New Cerebral Palsy Limb Rehab Device, REAplan, Approved for Sale in Europe

Axinesis, which develops technologies to aid patients with brain injuries or brain damage, recently announced that REAplan, its robotic device to help rehabilitate the impaired upper limbs of cerebral palsy children and stroke patients, has received CE mark approval and soon may be available in Europe.

REAplan is an ergonomic, interactive, and auto-adaptive device that optimizes the process of neuronal reorganization, also called neuroplasticity, following brain injuries, and motor development in cerebral palsy children.

REAplan diverges from existing medical devices in providing real-time automated and adaptive support of arm movements, the company reported in a press release. The device has been assessed in over 300 patients, with results showing that it can improve recuperation of impaired upper limbs in clinical practice.

CE marking is a mandatory conformity marking for certain products, including medical devices (Directive 93/42/EEC), sold within the European Union. The company will now begin sales and distribution of REAplan in select EU countries.

“This is an important milestone in our mission to provide state-of-the-art technologies dedicated to the rehabilitation of brain-injured patients,” said Eric Hanesse, CEO of Axinesis, in a press release. “The continual requests from customers for products enhancing patients’ rehabilitation, and the feedbacks of users on this project have been exceptional. We are very pleased to offer an innovative high-end technology, for a very affordable investment, to the European rehabilitation community and expand the clinical options available to all. … Based on our current data and results, REAplan can help over 5 million people worldwide, left permanently disabled after a stroke event, as well as children affected by the most common childhood disability, cerebral palsy.”

Cerebral palsy is a group of permanent movement disorders that appear in early childhood. Symptoms include poor coordination, tremors, and stiff and weak muscles. There may be problems with sensation, vision, hearing, swallowing, and speaking.  The disorder is caused by abnormal development or damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, balance, and posture. The inflicted damage often occurs during pregnancy, but may also occur during childbirth, or shortly after birth.

Axinesis is a spin-off from the Université catholique de Louvain, in Belgium.