BioXtreme

The Need

Each year, approx. 25 million people worldwide suffer from stroke or other traumatic brain injuries (a number which grows in accordance with the ageing world population), as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2019). The two thirds of them who survive then require a long and expensive rehabilitation process, in designated hospitals or large rehabilitation centres. The result is a huge strain on healthcare resources which then leads to poor outcomes in terms of quality and speed of patients' rehabilitation, as well as a major financial and emotional burden for their families and surrounding communities.

Traditional rehabilitation methods (physiotherapy, occupational therapy), or current robotic and computer-based rehabilitation techniques already introduced to the market (usually automate and imitate traditional treatment methods), have shown limited efficiency and results so far. Despite the era of innovation experienced by the medical field over the last decade, this market still awaits a game changing technological break-through in the neurological rehabilitation of stroke patients.
 

The Solution

BioXtreme has developed a groundbreaking robotic platform: deXtreme™ is a unique robotic device used for motor learning and rehabilitation of upper limbs, for patients recovering from stroke or other traumatic brain injuries, based on Error Enhancement tech with an array of sensors, controllers and motors powered by unique algorithms. The technology will be implemented also in plaXtreme - a finger & palm, grip & grasp rehabilitation device first, and later on in devices designed for balance & standing rehabilitation and gait rehabilitation, as part of a complete set of multipurpose robotic devices for rehabilitation of stroke patients.

While all traditional rehabilitation methods that aim to correct the patient's movement error while using cognition require long rehabilitation time and allow only limited success, BioXtreme's solution relies on error enhancement technology, in a method that causes the body's adaptive response to correct its movement automatically, when after only a short number of treatments, the correct movement is "embedded" in the brain and learned by the patient.

The Technology

Error enhancement is a unique, patented technology, which makes BioXtreme's robots a real game changer in this field: rehabilitation time (for upper limbs) is shortened by up to 50%, while according to the data gathered so far the range of motion is improved by 100% (meaning, doubled results), compared to traditional rehabilitation methods, as proven in 3 clinical trials, as well as a an independent study conducted by Northwestern University in the US:

BioXtreme's solution will be later expanded to include a complete set of devices, for upper limb rehabilitation, finger grip, balance and gait, with all devices based on the same unique and exclusive error enhancement technology.

How does it work?

The robot detects the patient's error versus the correct trajectory and intensity of movement, with sensors embedded in the robotic platform, then this error is fed to the control system, which calculates the direction and intensity of the required error enhancement (using a set of controllers), and sends commands to 3 axis motors (Z, Y, X) which perform the error enhancement.

Applying the error enhancement to the limb triggers the body's adaptive response, which causes it to instinctively and automatically correct the movement to or near the right direction. The system (using machine learning) “learns” the required error enhancement each time and adjusts it to the patients’ progress during each repetition, which makes practice sessions more effective. Within 10-12 training sessions (about two weeks time) the correct movement is "embedded" into the patient's brain, and becomes a habit.

Error enhancement technology has been researched by several academics in Israel and worldwide, and is based on a rather simple principle: first, identifying the error in motion, compared to the correct direction and intensity. Then, instead of correcting the error (as traditional methods attempt to do) the goal is to actually amplify it in the same direction, and let the body respond automatically and correct it to the desired direction. Each treatment, the technology detects the deviation from the correct trajectory, and adjusts the intensity of error enhancement forces in the next treatment, accordingly.

BioXtreme is the only company in the world that has successfully managed to commercialise this theory and translate these universal, bio-mechanical principles into an array of sensors, controllers and motors that operate the robot, along with unique algorithms to translate data into "execution commands" for its various hardware parts, and Cloud database management (according to international standards for sensitive data handling and storage in the EU and US). The gathered medical data allows for "Machine Learning" by the system with the help of AI, as well as a continuous automatic improvement of the platform's calibration and control systems.

IP and Patents

The company's intellectual property is protected by an extensive patent which is registered and approved in the US, Europe and Israel, and includes a combination of unique hardware (sensors, controllers and motors), with the company’s Error Enhancement technology, as well as unique algorithms for calculating and amplifying the error (with automatic calibration, machine learning capabilities, and all care-related data gathered via cloud).

The patent registration has been extended to Russia and China through Utility Model, and the company later intends to expand it to further territories, and to register additional patents for its next planned products:

As part of development, BioXtreme has also created an extensive hierarchical production portfolio, which includes a CPA, assembly instructions, QA & control instructions, packaging instructions etc., which represents additional attractive and exclusive IP, owned by the company.