Assistive Medical Robotics for Very Early Mobilization of Critical Care Patients

Project Information

VEMOtion

Grant agreement ID: 190171705

DOI

10.3030/190171705

Project closed

EC signature date 19 December 2022

Start date 1 January 2023

End date 31 December 2024

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

€ 3 557 625,00

EU contribution

€ 2 490 337,50

Coordinated by

REACTIVE ROBOTICS GMBH
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - VEMOtion (Assistive Medical Robotics for Very Early Mobilization of Critical Care Patients)

Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Early mobilisation in the ICU is a highly effective tool in patient rehabilitation, clinically proven and acknowledged by major international medical bodies. Despite the clear financial advantages for healthcare systems and health benefits for patients, it is
currently performed with only 25% of ICU patients due to lack of resources and hazardous nature of the manual procedure. Reactive Robotics has developed VEMOTION, the world’s first AI-driven robotic assistance system for early mobilisation in ICUs. VEMOTION enables the clinically proven benefits of early mobilisation to be delivered safely to all ICU patients, accelerating recovery by 20%, reducing treatment costs, increasing ICU capacity by 27%, and improving patient outcomes. Introduction creates a >€5bn market for ICU robotics. The EIC project (€2.5M grant, €15M equity) delivers crucial product development and large-scale clinical trials to validate the clinical/business case and accelerate scale-up.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project focused on the development of a 2nd generation system with the goal of enhancing usability, expanding AI and digitalisation features, and reducing Costs of Goods sold (CoGs).

Significant achievements of the project include the successful certification for bariatric patients, the optimization of patient adapters which connect the patient with the robot: for instance, a one-size-fits-all Leg Adapter was already successful introduced into the market.

Further key activities comprise the successful development of prototypes for a new embedded control system and a hospital bed platforms that will optimise the interaction between the bed and robot and enable functions that are in high demand on the market. Moreover, a prototype of a revised graphical user interface that facilitates time-optimized workflows has been developed. Additionally, the project achieved an upgrade of the underlying data warehouse, incorporating analysis tools for service and maintenance purposes. These accomplishments collectively contribute to the overall improvement of the system's performance and user experience.

To strengthen the clinical data case, two suitable KOLs were identified in two different German hospitals. With the first partner (patient population: pulmonological), a contract for a small clinical trial was signed, and the study protocol was created and submitted. The ramp-in phase has already started. With the second partner (patient population: neurological), a first draft of the study protocol was defined, and administrative topics are now being finalized.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The introduction of the one-size-fits-all patient leg adapter marks a significant leap beyond the current state-of-the-art in mobilisation robotics. This innovative adapter, meticulously engineered to accommodate a diverse range of patient legs, including those of bariatric individuals, sets a new standard for versatility and ease of use. In contrast to the multitude of size-specific solutions employed by our first-generation systems and competitor devices, this adaptation represents a clear improvement, streamlining the patient experience and enhancing overall efficiency.