For its head and neck positioning solution, the Motion Solutions GmbH (moso) first sought advice from two sisters. Both were born with spinal muscular atrophy and have been using the company’s proprietary electric wheelchair models for years. The two women also receive patient care from the Holzapfel medical supply store, which collaborated on the system. This resulted in a head and neck positioning solution that allows people with muscular dystrophies to stretch their spine of their own accord, thus facilitating better and deeper breathing. It also relieves pressure in the trunk region or the seating bucket, respectively, alleviates pain and makes it easier to operate the wheelchair. To create the device, the experts at Holzapfel scanned and printed the device using 3D technology. To ensure the optimal position for the user, moso equipped the tool with a multifunctional wheelchair mounting system. Both companies put the user center stage: "This type of system might go above and beyond the call of duty, but our assistive devices are not meant to be an end in themselves. They are designed to support as many people as possible and provide the highest quality of life," explains moso Managing Director Klaus Gierse.
The experts at munevo GmbH likewise aim to optimize wheelchair use: The munevo DRIVE system – a proportional head control unit for electric wheelchairs that uses smart glasses – allows users to operate their wheelchairs with slight head movements. Since 2021, the Munich-based company has been collaborating with the smart glasses manufacturer tooz technologie to create this solution and other applications for the innovative smart glasses. The smart glasses feature built-in IMU sensors that pick up the wearer’s head movements and transmit them to the system.
Smart glasses also discreetly superimpose relevant information onto the user’s field of view. The collaboration aims "to strengthen the autonomy of people with significant mobility impairments." This means joining forces: "Our goal is to profit from each other’s expertise. By teaming up, we want to reach even more people all over the globe and equip them with our progressive devices – for more independence and freedom as well as a significantly improved quality of life," says Claudiu Leverenz, CEO of munevo GmbH. Tooz technologies is not the only partner of munevo. To make the solution accessible to more people with mobility impairments, the company also entered strategic collaborations with the medical technology company Sunrise Medical and Medema, a Scandinavian supplier of physical therapy, rehab and healthcare products.