Funding approved for brain injury product development

A proof-of-concept product to help people with acute brain injury or severe disabilities control devices is being developed after securing funding.

GSPK Design, an electronic design firm in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, has been given £76,000 as part of the Small Business Research Initiative for Healthcare for its project.

In partnership with Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the NIHR Devices for Dignity Healthcare Technology Co-operative, it will develop EMGage, a novel smart switch to help people who have acute brain injury or severe disabilities using tiny electrical signals produced by muscles to communicate.

Senior Clinical Scientist and acting service lead at Barnsley Hospital Simon Judge said: “We think we will be able to create a device that will make a big difference to the lives of many people with significant physical disabilities.”     

With the aid of the EMGage product, users will be able to control devices such as their wheelchair, computer devices and communication aids, something which they are currently unable to do. The technology is intended to improve the lives of people who face hard challenges with simple everyday tasks.

Paul Marsh, managing director of GSPK Design, said: “It shows what faith the NHS have in us being able to deliver. Having the ability to design and manufacture under one roof set us aside from the competition and put us in a strong position to develop this potentially life changing product.”

The current phase of the project to prove the concept is set to take six months at which point GSPK Design will have the opportunity to seek further funding to take the product to market.

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