💸Cash Payment No Advance Call Girls Pune 🧿 9332606886 🧿 High Class Call Girl ...
V5 10 Most Innovative Assistive Technology Companies in 2022_compressed.pdf
1. eSight
Eyewear
April
Issue 04
2022
Transforming the Lives of
People Living with Central
Vision Loss
Empowering
Advancements
How is Technology
Augmen ng the
Healthcare Niche?
Enhancing Reliability
5 Innova ve Assis ve
Technologies Making
Our World More
Accessible
10
Most Innovative
Assistive
Technology
Companies in 2022
Brian Beardsley
Interim CEO
eSight Eyewear
4. Editor’s
Note
arefully examine your hand, the four fingers, and
Cone thumb. Have you ever given a thought as to
how much you use your thumb on a regular basis?
Well, you just used it to hold this magazine or scroll
through one if you're on the digital version.
So, from grasping, scrolling, flipping, climbing, eating, and
even creating new tools, thumbs have helped humans open
a new world of adeptness.
They have not only assisted humans in carrying out daily
tasks but changed the world through technological miracles
at the tip of your thumb. It is interesting to me that the most
advanced technology that has ever existed on this planet is
that of the neuro-muscular anatomy—human hand, which
in itself is a ‘technology by design’.
Dramatically, this technology by design has helped develop
greater and more efficient technologies to assist humans in
living healthy, independent, productive, and dignified lives.
Bringing to the spotlight, the people with disabilities and
mental health conditions, as well as older people or even
normal humans with partial impairment, need such
An Assistive
Touch Blossoming
the Globe!
5. technical assistance to participate in education, the labor
market, and live a civic life.
Like the thumb, these assistive technologies have played a
crucial role in specially-abled people's lives for performing
tasks that would have otherwise been impossible or difficult
to perform. They are not only in the form of equipment, but
the recent development in digitalization has made it
common for mainstream software and hardware to include
designs and features that will help assist them in every
aspect of life.
Over the years, many organizations have tirelessly ensured
that the benefits of technology are accessible to users of all
kinds. They have not only assisted medical users in their
everyday tasks but have taken a leap further in helping them
through their medical conditions. By making technology
accessible and assistive, technopreneurs have brought them
to the mainstream and further the act of inclusiveness in
society.
In order to highlight organizations that are making
technology not only accessible but assistive to the larger
section of society, we at Insights Care launched our latest
edition, 10 Most Innovative Assistive Technology
Companies in 2022.
In order to read the insightful stories, we urge you to
meticulously go through the profiles.
While flipping through the pages, glance at the articles
written by our in-house editorial team and gain perspective
about the current assistive technological trends.
Delve in to enjoy an inspiring read!
- Shrutika Khedekar
6. 20
5 Innova ve Assis ve
Technologies Making Our World
More Accessible
Enhancing Reliability
Articles
C
O
N
T
E
N
T
S
08
eSight Eyewear
Transforming the Lives of People Living
with Central Vision Loss
Cover
Story
32
How is technology augmen ng
the Healthcare Niche?
Empowering Advancements
7. CXO
36
Mental Health Benefits
of Hiring a Live-in
Caregiver
Braille Institute
Empowering your Future by Empowering your Vision
Esper Bionics
Prominent Name in Prosthesis Innova ons
16
24
Exosystems
Empowering Independent Recovery
28
ReWalk Robotics
Augmen ng an Era of Perpetual Convenience
40
9. Brief
Featuring
Blatchford
blatchford.co.uk
Paul Roberts
CEO
Blatchford is a multi-award winning manufacturer of some of
the world’s most advanced prosthetic technology, bespoke
seating solutions and orthotic devices.
Blue Sky Designs
blueskydesigns.us
Kerry Moore
National Account
Manager
Blue Sky Design Landscaping Company specializes in creating
outdoor environments that set the mood and tone for any
lifestyle.
Braille Institute
brailleinstitute.org
Peter Mindnich
President
esight Eyewear
esighteyewear.com
Brian Beardsley
Interim CEO
eSight moves seamlessly with wearers through daily life
offering the best visual acuity whether sitting reading,
commuting to work, or exploring a new place.
Exosystems
exosystems.io
Hooman Lee
CEO and Founder
Ecosystems works on an AI technology that makes physical
constraints like time and space cancel out. It specifically
focuses on providing care solutions in musculoskeletal
rehabilitation.
Henry Iseman
CEO
Penta collects used prostheses to bring high quality, low
cost prosthetic care to amputees all over the world.
Penta Prosthetics
pentaprosthetics.org
Peter N Vicars
CEO
Inspired by our human fingertips which provide unmatched
dexterity, Raslabs has set out to reduce this gap by adding
tactile sensing similar to the sensing in our fingertips to
enable robotic manipulation of more delicate items.
ReWalk Robotics
rewalk.com
Kathleen O’Donnell
VP Marketing and New
Business Development
Sunrise Medical
sunrisemedical.com
Thomas Babacan
CEO
Sunrise Medical is a world leader in the development,
design, manufacture, and distribution of manual and
powered wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and both standard
and made-to-order seating and positioning systems.
Braille Institute of America provides 100% FREE services
for people of all ages who are experiencing vision loss.
Through its individual and small groups programs, students
and patrons learn new ways to do the things they love.
ReWalk is a commercial bionic walking assistance system
that uses powered leg attachments to enable paraplegics to
stand upright, walk and climb stairs.
Esper Bionics
esperbionics.com
Dima Gazda
CEO and Founder
Esper Bionics is a company that creates human
improvement technology, such as a self-learning robotic
prosthesis for patients with upper-limb abnormalities.
Ras labs
raslabs.com
Company
10 Most Innovative Assistive Technology Companies in 2022
11. eSight
Eyewear
Transforming the Lives of People
Living with Central Vision Loss
The device can be
used momentarily when
navigating for reading a street
sign or price tag or
continuously for computer
work, reading books, or
enjoying a live event.
12. For many people, the most cherished sensory organs
are their eyes. Much of the information in our
surroundings is explicitly visual. Living with visual
impairment brings about challenges most of us never
consider.
For individuals living with central vision loss, recognizing
faces, being able to read or see a screen is often not
possible. Many unintended injuries, a feeling of loneliness
and depression are associated with vision loss. Performing
activities of daily living, requires the adoption of tools
specifically designed for life without clarity of central
vision.
eSight Eyewear has spent almost two decades investing
and researching solutions for individuals living with central
vision loss to enhance existing visual function and re-
establishing functional vision for users.
