Partner Search

Summary

An Irish company has designed, patented and undertaken proof of concept work on an undulating, tuneable pressure relief pad suitable for patients with mobility issues who would be prone to pressure related ailments such as bedsores or ulcers. The company are seeking industrial partners, possibly in the homecare product or wheelchair / mobility sectors, to commercialise this product concept: to produce and market the product under a license agreement.

Full description

The standard technologies employed in preventative approaches to pressure related ailments such as bedsores or ulcers are based on pneumatics.
The technology on offer stems from the combination of electronics and a specialist fluid. This combination allows for a thinner cushion unit with a targeted software response configuration across the pad area.

The company view their technology firmly embedded in the preventative rather than the treatment mode with regards to bedsore or ulcer formation. As such they would see companies in the wheelchair market or companies supplying products to the homecare of patients as their potential partners in the development of products using this technology.

Innovative Aspects

The innovative elements of this technology are viewed as the following:
- Uses of a novel technology formally not used in applications of this type
- It is believed that the technology on offer has distinct advantages over
pneumatic solutions to patient comfort and the prevention of pressure related
ailments in terms of mobile environments such as wheelchairs.
- It is envisaged that both the controls and the pad itself would be more
compact and lack the requirement of pneumatic pump units etc.

Advantages would be seen as:
- Software controlled pressure over the surface area of the pad permits
targeted response to particular contact areas.
- Electronic activation of the pressure unit allows for a more compact and
silent operation. The power requirements would suit users that mobility.

Partner expertise sought:

An ideal partner company would be an industrial manufacturer currently supplying products into this sector or wishing to break into this market sector.

The partners role would be to work with the company offering the technology initially to develop the product to a market ready stage and thereafter produce and market the product under a license agreement.

Product development.