Lancaster-based Rinicare has received £99,694 through the Small Business Research Initiative for Healthcare (SBRI Healthcare) to develop a system to prevent older patients falling from their beds.
Its ‘SAFE’ system combines a thermal imaging sensor and bespoke algorithms to detect changes in a patient’s position in a hospital-style bed, and send early warning messages to clinicians, so that action can be taken to prevent a fall.
During phase one of the technology development, Rinicare will be fully supported and funded to demonstrate the technical feasibility of its proposed concept for a six-month developmental stage. If found to offer value and technical feasibility, the system will progress to phase two, where it will be supported to take the scheme through to commercialisation. The company will develop SAFE in cooperation with The University of Manchester and The University Hospital of South Manchester.
Professor of Primary Care and Community Health, Chris Todd, from the University of Manchester, said: “There are over 200,000 falls in NHS acute hospitals every year. Patients over 65 admitted for medical and surgical treatments are at increased risk of falling while in hospital. We are collaborating with Rinicare, which is developing this device, because we hope it will help NHS staff to monitor patients’ risk as it changes, and alert staff to intervene to prevent falls.”
