AWARD YEAR
2015
CATEGORY
Body
GOALS
Good Health & Well-being
KEYWORDS
rehabilitation, elderly, neurodegenerative mobility disorders
COUNTRY
United Kingdom
DESIGNED BY
The project is developed by Lise Pape using a user centred approach and working closely together with patients. The inspiration comes from a close relative who suffers from Parkinson’s Disease. Lise has followed his disease progression for the last ten years and has on countless occasions been disappointed by the lack of support available. She wanted to develop a user centred, non-invasive product. This led to the creation of Path, an award-winning medical device.
WEBSITE
http://www.walkwithpath.com
Path - Walk with Confidence
Path is intelligent footwear that provides triggers to increase confidence and reduce risk of falls.
Path provides a non-invasive and intuitive solution, that enhances tactile feedback and acts as a walking aid for people with mobility issues caused by injury, ageing, and serious diseases such as diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson’s Disease. The aim is to reduce the risk of falls, keep users mobile for longer and increase independence. Path gives active feedback through the sole of the foot using vibration and projects visual cues that guide and highlight obstacles on the surface in front of the user. Visual cues are proven to stimulate movement, and together with the tactile feedback, can better aid balance and posture. This can help to prevent falls, the leading cause of death by injury amongst the elderly. Falls are typically caused by poor balance or an irregular gait, which is often due to reduced perception in the feet. Path aims to give sensation back to users by providing active feedback during walking.