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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - REHO (Robotic REHabilitation Orthosis)

Teaser

Summary

With the implementation of REHO technology, Nimble aims at providing a cost-effective robotic support for the walking rehabilitation of neurological patients. The system can be applied both for patients that are affected by spinal cord injuries and to different neurodegenerative diseases.
Depending by the gravity of illness condition, REHO can be then used to sustain a specific rehabilitation training or to help lower limbs movements in order avoid further complications that derive by a prolonged immobility of patients.
The systems designed by Nimble is composed by an electropneumatic robotic exoskeleton which supports the patient movement thus permitting the performance of walking exercises in weight free conditions.
Further accessories developed by Nimble also allow a continuous walking without experiencing any uncomfortable disruptions during the training sessions. This modular design will be useful to sustain a larger adoption of REHO being suitable to be introduced in very different contexts; these range from hospital to specialized rehabilitation clinics and possibly gyms. Furthermore, contrary to the current commercial solutions, the system is easier to be operated by specialized personnel and it permits patients to practice a better rehabilitation experience.
This system is actually relevant for the society at whole considering the growing population of impaired patients among both young and elderly segments. While elderly population is more subjected to degenerative diseases, even younger people can be affected by sever impairments of lower limbs considering raising occurrence of sport trauma or other injuries involving CNS and spinal cord. Efforts must be therefore addressed by the society at whole to ensure the viability of adequate rehabilitative supports. The robotic technology developed by Nimble can therefore provide an actual answer to this demand.
The Phase-1 project was exactly aimed at analysing the technical and economic feasibility of REHO exoskeleton considering the introduction of further technical improvements and the development of specific accessories to permit a broader adoption of robotic rehabilitation devices.
Further, the related market segments, have been assessed and quantified at European scale validating the initial business plan and confirming market potential of REHO.

Work performed

During the phase-1 project, Nimble had the opportunity to develop the necessary cornerstones for the forthcoming technical and industrial development activities by validating both technical and economic aspects.
Concerning the technical aspects, Nimble identified the most relevant technical developments to be introduced in the current REHO systems also evaluating the costs to sustain these implementations at industrial scale.
In details, the introduction of systems which permit a continuous walking has been prioritized by Nimble which assessed different solutions to permits the continuous walking of patients. Beside walking, improvements have been also evaluated concerning the use of Nimble in R.O.M. conditions
Furthermore, an advanced communication interface has been designed also identifying the most suitable architecture to permits a wireless connection of exoskeleton with the operator post. Furthermore, a possible pricing for REHO products has been projected.
After completion of the technical feasibility analysis, Nimble evaluated the economic feasibility of the entire
project considering its market uptake in a 5-year timeframe and all over the Europe.
This study started since a preliminary SWOT analysis to analyse Strengthens, Weakness, Treat and Opportunities of the project. The market evaluation started since the quantification of TAM â€“ Total Addressable Market at European level. These estimations have been however performed in a very conservative scenario highlighting anyway a large profitability.
Supported by a detailed market analysis concerning the permanent crops production in EU and a costs analysis related to the OPEX of agricultural productions. The results supported
the elaboration of a sound pricing and a series of P&L projections accounting each identified market
segment.
At the end of the study the IPR strategy has been also upgraded considering the new possible technical developments during the second phase of the implementation project.

Final results

Currently the REHO system overcomes the state of the art in robotic rehabilitation equipment making available a cost-effective equipment suitable to be adopted by different structures such as hospital or special rehabilitation clinics.
As assessed during the feasibility study a major benefit associated to the uptake of REHO is the possibility to allow continuous walking exercise which permits a more comfortable experience by the patients.
Furthermore, the system offers a larger parametrization possibility and allows an easier use by healthcare professionals.
In the first project phase, Nimble expects a gradual uptake of its innovation continuing the collaboration with the current stakeholder network of medical professionals, in a second Phase-2 it is conversely expected a larger uptake via a more developed sales structure and after the industrialization of prototype.