Technological Approaches for Neurorehabilitation Devices
Neurorehabilitation is a complex medical process to aid recovery from a nervous system injury, and the neurorehabilitation devices are used to the examination of the brain and the central nervous system and also providing solutions in the field of therapy and diagnoses.
With growing prominence of the startup culture, neuroscientists are exploring opportunities in virtual reality (VR) to speed up recovery in stroke patients. For instance, MindMaze - a startup neurotechnology company won several accolades for gamification in rehabilitation catering to stroke survivors with the help of VR and neuroscience. This is evident since stroke application segment accounted for ~47% of the neurorehabilitation devices market in 2018. Thus, companies in the neurorehabilitation devices market should collaborate with neuroscientists to deliver inspiring results in stroke rehabilitation.
Healthcare companies are harnessing the advantages of VR, since there is only a short window when the brain can bounce back in early stages of treatment. Hence, VR and neuroscience have helped to maximize the potential for full recovery. Companies are increasing efforts to increase the availability of VR devices in hospitals.
New technologies in electrostimulation are engulfing the neurorehabilitation devices market. Researchers are increasing R&D to develop a new multi-electrode to stimulate the spinal cord in different points to improve patient quality of life. For instance, the international team of Sissa (International School for Advanced Studies), Italy, collaborated with the researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Leeds to develop a new multi-electrode for spinal cord stimulation. Thus, companies in the market for neurorehabilitation devices should collaborate with researchers to advance in spinal cord stimulation.
The new electrode is capable of deploying diversified electric message to different fibers of the cord in a targeted and independent manner. This innovation has aided in fast recovery of voluntary limb movements. Hence, companies in the neurorehabilitation devices market are increasing their research efforts in the field of electrical stimulation to enhance recovery of motor functions.
Robotic neurorehabilitation is acquiring prominence in the neurorehabilitation devices market. With the introduction of novel technologies, companies are able to enhance capabilities of robots to offer cost-effective solutions in clinical practice. However, lack of effective training modalities in these robotic devices poses as a restraint for healthcare companies in the neurorehabilitation devices market. Hence, companies are increasing their efficacy to design robotic devices with predefined training modalities depending on the appropriate control strategies.
Likewise, Facebook agreed to acquire brain-computing startup CTRL-labs that specializes in the neural interface technology and develops wristbands that delivers machine-interpretable commands. With the help of these novel wristbands, companies in the market for neurorehabilitation devices are tapping opportunities to improve recovery in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Source: The Insight Partners