Today, eSight provides a wearable device that provides an
unprecedented improvement in several visual performance
measures. The organization has helped remove the
traditional barriers and facilitates advancement for its
wearers in all levels of education, professional goals, and to
participate in society more independently.
Inspired by this vision of eSight Eyewear, we at Insights
Care got an opportunity to speak with Brian Beardsley,
Interim CEO. Below is what he talks about the company.
A Blend of Emotion and Passion
eSight eyewear was founded by a concerned brother of two
sisters afflicted by Stargardt disease. It originally focused on
finding solutions to Stargardt disease, the juvenile form of
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) but its
technology can be used for a variety of retina diseases
impacting central visual acuity.
Until a cure is found, eSight creates medical technology to
assist users, helping them experience functional vision with
a visual acuity up to 20/20, allowing them to read, see
faces, enjoy live events, or pursue hobbies once more.
eSight 4 is the most advanced assistive device that
facilitates the best visual acuity, unmatched mobility, all-
day comfort, and ease of use to allow the user to do more.
eSight is passionate about enhancing the vision of
individuals with central vision loss. The product is aimed at
people living with central vision loss of 20/80 or more due
to AMD and other pathologies who desire independence,
mobility, and the opportunity to pursue interests at work,
school, or leisure.
eSight believes that central vision loss should not prevent
individuals from seeing new possibilities. They want to
bring independence, improved quality of life, and enhanced
vision to all those that have been impacted by central vision
loss. However, the mission does not end purely with vision.
By enhancing patients' functional vision, improving their
quality of life, and ability to perform tasks of daily living,
eSight hopes to positively impact the physical and mental
health of users and perhaps reduce associated indirect costs
of vision loss.
Comprehensive Leadership
Brian Beardsley delivers a broad base of experience to his
leadership role at eSight. After completing his US Air Force
service, Brian leveraged his skills and experience to drive
efficiencies, performance improvement, innovation, and
capital project management for leading healthcare
organizations in various roles of increasing responsibilities.
Brian's contributions encapsulated both national and global
accountabilities.
Brian's desire to continue to grow his leadership skills
brought him to Teleflex Incorporated, where he increased
Aligning technology with
unmet medical needs
facilitates the acceleration of
healthcare solutions to bring
benefit to patients faster, safer,
and with greater efficacy.
10 Most Innovative Assistive Technology Companies in 2022
13. his scope of responsibilities directing large teams within the
production area. Brian continued to broaden his expertise
by adding marketing to his resume as the Product Manager
for Surgical Products at Teleflex.
With Brian's strong analytical abilities, project management
skills, supply chain experience, marketing insights, and
Many of its users
can live independently,
read, recognize faces, pursue
hobbies, and maintain a
functional vision for activities
of daily living, including
employment.
14. proven leadership demonstrated, he transitioned to Gentex
as Director of Business Development in 2016.
Brian discovered eSight through his efforts to identify
healthcare technologies that fit the Gentex business
development strategy. The alignment of both eSight and
Gentex was quickly apparent. Brian was intimately
involved in negotiating the two enterprise's collaboration,
announced in January 2022 at the Consumer Electronics
Show in Las Vegas.
As of March 2022, Brian has assumed the Chief Executive
Officer role at eSight. The eSight strategy continues to shift
towards a robust healthcare professional recommendation
model. Brian's experience and demonstrated skills are a
natural fit to lead eSight into its next chapter of corporate
growth and evolution.
Exponential Services
Unlike many assistive device technologies that allow
people to perform sedentary tasks, eSight prioritizes the
integration of mobility and ease of use as the design
objective. eSight houses a high-speed, high-definition
15. camera that captures everything the wearer is looking at.
Advanced, clinically validated algorithms optimize and
enhance the footage, which is then presented on two near-
to-eye screens in real-time with stunning clarity.
The built-in trackpad allows the user to refine the image
further through a full suite of zoom, contrast, and focus
controls. As a completely mobile device, its eyewear does
not obstruct the natural peripheral vision of the wearer.
As such, eSight4 does not negatively impact mobility or
orientation. The device can be used momentarily when
navigating for reading a street sign or price tag, or
continuously for computer work, reading books, or
enjoying a live event.
eSight delivers the technology through partnerships with
healthcare professionals. When partner HCPs identify
patients that may benefit from eSight, they can refer the
patient to the eSight Telehealth program.
eSight will then ship a device to the potential user, set up a
coaching session to help the user get familiar with the
device, and suggest tasks that fit their activities of daily
living, allowing the potential user to evaluate the device to
ensure the device delivers a benefit. The trial period is
usually one week, but the vision's impact is almost
immediate.
A Word of Advice
When advising the budding entrepreneurs, Brian states that
“eSight was founded by one passionately motivated person
driven to find a resolution to his sisters’ visual impairment.
That is how it starts. If you have the desire, the passion, and
the motivation to find solutions to unmet needs, do not let
challenges stand in the way of your innovation. Take one
step at a time and engage with others that align with your
cause.”
A Pathway to the Future
When talking about the roadmap ahead, Brian believes that
it is crucial to take into consideration the advancement in
technology. It creates endless possibilities to solve
healthcare challenges. Aligning technology with unmet
medical needs facilitates the acceleration of healthcare
solutions to bring benefit to patients faster, safer, and with
greater efficacy. Hence, it is symbiotic.
He further states that eSight is focused on raising awareness
of its technology among the ophthalmology community that
treats AMD patients. By creating partnerships between
clinicians and eSight Telehealth, it plans to improve the
quality of life of AMD patients by enhancing functional
vision with wearable technology while the clinicians treat
the underlying disease that is causing the decline in vision.
The organization is focused on patients with visual acuity of
20/80 to 20/400. Many of its users in this group can live
independently, read, recognize faces, pursue hobbies, and
maintain a functional vision for activities of daily living,
including employment.
A Word of Endorsement
Here are some of the testimonials of the user of eSight
eyewear.
