MYOMO PARTNERS WITH AUSTERER HIGGINS PHYSICAL
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CONTACT: GinaCella, Cella Communications,
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MYOMO PARTNERS WITH AUSTERER HIGGINS PHYSICAL THERAPY TO OFFER POWERED ARM BRACE TO HELP PATIENTS REGAINARMMOVEMENT FOLLOWING STROKE
Myomo mPower restores arm movement resulting from stroke, brain injuries
CAMBRIDGE, MA, FEBRUARY 08, 2012 – Myomo, Inc., a new generation medical device company that combines innovative technology with leading rehabilitation expertise, today announced an agreement with Austerer Higgins Physical Therapy and Wellness in Portland, ME, to offer its mPower device to aid rehabilitation for stroke and brain injury survivors throughout Maine. The Myomo technology combines advanced technology and neuroscience in the mPower, the first portable, myoelectric upper limb orthosis (an orthopedic device that supports arm function) that uses biofeedback to help empower patients to re-engage weak muscles and restore movement. The Myomo device is used in clinical rehabilitation programs and is also prescribed as an assistive device for home use.
“Myomo is helping stroke survivors and others affected by neurological and muscular conditions relearn muscle motion and regain quality of life, helping to reclaim independence and improve outcomes,” said Paul R. Gudonis, chief executive officer, Myomo. “We are pleased to be working with Austerer Higgins Physical Therapy and Wellness to bring the Myomo mPower to patients in the Portland area, and throughout Maine.”
Myomo’s unique technology platform was developed at MIT in collaboration with experts from HarvardMedicalSchool. The company is applying its technology to enable individuals with neurological conditions such as stroke and brain injuries to re-engage weak muscles and restore movement. The Myomo technology received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance in 2007.
Beginning in March, the Myomo mPower can be acquired at Austerer Higgins Physical Therapy and Wellness, where stroke survivors can receive personalized rehabilitation and instructions for home use. ”I am excited to begin offering the Myomo technology to our patients,” added Austerer. “With the mPower, we are seeing stroke survivors regain arm movement years after suffering a stroke and gives us an important new tool to help aid in stroke rehab and improve our patients’ quality of life.”
Austerer is a licensed physical therapist and Board certified in geriatrics. She was most previously with the VNA Home Health and Hospice inPortland. Prior, she was a physical therapist at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine atNYUMedicalCenterinNew York, and the New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland.
The Myomo device was recently named the 2011 Product of the Year by the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC).
About the Myomo mPower
The mPower, an upper limb functional orthosis, helps individuals with limited or abnormal arm motion caused by conditions such as stroke and brain injuries regain range of motion in their arms. It works by sensing the body’s own muscle activity, and helps weak or paralyzed arm muscles relearn motion. The device provides appropriate assistance to enable desired motion, allowing the patient to regain activities of daily living (i.e., lifting a glass to take a drink). The mPower addresses musculature deformities with a non-invasive human machine interface (HMI) that amplifies the weakened electrical signals in muscles in the arm, helping the patient to complete routine tasks. It is used at leading rehabilitation clinics around the country such as New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, Walter Reed Medical Center, Rehabilitation Institute ofChicagoandStanfordUniversityHospital.
Myomo has also developed thePERL(Push-Eat-Reach-Lift) Technique, evidence-based treatment plans to maximize outcomes with the mPower Mobility System device. The company is also developing mobile applications and virtual reality-based games to enhance therapeutic training and track and measure progress while using the device.
About Myomo
Myomo is a new generation medical device company that combines innovative technology with an advanced human machine interface to restore the ability to perform movements effectively among disabled individuals. Myomo's technology was originally developed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in collaboration with medical experts affiliated with HarvardMedicalSchool. Our mission is to help restore independence for individuals who suffer from major dysfunction of an affected joint. The Myomo mPower has received marketing clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is designed to enable individuals to self-initiate and control movement of partially paralyzed limbs using their own biological signals. Myomo’s product may be reimbursable for disabled individuals unable to perform fine and gross movements with their affected arm. For more information visit, www.myomo.com
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