Neuro Device Voic

The idea of the project is a development of the first in the world system for effective rehabilitation of speech disorders (aphasia). According to available data, as many as 1 in 250 persons in the world need such therapy. It will be possible to use the device not only during professional therapy but also as a part of home therapy. It will guarantee both the acceleration of rehabilitation and a significant improvement in its effects, enabling patients to return to a normal life.

About the Problem

Aphasia means losing abilities to communicate. The affected patient is forced to withdraw from family, social, and professional life.

Aphasia causes despicable isolation. Unable to communicate, but with the intellect intact, the patient is locked alone with his thoughts. Research says that Aphasia has a more profound impact on the quality of life than symptoms of oncological or Alzheimer’s diseases.

Inability to communicate makes it impossible for the affected person to work or take part in regular family life. Often the condition excludes young, otherwise able people from society and professional life. That inflicts enormous costs on the public health care systems and social welfare.

There is no solution to this problem which we could call satisfactory. One standard therapy session takes 45 minutes with a speech therapist, which is a drop in the ocean of what’s needed. All over the world, healthcare systems suffer from a lack of therapists. However, even if you are lucky enough to afford private therapy, it is still too slow, not very effective, or not effective at all.

Solution & Technology

The device we have designed changes quality of the therapy, enhancing and accelerating its results. It also makes it accessible and affordable, significantly reducing costs of therapy. Designed for easy use, enables both professional and home application.

Our device works on the principle of neuromodulation and electrical stimulation of the brain. The patient individually performs the exercises working with special software, while the device affects the activity of neurons in the stimulated part of the brain. Thanks to this, weak areas regenerate faster, and the patient recovers more quickly. Our device not only increases the effectiveness of rehabilitation. It can be used both in an institution and at home, so the therapy becomes way more convenient and cheaper.

Option 1 – by a therapist in a neurorehabilitation center

The patient signs up for therapy and gets connected to a stimulator. The therapist, depending on the patient’s condition, programs the stimulator. When the stimulation session is over, the patient proceeds to speech therapy.
Option 2 – by the patient

The device is adapted for individual use, and settings are programmed in advance by the therapist, there is no need for adjustment. The device requires only putting it on one’s head and turning it on. The patient is motivated to practice on a daily basis, which shortens the time to recovery.

Traction and market

Every year Aphasia affects approximately 5 million people worldwide. About ¼ of them is below 40 years old. Such number of patients has an immense impact on healthcare systems and societies. Currently offered therapy is lengthy, expensive an often ineffective.

Just in the USA and EU, almost half a million patients who are in immediate need of the effective therapy would benefit from our product annually. On the global market, it has the potential to help millions of people a year and alleviate great expenditures of healthcare systems.

Based on scientific evidence, it is estimated that brain stimulation applied by our device can significantly rise treatment success rate. Thanks to the increased efficiency of the treatment, the medical centers could serve up to 3 times more patients, resulting in significant savings in medical staff. Moreover, the cheaper the treatments and increased recovery rates the lower healthcare system expenditures and amounts of health-related pensions paid to the people who suffer from Aphasia (in EU, the savings could reach €3 billion every year).

Our device is undergoing testing and regulation processes. Purchase is not possible yet.

Downloadable materials

Brochure

The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 836187.