“It’s given me the chance to see the world all over again. I
didn't realize how much I lost.” - Jaclyn (wearer since
2021)
“eSight has given me a sense of independence that I don’t
need to rely on anyone when I have the device with me” -
Tony (wearer since 2018)
“To be able to be in the winner's circle and have hundreds
and hundreds of people applauding you, but seeing them
and not just hearing them, that just made the experience far
greater than what anybody could imagine.” - Sandra-Lynn
(Special Olympics equestrian)
The trial period
is one week, but the
impact on the vision is
almost immediate.
16.
17. Stay in touch.
Subscribe to Insightscare Get Insightssuccess
Magazine in print, & digital on www.insightscare.com
Check should be drawn in favor of :
INSIGHTS SUCCESS MEDIA TECH LLC
18. Braille
Institute
Empowering your Future by Empowering your Vision
Progressive low vision, blindness, and low
sightedness are diagnoses that petrify many as
people do not fear the loss of vision but rather their
independence.
But it doesn't have to be that way. Braille Institute has
worked to empower people who live with vision loss and
help them become independent while maximizing their
remaining vision. It offers a well-equipped center with
smartphones, computers, and voice-activated devices to
allow individuals to practice and receive hands-on training.
Under the astounding leadership of its President, Peter
Mindnich, the organization has expanded its ability to
serve individuals well beyond the four walls of its various
centers and reach those in need across the U.S. and the
world.
In an interview with Insights Care, Peter elaborates upon
the journey that signifies the presence of Braille Institute in
the healthcare sector.
Peter, please brief our audience about Braille Institute,
its USPs, and how it is positioned as a reliable name in
the healthcare sector?
Braille Institute provides educational and rehabilitative
services for those who are blind or visually impaired. All of
our programs and services are free of charge, are offered
year-round, and serve people of all ages (children, youth,
adults) at all stages of vision loss. We strive to serve the
whole person by meeting a range of physical, social,
intellectual, and emotional needs.
Please shed some light on your offerings and how they
impact the healthcare industry and your clients.
Braille Institute offers a full array of direct services: low
vision consultations, technology training, daily living skill
classes, arts and healthy living classes, orientation and
Our goal is to
help harness the power of
modern technology to make
the lives of those living
with vision loss easier
and more convenient.
10 Most Innovative Assistive Technology Companies in 2022
April 2022
16|www.insightscare.com
19. Peter Mindnich joined Braille Institute in
October 2011 and has been President
since March 2014. During his tenure, the
company has expanded its ability to serve
more individuals by delivering its
programs and services remotely using the
Microsoft Teams platform, with individuals
receiving needed services and support
online. This has enabled Braille Institute to
expand its ability to serve individuals well
beyond the four walls of our various
centers and reach those in need across
the U.S. and the world.
The Generous Leader
mobility training, and library services. Clients are provided
with an individualized range of services designed to meet
their specific visual challenges and personal goals.
Instruction is offered in one-on-one and group settings.
Formats range from standalone workshops to multi-week
classes, depending on subject, purpose, and audience. We
do not set limits on age or length of service; students can
return as often as needed to achieve their goals.
Many of our students receive multiple services. The
majority of those we serve have some degree of vision (not
completely blind). We realize that age-related vision loss is
significant, and with the youngest of the baby boomers
hitting 65 by 2029, the number of people with visual
impairment or blindness in the United States is expected to
double to more than eight million by 2050, according to
projections based on the most recent census data and from
studies funded by the National Eye Institute, part of the
National Institutes of Health.
What are the core values upon which your organization
is built? What is the vision and mission of the Braille
Institute?
Our mission is to positively transform the lives of those
with vision loss. Our goal is to provide the training and
skills necessary for individuals to lead productive, fulfilling,
and independent lives. Our core values focus on our passion
to serve, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence and
integrity. All our programs and services are free of charge.
We never turn anyone away due to a financial inability to
pay.
April 2022
17|www.insightscare.com
Peter Mindnich
President
Braille Institute
20. Being an experienced leader, share your opinion on how
modern technologies have impacted the healthcare
sector. How has Braille Institute incorporated such
technologies into its daily operations?
Technology has been a real game-changer for the
population of blind and visually impaired individuals we
serve. There is assistive technology and accessible apps that
have helped those with vision loss manage day-to-day
activities.
Voice-enabled technology, smart home devices, and a full
range of apps that can read food or medicine labels or
recognize faces are now part of everyday living. Braille
Institute offers technology training with instructors in group
and one-on-one settings.
We equipped our centers with smartphones, computers, and
voice-activated devices to allow individuals to practice and
receive hands-on training. Our goal is to help harness the
power of modern technology to make the lives of those
living with vision loss easier and more convenient.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs
who aspire to venture into the healthcare space?
Observe and listen to clients and patients; they often can
share frustration and needs they have that are not being met.
It is incredibly rewarding to be able to make a difference in
someone's life every day. Technology can be someone's
eyes or ears. Accessibility is such a growing field and there
is more than can be done.
How do you envision scaling your organization's
operations and offerings in 2022 and beyond?
We will continue to expand our remote programs and
services to help more people who are blind or visually
impaired. Presently, all our services are delivered by a live
consultant or instructor. To be able to fully offer our
services nationally or globally, we may look to provide
asynchronous content that can be accessed through our
website or a dedicated learning portal.
Please give us a few testimonials of your
clients/customers and a list of awards/recognitions that
accurately highlight your organization's position in the
market.
SCOTT is in his mid-60s and living with total blindness. He
needed help in his home to learn kitchen safety and how to
prepare meals for himself. He thought he could only use a
microwave to fix a meal. He recently lost his wife, who was
his primary caregiver and the one who prepared all his
meals.
Braille Institute provided hands-on training on how to
prepare his favorite foods and showed him different
methods for marking/labeling items (e.g., braille or large
print labels, rubber bands, Velcro). Because good eating
habits are vital to staying healthy and maintaining
independence, meal preparation and safe kitchen use
continue to be core training areas among our students.
April 2022
18|www.insightscare.com
21.
22. Innovative
Making Our World
More Accessible
ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGIES
To eliminate the societal and spatial barriers,
disruptions in technology have revolutionized
assistive technologies for everyone facing physical,
emotional or cognitive difficulties. This technology, known
as assistive technology, has morphed user experience in
tandem with current global landscapes. While
inaccessibility is at the foreground, lack of safety is in the
background.
