Grant: Idea to Innovation
University of Waterloo
$125,000.00
A novel air microfluidics technology - enabling active compression apparels for treating lymphedema, edema and muscle recovery for strenuous work and exercise
FY 2021-22
Summary
Breast cancer related lymphedema. dependent edema, a secondary condition in individuals with spinal cord injury, and muscle injuries due to strenuous work/heavy exercise affect millions of people every year by diminishing the quality of life. Medical treatments for these problems are expensive often involving manual massaging the affected limb to help reduce tissue swelling and improve blood circulation followed by bandaging further reducing swelling or lifting the muscle. It is in high demand to develop affordable at-home compression therapy such as wearable systems with intermittent pneumatic compression mimicking the manual massaging. The global compression therapy market was valued at USD 3.1 billion in 2019 and USD 4.2 billion by 2025. The state-of-the-art technologies present trade-offs between performance, affordability and portability due to the need for the same number of electromechanical valves as the air bladders for compression.This research team has developed a novel air microfluidics powered technology which is capable of addressing the trade-off dilemma. The core technology is a microfluidic chip with a network of micro- and mini-channels enabling sequential inflation of an array of air bladder actuators which can be integrated into apparels to actively pressurize the affected limb. Feedback from our external partners including Haley Rehab, Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, Myant Inc. and the Armoury Sports Medicine suggest the need for individual control of the air bladders with a pressure-holding feature, which will be one of the key objectives for the proposed project together with other improvements such as optimizing the chip for slow and fast compression, increasing the system durability and streamlining production to reduce cost. Preliminary testing of these proposed improvements in promising applications (treatment/management of lymphedema and musculoskeletal conditions) will be performed in collaboration with our partners/potential customers. The results of the planned beta trials and application testing will help establish target market vertical(s), timing of a possible startup company's creation, and a go-to-market strategy.
Program
Idea to Innovation
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
560618-2021
Name nom
Ren, Carolyn
Department département
Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics
Organization id
33
Institution établissement
University of Waterloo
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2021
Competition year année de concours
2021
Award amount
125000
Program id
I2IPJ
Program name en
Idea to Innovation
Program name fr
De l'idée à l'innovation
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1102
Area of application group en
Health, education and social services
Area of application group fr
Santé publique, éducation et services sociaux
Area of application en
Biomedical engineering
Area of application fr
Génie biomédical
Research subject code
2100
Research subject group en
Mechanical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie mécanique
Research subject en
Mechanical engineering
Research subject fr
Génie mécanique
Installment
inst:1
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
A novel air microfluidics technology - enabling active compression apparels for treating lymphedema, edema and muscle recovery for strenuous work and exercise
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Breast cancer related lymphedema. dependent edema, a secondary condition in individuals with spinal cord injury, and muscle injuries due to strenuous work/heavy exercise affect millions of people every year by diminishing the quality of life. Medical treatments for these problems are expensive often involving manual massaging the affected limb to help reduce tissue swelling and improve blood circulation followed by bandaging further reducing swelling or lifting the muscle. It is in high demand to develop affordable at-home compression therapy such as wearable systems with intermittent pneumatic compression mimicking the manual massaging. The global compression therapy market was valued at USD 3.1 billion in 2019 and USD 4.2 billion by 2025. The state-of-the-art technologies present trade-offs between performance, affordability and portability due to the need for the same number of electromechanical valves as the air bladders for compression.This research team has developed a novel air microfluidics powered technology which is capable of addressing the trade-off dilemma. The core technology is a microfluidic chip with a network of micro- and mini-channels enabling sequential inflation of an array of air bladder actuators which can be integrated into apparels to actively pressurize the affected limb. Feedback from our external partners including Haley Rehab, Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, Myant Inc. and the Armoury Sports Medicine suggest the need for individual control of the air bladders with a pressure-holding feature, which will be one of the key objectives for the proposed project together with other improvements such as optimizing the chip for slow and fast compression, increasing the system durability and streamlining production to reduce cost. Preliminary testing of these proposed improvements in promising applications (treatment/management of lymphedema and musculoskeletal conditions) will be performed in collaboration with our partners/potential customers. The results of the planned beta trials and application testing will help establish target market vertical(s), timing of a possible startup company's creation, and a go-to-market strategy.
