS system for measuring and fitting prosthetics is complicated and laborious,” says Ben. “Mitt could save both money and time.”
SMART INHALERS
Research shows that only half of asthma patients have their condition under control and as many as 94 per cent don’t use inhalers properly. Bluetooth-enabled smart inhalers could change all that.A small device, attached to a normal inhaler, records the date and time of each dose and whether it was correctly administered. This data is then sent to the patient’s smartphone. Clinical trials show that those using the smart inhaler device used less reliever medicine and had more reliever-free days.
“The UK has one of the worst asthma death rates in the whole
of from Krisnah manager can’t most asthma “A Europe the always at huge attack risk Poinasamy, condition at and issue Asthma of identify but around three people die having a life-threatening is smart inhalers could that doctors and nurses every day,” explains UK. external affairs patients who are revolutionise 5.4 condition. million people asthma care for the in the UK with the
changers “Smart as inhalers they track how well someone are potential gamek is data using to GPs their to inhaler help identify patients who and then send this are at most risk of having an asthma attack.”
FindAir launched Europe’s first commercially availabl earlier this year.While the technology is not yet available on the NHS, it has been recommended in the NHS Long-Term Plan.
NUCATH CATHETER
Indwelling urinary catheters are long-term devices used to drain the bladder but are a major source of serious infections, affecting 500,000 Brittons every year.The estimated cost to the NHS is nearly £2billion annually – and causes untold distress to patients.
Cambridge-based materials scientist Nawar Al-Zebari, 28, witnessed the problem first-hand when a relative who was undergoing cancer treatment developed infections.
He discovered that the design and material of the standard Foley catheter has barely changed since it was first developed in the 1930s and set about finding a solution. The NuCath is the result.
Nawar says: “I had wanted to create something using smart materials for some time. I hope by improving the catheter system, I can help patients beat their main health issue without the added threat of a urinary tract infection.”
The NuCath (UroLogic) uses “shape memory” to change shape inside the bladder to facilitate better drainage, reducing the chance of infection by up to 50 per cent. It is expected to launch in the UK in the next two or three years.
PILLO PILL DISPENSER
The aim of Pillo is to ensure older patients don’t forget to take their medication – a much-needed intervention after a recent NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) review found between a third and half of all UK medications are taken incorrectly, especially among people taking several prescriptions, a problem that costs the NHS £300million annually.
The Alexa-style smart assistant dispenses medication when it “sees” the face and “hears” the voice of the user at set times throughout the day.
If the medication isn’t taken, Pillo will alert the patient’s carer, and establish a live video link to find out why.
It will be available online in the US from September for around $400 (plus additional services from $9 to $39 a month). It’s hoped it will be rolled out in the UK from 2021. Visit pillohealth.com for more info.
ROBOT NURSES
In Japan, human-like robots are already being employed as healthcare workers in homes for the elderly. Larger robotic machines are used to carry out laborious physical tasks such as moving patients while smaller interactive robots are being used to combat loneliness and inactivity in the elderly population.
Advanced versions have additional sensors and devices, including touch screens. While many elderly people prefer giving spoken commands to the robot, for those with age-related hearing loss or vision impairment, having the option to use the touchscreen was indispensable.
It’s likely that artificial intelligence (AI) will be implemented in clinical settings globally in the near future.At CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2019, Samsung unveiled and demonstrated Bot Care – a 2ft-tall robotic nurse on wheels. “She” (it has a female voice) has an array of sensors: if you hold a fingertip to her face, she can read blood pressure and pulse and then inform you – via speech – what your reading is and whether it is normal.
Other sensors can monitor breathing rate – even while the user is asleep – and temperature and will offer solutions accordingly, including playing music to ease stress.The spatial awareness sensor detects changes in their user’s height, indicating a fall, and calls a specified emergency contact via the phone function.