Humans— the social being are proactive to help a person
who is differently abled. And, this can be noticed in various
Medi-care institutions and hospitals. For example, imagine
a visit to the nearest hospital for a routine check-up where
there either the infrastructure lacks ease of mobility or even
if they are in place, it does not assure safety– like it might
not have railings, or the surface maybe too slippery to go on
wheelchair etc. and hence it would be mandatory to take
assistance from family or strangers to complete it.
Assistance, though availed from family members or from
strangers, escalates negative feelings among the differently
abled. And this is where innovations and assistance have
come to their aid. Rather than helping them in a way that
makes them feel like a burden, one can educate them about
innovative assistive technologies which would give them
their desired independence.
So, why the wait to empower them?
Let us read the article to know more:
Ø ENHANCING RELIABILITY
Accessibility powered with reliable technological services
fills the user with trust and lets them explore more. From
aiding patients to consume right medicines at the right time
to elderly care homes, innovative assistive technologies are
enhancing their movement and reach and, these are leading
users to achieve self-mobility. To create a world of trust and
liberation let us get familiar with few popular innovative
assistive technologies.
Ø ROBOTIC INTERVENTION
Robots are helping achieve the objective of accessible
hospitals. Apart from their traditional roles of delivering
necessities and catering patient needs, the Multi tower
robots by PTR technologies have enabled disinfecting
individuals, modular lifting of individuals, or even
educating the patients in healthcare making healthcare
accessible to all. They can be used children with autism
where robot enhance their social skills by helping them
form social connections and engage in conversations.
April 2022
20|www.insightscare.com
Enhancing Reliability
24. Ø AI MAKING THE DIFFERENCE:
As accidents are increasing globally, so is the need for
prosthetics. While prosthetics are in use since ancient times,
prosthetics merged with the emerging technology of
Artificial intelligence and is doing wonders for the people
in need. AI is enabling regenerative peripheral nerve
interface to produce finer movements that last lifetime.
Ø WINDOWS EYE CONTROL
Recent studies have also highlighted importance of online
games in improving behavioral outcomes. While different
solutions have been developed to help the differently abled
play various physical sports, technology has opened avenue
to engage with online gaming platforms too. Microsoft's
technology of Windows Eye control helps people play an
online game without the aid of gaming console, so the users
use their eye movements to play the game.
Ø DISABILITY FRIENDLY LATRINE
UNICEF and WHO are constantly striving to improve
accessibility for the differently abled. Publicly most of the
times, public toilets are not differently abled friendly that
leaves the space inaccessible to the user. The technology
used transforms normal latrines to disability friendly
latrines by adjusting seat levels or seat designs that makes
the state infrastructure disabled friendly.
Ø ROUTINE ASSISTANCE
While the mentioned innovations are just the tip of the
iceberg in assistive technology, these innovations have
surely transformed the traditional assistive technologies too.
Equipment's like wheelchairs, ear aid, walking aid etc. have
gone significant upgradations.
Talking about wheelchairs, they are now operated
electronically, giving them more freedom to travel anytime,
anywhere. It also helps them explore smaller packed spaces.
Moving further, advanced hearing aid now has features like
automatic sound adjustments, methods that help describe
the sound environment to the listener etc.
Constantly adjusting those spectacles can be annoying,
which might be even more for the differently abled persons.
For people who have not developed facial features fully but
are required to wear spectacles, production companies like
Dilli Dalli have come up with innovative spectacles that
help them adjust the single frame according to their needs.
The best point is it uses recyclable technology and the
material used is non allergenic, which is a perfect aid for
the differently abled.
Most of the times patients forget to take our daily dose of
medicines and would not be a promising idea for the
differently to depend on other for this. Hence, various apps,
for example Pillie box or Medisafe, are acting as pill
reminders for most of the population. They also have
features that enable users to differentiate between various
pill by use of assorted colors for them.
For travelling around, cars and mobility bikes have gained
popularity among the differently abled. Cars have now
installed various features like touch on ignition, ease of
seating mobility, hand controls for brakes and acceleration,
voice assistance for directions and a lot more that has
enabled them to even experience safe driving.
Subways of a city are either unknown or could turn out to
be a maze to explore it individually without maps.
Considering these intricacies, companies have produced
various apps that help people to travel via subways, give
them directions, create a map of the subway with noted
exits, help them buy a ticket etc.
Tourism industry is propelling ahead with huge investments
and social media publicity and now most countries are
taking steps to become disabled friendly for every traveler.
They have incorporated technologies like enabled
pedestrian accessible signals, accessible museums, kiosks at
every point for disseminating information giving leverage
to the concept of smarter and accessible cities.
Wrapping Up
Global leaders taking pledge to achieve sustainable
development goals of innovation and infrastructure and
reducing inequalities by 2030 are complementing the
advancements in assistive technologies. Innovation will
always be the driving force to reinforce ease of mobility
and inclusiveness. Hopefully, these technologies will not let
anyone worry about that hospital visit and bring inclusivity
in healthcare with diversified options for the differently
abled, making them not just feel independent but
empowering them holistically.
April 2022
22|www.insightscare.com
27. ESPER BIONICS
Prominent Name in Prosthesis Innovations
We live in exciting times, and we may look
forward to a future in which human-robotic
interfaces become more accessible, allowing
people to enjoy healthier, higher-quality lives.
What do you think the human race's future holds? Science
fiction frequently depicts a highly evolved and
technologically advanced humanity.
Humans of the future are expected to be able to recover
quickly from catastrophic injuries thanks to human-robotic
interfaces, prosthetic body components, and innovative
medicine. Esper Bionics is the company that creates human
improvement technology, such as a self-learning robotic
prosthesis for patients with upper-limb abnormalities. That
can help us move forward in the future.
In an interview with Insights Care, Dima Gazda, the CEO
and Founder of Esper Bionics, and his team share their
company's journey, their role in the development of robotic
prosthesis, and the future aspects of the medical sector.
Please brief our audience about Esper Bionics, its USPs,
and how it is positioned as a reliable name in the
healthcare sector?
Esper Bionics is a pioneer engineering company that builds
human enhancement devices, including a self-learning
robotic prosthesis for people with upper limb differences.
Our technological start-up was founded in 2019 by Dima
Gazda, a medical doctor, electronic engineer, and serial
entrepreneur, with a mission to create technologies that can
eliminate diseases, give humans extra abilities, and
ultimately fulfil and prolong the lives of billions of people
around the globe.
