Instrumenting aids for monitoring compliance / health
(INSTANT)

Every year, thousands of people are helped with customized aids, such as orthoses, prostheses, wheelchairs, occupational therapy aids, etc. However, inquiries within the sector have shown that many of these aids are only effective if they are worn correctly and for long enough. In other words: compliance is a very important aspect in the success of the treatment. Moreover, the fitting of such aids is often a process of trial and error in which the wearer provides feedback and the aid is iteratively optimized. If the interaction between the aid and wearer can be measured, this would provide insight into both compliance and the optimal functioning of the aid.

The ever-increasing miniaturization of electronics and the availability of better battery technology mean that it is now possible to develop affordable small sensor modules that measure certain parameters over long periods of time. If such sensor modules are integrated into aids, then it is possible to measure objective parameters. These objective parameters ensure that the right aid is fitted in fewer iterations, that the right adjustments can be made during rehabilitation and/or that certain problems can be detected preventively.

The INSTANT project meets the demand of orthopedic companies and healthcare institutions to monitor and improve the use of aids. With the help of sensors, objective parameters can be measured to detect possible problems with aids at an early stage. This leads to optimal functioning and use of the aids and thus increased satisfaction of the caregiver. Through the interaction between technological and clinical organizations, both target groups are better informed about each other's needs and possibilities, which lowers the threshold for using instrumented aids.