Headquartered in New York, the US, we have offices in
Germany and Ukraine. We are an experienced team of
twenty with a rare combination of skills and expertise in a
variety of areas. These include engineering, medicine,
manufacturing, electronics, software, data science, and tech
entrepreneurship, among others.
In the summer of 2021, one of our first products — the
bionic prosthesis Esper Hand — got registered with FDA.
That same year, Esper Bionics became a winner at the 13th
Healthcare Innovation World Cup and was named a top
world techpreneur. Earlier, we secured support from EIT
Health, a network of best-in-class health innovators backed
by the EU, the Alchemist Accelerator, a US venture-backed
accelerator ranked the top accelerator in 2016 by CB
Insights SMRK, a venture fund behind Allset and Ajax.
Please shed some light on your offerings and how they
impact the healthcare industry and your clients.
Our first products are Esper Hand, a bionic hand prosthesis,
Esper Control, a wearable brain-computer interface (BCI),
and Esper Platform, a cloud-based software solution. At this
stage of development, they are aimed to improve the lives
of people with upper limb differences drastically.
Unlike most hand prostheses that are static or slightly
adjustable, Esper Hand has five movable fingers, moves
naturally, and changes grips automatically. It uses data
about the user's brain impulses and muscle activity to
perform everyday tasks — like opening a bottle, picking up
individual grapes, scrolling on the phone, driving a car, or
using construction tools — with almost human-like
dexterity.
Our big idea is to make
the prosthetics industry
the birthplace of
next-gen tech to help
billions of people live
longer and more fulfilling
lives.
10 Most Innovative Assistive Technology Companies in 2022
April 2022
25|www.insightscare.com
28. It is worth saying that Esper's solution detects brain
impulses and muscle activity of the user up to ten times
better than other hands on the market.
Esper Hand's performance improves gradually. Through its
application for smartphones and desktops, the hand is
connected to Esper Platform. The latter is a cloud-based
solution aimed to enhance and individualize hand
controllability over time. The platform gathers data about
all the movements the hand performs to recognize situations
and suggest the right grip faster next time.
The more wearers use the hand, the better it gets. Weighing
380 g, Esper Hand is among the lightest on the market yet.
It is lighter than a human hand. Half metal, half plastic, it
comes in four sizes and five colors and has almost three
hundred proprietary components. The hand's parts, e.g.,
fingers — are modular and can be easily replaced within
minutes.
Some of our users see Esper Hand as a combination of a
useful gadget and a fashion accessory thanks to its beautiful
design. The hand's design is inspired by the beauty of the
human body and the lightness and durability of aviation
technology. We are revolutionizing not only the lives of
particular users but healthcare itself.
We are currently focusing our efforts on upgrading the
prosthetics industry, which is very low-tech. These hand
prostheses should be connected to one or two software
platforms, be able to collect data about user behavior and
improve over time.
We see that in the future, these technologies will expand to
other fields and assistive devices — exoskeletons and
sensors, etc. — and create the necessary infrastructure for
the introduction of electronic implants. We believe that
electronic implants will bring the biggest positive change to
the world.
What are the core values upon which Esper Bionics is
built? What is the vision and mission of your
organization?
Our ultimate goal at Esper Bionics is to unleash the hidden
abilities of humans, eliminate diseases, and prolong lives
with the help of electronic implants. As today's technology
stack is still insufficient to use electronic implants
effectively, we aim to upgrade the prosthetics industry first
since it has the potential to create the necessary tech stack.
This brings us to our current goal, which is to drastically
improve the lives of ten million people with an arm
amputation worldwide with the help of Esper Hand.
Please brief us about Dima Gazda's journey in the
industry and how he has contributed to Esper Bionics's
success.
Esper Bionics' CEO and Founder, Dima Gazda, is a medical
doctor, an embedded engineer, and a serial entrepreneur. He
began his journey in the multi-billion-dollar healthcare
industry as a medical student in 2003. Since then, he also
got electronic engineering education and built four
successful companies.
Under his leadership, Esper Bionics has transformed from a
five-person technological startup in 2019 into a twenty-
person pioneer engineering company backed by the US and
EU venture funds in 2022.
April 2022
26|www.insightscare.com
29. What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs
who aspire to venture into the healthcare space?
My advice would be to come to the market as soon as
possible. Do not wait. Usually, it is possible to make the
first step like talking cooperation with clinics or individual
physicians before getting a certification. Also, try to start
without attracting third-party investment.
My second advice would be to partner as soon as possible
with teams who have done it before or who are seniors in
what they do.
My third advice would be to be ready to iterate fast if you
see that the market does not like what you do or does not
need what you do.
My fourth advice would be, "Don't be afraid." Just do it.
Preparation and hesitation usually take more time than
action. When your business becomes sustainable or closer
to being sustainable, you will have more time to think and
plan. But to start, do it fast.
Testimonials
Nika
"Unlike my previous prosthesis, Esper Hand is fully
functional. It makes me feel independent and confident.
With it, I can do whatever I want with no assistance
whatsoever."
Vlada
"The biggest advantage for me is the ability to have two
functioning hands — instead of only one right hand again.
Also, I love the aesthetic of the hand. It is so beautiful!
With Esper Hand, I feel almost half-human, half-robot —
just like Tony Stark, who turned his disability into a
superpower. I also have the ability to choose a color to
make sure the hand goes well with clothes. Overall, Esper
Hand is stylish and beautiful, easy to use, and, most
importantly, functional.
The first life-changing quality of Esper Hand is that it gave
me back my confidence and the ability to do many things
on my own without asking anyone for help. Another life-
changing quality was a chance for me to do interviews to
highlight the abilities of the hand. It was so exciting!"
Awards
April 2019
Esper Bionics becomes the winner at the international
engineering startup competition, the Vernadsky Challenge
October 2020
Anna Belevantseva, COO, and co-founder at Esper Bionics,
became a winner of the Female Leadership Program,
backed by CRDF Global.
November 2021
Esper Bionics becomes a winner at the 13th Healthcare
Innovation World Cup and is named a top world
techpreneur
January 2022
Esper Hand is showcased at CES 2022
April 2022
27|www.insightscare.com
30. Empowering Independent Recovery
Have you imagined having a system that can enable
medical services at the tip of your finger?
Well, yes! Technological development has taken a leap in
convenience, and efficiency and we are experiencing this
game-changing development. One such development is the
establishment of EXOSYSTEMS’ virtual platform to
recover from physical abilities. It works on an AI
technology that makes physical constraints like time and
space cancel out. It specifically focuses on providing care
solutions in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.
Under the visionary leadership of its Founder and CEO,
Hooman Lee, the company has gathered an efficient team
that caters to the needs of the Korean Medical market.
In an interview with Insights Care, Hooman speaks about
the emergence of Exosystems and how is it impacting the
healthcare industry.
Below are the highlights of the interview.
Please brief our audience about Exosystems, its USPs,
and how it is positioned as a reliable name in the
healthcare sector?
Exosystems is a startup that provides digital care solutions
for musculoskeletal systems based on cutting-edge
technology from robotics hardware to artificial intelligence
software.
Founded in 2017 as a government-funded research institute,
ETRI, a spin-off startup, we dream of a day when people
can recover their physical abilities and enjoy healthy life
values through our technology and services.
Based on AI technology, we are targeting the successful
musculoskeletal rehabilitation of CNS patients at home and
in hospitals through a Tele-rehabilitation solution. The
technology development team consists of veterans in the
field of artificial intelligence and medical device
development and has continued to cooperate with university
hospitals for clinical research to secure expertise in solving
problems.
Shed some light on your offerings and how they impact
the healthcare industry as well as your clients.
We offer our clients a Professional Digital Care solution for
Join Pain and Muscle Loss, from in-hospital to in-home
care, to meet patient healthcare needs.
Tele-rehabilitation solutions of EXOSYSTEMS go beyond
physical constraints such as time/space and enable medical
services suitable for medical consumers around the world.
The product, exoRehab, provides effective rehabilitation for
post-operative patients with Central Nervous System
diseases such as stroke, Parkinson's Disease, and general
musculoskeletal disorder. Its key features are Bio-signal
analysis(sEMG) and functional electrical stimulation(FES),
and remote patient monitoring.
AI algorithm analyzes digital biomarkers from electrical
signals of muscles, then Digital Therapeutic SW(DTx)
provides personalized treatment through app-based exercise
protocols and device-based electrical stimulation. Most
processes can be done remotely, and personalized health
data can be monitored remotely.
What are the core values upon which your organization
is built? What is the vision and mission of your
organization?
The core values of EXOSYSTEMS are 'excellence,' 'fast
execution and learning,' and 'communication.'
Excellence - I think the best consideration for our
colleagues is our excellence. When excellent talents gather
and grow together, they always produce excellent results.
Fast execution and learning - No one can make a perfect
plan. We must learn the real voice of customers through
minimal planning and quick implementation. If everything's
under control, we're moving too slowly.
10 Most Innovative Assistive Technology Companies in 2022
April 2022
28|www.insightscare.com
31. Hooman Lee, the founder of EXOSYSTEMS, studied
robotics at graduate school and worked as a researcher
at the Government-funded Research Institute. One day,
he realized that there was a serious medical blind spot in
rehabilitation from experiencing severe injuries and long,
painful rehabilitation.
At that time, he was doing research on wearable robots
and began to seriously consider applying these
technologies to rehabilitation treatment. After making up
his mind to solve problems in this eld through related
technologies, he visited professors at prominent
university hospitals for advice.Then he could gure out
new types of solutions with appropriate technology.
He gathered team members who sympathized with these
goals and then succeeded in fund-raising from one of the
best early-stage investors in Korea.Thanks to investors,
the team was able to start to develop the technology and
has been growing so far.Today, with the success of
attracting investment in the Series A stage, the team is
running toward its dreams while recruiting more talented
people.
Visionary Leadership
Hooman Lee
Founder and CEO
Exosystems
Based on the core
values, EXOSYSTEMS’
vision is to be the
No.1 Digital Healthcare
Company in the world.
April 2022
29|www.insightscare.com
32. Communication - Communication is not just about having
a conversation. We must understand the importance of
sharing information to make the right decisions in each
position.
Based on these core values, EXOSYSTEMS’ vision is to be
the ‘No.1 Digital Healthcare Company in the world’.
Hooman, being an experienced leader, share your
opinion on how modern technologies have impacted the
healthcare sector and how has Exosystems incorporated
such technologies into its daily operations?
Today's advanced network technology allows most tasks to
be done remotely. This trend has also had a great impact on
the medical field, and we expect the telemedicine market to
grow significantly in the future.
Until now, technologies such as video calls have been
mainly used in telemedicine so far. I think more
professional services will be required in the future, such as
remotely monitoring patients' biometric signals using
digital medical devices.
EXOSYSTEMS is preparing for this future, and the digital
care solutions we provide have been developed to provide
professional service and data management anytime,
anywhere.
In addition, new digital medicine, called Digital
Therapeutics(DTx), will be used broadly in the future in
areas where it is difficult to develop biochemical drugs.
Several FDA-approved Digital Therapeutics are already
emerging, and this trend will affect the global
pharmaceutical market. In this context, EXOSYSTEMS has
a plan to start the FDA process of our Digital Care SW.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs
who aspire to venture into the healthcare space?
In the healthcare market, it is important to decide how to do
profitable business first.
For example, the ecosystem of the Korean medical market
has a structure in which public insurance covers most areas.
Therefore, to do business within the Korean medical
market, it is necessary to understand the structure of public
insurance reimbursement.
Since much of the U.S. healthcare market is covered by
private insurance, another strategy is needed to figure out
which insurance plan to target here. This strategy will
eventually have a major impact on deciding whether to
prepare for FDA approval as a medical device or target the
wellness area as a consumer electronics device.
How do you envision scaling your organization's
operations and offerings in 2022 and beyond?
In 2022, joint research is planned with a global
pharmaceutical company. The good results of this study will
be a good opportunity for our technology to be applied to
new drug development in the future, so we will pay a lot of
attention to this study. Since we finished the Series A
fundraising by the end of 2021, we plan to increase the
capability of technology development through the active
recruitment of talented people.
While continuing technology development, we plan to
release products developed by applying some technologies
in 2022 and aim to collect as much real-world data as
possible from patients.
Please give us a few testimonials of your
clients/customers and a list of awards/recognitions that
accurately highlight your organization's position in the
market.
The most satisfying part for users is that they can receive
professional rehabilitation treatment such as NMES
electrical stimulation at home, which was previously only
available at professional medical institutions. In addition,
performing an exercise program with feedback of the user's
bio-signal in real-time is highly satisfying for enhancing the
exercise effect. Some users are also delighted with digitally
recorded data.
[Awards]
- 2019: Minister Award from Minister of Science and ICT
Award
- 2020: CES 2020 Innovation Award
- 2021: Minister Award from Minister of SMEs and Start-
ups
[Recognitions]
- Total of $ 4.5M in funding
- Leading $ 5M government granted research
- Public Procurement Service's selection of innovative
products
- Medical Device Certification and Insurance
Reimbursement Confirmation
April 2022
30|www.insightscare.com
35. he evolution of technology is showing wonders in
Tdiverse fields and, as a result, impacting the world
in a positive way!
The Healthcare industry has come a long way, and
technology is one of the most crucial driving forces for this
evolution. Artificial Intelligence, Nanotechnology, Virtual
Reality, Augmented reality, Robotics, machine learning, and
wearable technology are changing the face of the healthcare
industry.
Driven by technology, the healthcare industry is changing
drastically, and machines are replacing the work which was
once done by people. Doctors with many years of
experience retired doctors, and other senior medical
researchers will find the impact of technology in the
medical field astonishing. These advancements are fueling
the development of the healthcare industry and
simultaneously contributing to helping the medical
practitioners and staff to adapt to the new era of the tech-
savvy world.
This article will give an insight into how the diverse
components of technology and its dynamic applications are
introduced and adapted in the healthcare niche.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used to make smart machines
perform tasks that usually require human intelligence.
Under AI, machine learning and other cognitive
technologies are used in the healthcare industry. AI in
medical settings is usually used for analyzing medical data
to come up with diagnoses and other similar outcomes.
These data could be used significantly, and meaningful
insights can be drawn by extracting this data which can be
rendered and developed into better medical/clinical
decisions. Paperwork consumes a lot of doctors' time but by
How is
Technology
Augmentingthe
Hea hcare Niche?
April 2022
33|www.insightscare.com
36. introducing digitized systems like electronic health records
systems, collecting the data becomes easier and systematic.
AI can produce an accurate diagnosis and preventive
measures for the same and can also suggest related
treatment for the same. By using Big Data, community
health can be monitored and could also help in the
prevention of infectious diseases, epidemics etc. AI has an
important role, as it's just an umbrella term that covers a
variety of technology that can help in developing and
improving the health care industry.
Data Analytics and Health Sector
Data analysis and AI goes hand in hand; both work
simultaneously to analyze big data with respect to public
health, including the medical history of an individual
person to a variety of diagnosis and possible treatments
over the years. And this data not only helps in innovating
new technology but also keeps a tab of never-ending data
related to patients. Data related to Medical reports, lab
reports, medicines which were prescribed, etc., are
information that could be extracted with accuracy.
Wearable Devices and Health Trackers
With wearable devices, data related to a person's everyday
activities like the number of steps, hours of sleep, etc could
be monitored by doctors. The behavior and lifestyle of any
person is the first reason they get sick and to have a healthy
lifestyle is necessary, and smartphones aligned with
wearable technology like 'Fitbit' helps the doctors study the
pattern of a patient's lifestyle and prevent possible illness.
AR and VR in Healthcare
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are no
more limited to the gaming sector. Healthcare sectors are
now joining hands with these new technologies and
expanding their digital journey. Before diving into the
application of AR and VR in the healthcare niche, let's
understand briefly what AR and VR are exactly.
AR is widely used in medical training where the students
and doctors get a view of complex surgeries without
performing actual surgery. Integrating maps and locations
of hospital and medical care centers with technology helps
in emergency cases like accidents to locate the nearby
hospital quickly and easily.
Virtual Reality (VR) has a wide set of applications in
healthcare. To start with it is most commonly used during
Robotic Surgery, where the patient is being treated by using
robots controlled by an actual doctor. Apart from this, VR
has been used for treating trauma, anxiety, and depression
by providing a peaceful and relaxing environment for the
patient.
AR and VR together are shaping the world of healthcare,
and these advancements are helping in the fast recovery of
patients.
Telemedicine
The relationship between a doctor and a patient is the
founding principle of healthcare, and having clear
communication bridges the gap between the two and helps
in the healing process. Telemedicine is a way in which
doctors and patients can use technology to communicate
without being in the same room.
The use of this technology increased during the pandemic
when patients were quarantined at home and stayed in
touch with doctors virtually, and got treatment on time.
Senior citizens are the most benefitted community with
respect to telemedicine as they can communicate with the
doctors regarding their illness from the comfort of their
home without traveling all the way to the hospital.
Concluding Words
Technology will go hand in hand with the medical
practitioners and staff without affecting their livelihood.
Technology augmented in the medical sector will act as a
helping hand for the professionals who are doing the noble
work of saving lives.
April 2022
34|www.insightscare.com
37.
38. Mental Hea h
Benefits of
Live-in Caregiver
Hiring a
O
ut of all the reasons adult children may choose to
hire a live-in caregiver, mental health may not be
the first reason they give. That is because when
they finally get to the point to hire, there is already a
pressing concern that their loved one cannot be alone, and
the family members do not realize the mental health impact
they are currently experiencing. However, looking deeper,
there is a two-fold benefit for our clients and their families.
Hiring a live-in caregiver is beneficial for a client's mental
health because it can make them feel a sense of safety and
security.
In the outbreak of COVID-19, the world was forced to shut
down; everyone needed to isolate not only for their safety
but as well as their families. From my experience working
as a nurse during the pandemic, I saw how tough it was for
those who lived alone and those who depended on their
relatives to assist them with their ADLs (Activities of daily
living) and IADLs (Instrumental activities of daily living).
All of a sudden, the only form of communication they had
with their families and friends was by phone. I started to
notice more behaviors were occurring, and frequent falls
were happening. It was clear to see the negative mental
impact our clients were feeling.
What we discovered was that the families were searching
for solutions, feeling vulnerable and guilty. Many asked,
"should I take my mom or dad home?" sometimes ignoring
that they did not have the adequate space at home, training,
or the capacity in their schedules to dedicate the time and
attention to their loved ones needed to thrive. When I
started the business with In home personal services, I
noticed that most of my clients' families lived out of state,
which led to heightened levels of poor mental health due to
a sense of helplessness the families felt. After speaking with
the families to identify their needs and provide education
and reassurance in our services, they could feel a sense of
trust in our caregivers as if they were an extension of their
family.
Knowing that our caregivers were well-trained, professional
caregivers gave them a sense of ease. The caregivers were
by their side, giving only their full attention to their clients
and allowing the pandemic to be bearable. They attended to
their needs and wants but still allowed them to maintain
their independent lifestyle.
April 2022
36|www.insightscare.com
39. Overall, there are not many words to describe the peace of
mind when it comes to the ones we love, and we do not
often realize in our busy lives how our mental health can be
affected for someone we love is not getting the care or
attention they need. We are so proud to be offering this type
of service to improve the quality of life for our clients as
well as the mental health of their families.
- Rachelle Ventura, RN
April 2022
37|www.insightscare.com
43. Augmenting an Era of Perpetual Convenience
As Henry David Thoreau rightly quotes, “An early
morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” But
what about individuals with lower limb
disabilities?
What if these individuals were assured, they could walk
while looking at the world eye to eye again?
Acknowledging this grave issue, the makers of ReWalk
Robotics have designed, developed, and commercialized
powered solutions that provide mobility to individuals with
lower limb disabilities.
Standing by the company’s mission of fundamentally
changing the quality of life, Kathleen O'Donnell, VP of
Marketing and New Business Development, has been the
source of guiding light to the company. Her combined
expertise in biomedical and engineering has helped lead the
company in the development and testing of exo-suits.
In an interview with Insights Care, Kathleen talks about the
company’s USPs and how modern technologies have
positively impacted the healthcare niche.
Below are the highlights:
Please brief our audience about ReWalk Robotics, its
USPs, and how it is positioned as a reliable name in the
healthcare sector?
ReWalk Robotics specializes in developing and
commercializing novel high-tech solutions to address
mobility and movement impairments for individuals at
home and in rehabilitation institutions.
ReWalk has consistently pioneered the healthcare
exoskeleton industry, starting with being the first FDA-
approved exoskeleton to enable walking for individuals
with spinal cord injury (SCI) in 2014.
ReWalk was also the first to partner with the Veterans
Administration to develop a national policy regarding
access to personal exoskeletons for Veterans with SCI in
2015. More recently, we have continued to seek broader
access to exoskeletons by working with CMS to establish a
unique HCPCS code designated for exoskeletons and
continue to work with CMS in an effort to gain
reimbursement coverage for individuals covered under
Medicare.
Robotics
eW
alk
R
We know that interventions are
the most effective when we
maximize the intensity, number
of repetitions, and relevance of
the activity we are trying to
train – all of which can be
facilitated by rehabilitation
robotics.
10 Most Innovative Assistive Technology Companies in 2022
April 2022
41|www.insightscare.com
44. Please shed some light on your offerings and how they
impact the healthcare industry and your clients.
ReWalk offers two flagship products: the ReWalk Personal
Exoskeleton and the ReStore Exo-Suit for post-stroke gait
rehabilitation. These two products help to address two very
important mobility challenges in Neuro Rehabilitation in
very different ways:
The ReWalk Personal Exoskeleton enables individuals with
spinal cord injury to stand, walk, and access the benefits of
everyday walking during daily activities at home and in the
community.
The ReStore Exo-Suit is designed to be used during
physical therapy sessions for patients who are relearning the
ability to walk after a stroke. The ReStore is a fabric-based
wearable suit that allows therapists to train for improved
ground clearance and push-off – two key functions which
are typically impaired after a stroke.
In addition to these products, we also offer a line of
MediTouch Augmented Biofeedback devices and a line of
Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) cycles from
MYOLYN, which includes solutions for both clinic and at-
home use.
What are the core values upon which ReWalk Robotics
is built? What is the vision and mission of your
organization?
Our mission is to provide solutions that can fundamentally
change the quality of life for individuals with movement
impairments, by helping them to regain mobility and
independence at home and in the clinic.
Kathleen, tell us about your journey in the industry and
how you have contributed to the company's success.
I became involved with ReWalk Robotics starting in 2016
when ReWalk Robotics and the Wyss Institute at Harvard
University entered into a licensing and collaboration
agreement for the development of exosuit technologies.
At the time I was working at the Wyss Institute to lead the
stroke rehabilitation exosuit project that was being
developed in the Bio design lab with Professor Conor
Walsh, PhD. This technology eventually became the
ReStore Exo-Suit that is commercially available from
ReWalk Robotics today.
Following the transition to ReWalk Robotics, I became
involved in efforts to commercialize the design of ReStore,
April 2022
42|www.insightscare.com
45. and the coordination of the clinical trials prior to FDA
clearance. Upon receiving FDA clearance for ReStore in
2019, I helped to coordinate the global product launch.
More recently, I also helped to bring in the MediTouch and
MYOLYN product lines for distribution in the US to help
expand our neurorehabilitation portfolio.
Being an experienced leader, share your opinion on how
modern technologies have impacted the healthcare
sector. How has your company incorporated such
technologies into its daily operations?
Robotics have been gaining increased popularity in physical
rehabilitation, and neurorehabilitation, due to their unique
ability to supply highly customizable levels of assistance to
patients in consistent, repeatable ways, while at the same
time minimizing the physical burden on the therapists who
would otherwise have to assist these movements manually.
In neurorehabilitation (e.g., rehabilitation after a
neurological injury, such as spinal cord injury or stroke), we
know that interventions are the most effective when we
maximize the intensity, number of repetitions, and
relevance of the activity we are trying to train–all of which
can be facilitated by rehabilitation robotics.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs
who aspire to venture into the healthcare space?
Find a challenge that you and your team are uniquely
qualified to help solve. Then, involve your stakeholders
early and often throughout your development process to
ensure your solution will genuinely meet their needs.
How do you envision scaling ReWalk Robotics’
operations and offerings in 2022 and beyond?
We have added two additional product lines, the MYOLYN
FES cycles and the MediTouch augmented feedback
system, to our US operations as distribution products. This
allows our team to be a stronger resource with a more
complete range of solutions for neurorehabilitation. We will
also continue to develop newer models of our existing
Exoskeleton and Exo-Suit products, and recently received
breakthrough designation with the FDA for our ReBoot
design, which will be a home-use version of the ReStore
Exo-Suit.
April 2022
43|www.insightscare.com