Lodestar Innovations

What is PBPI?

PBPI is a type of peripheral nerve injury that occurs in approximately 16,000 live births in the United States when the infant’s shoulder latches onto the mother’s pubic bone. This injury results in reduced bicep flexion and shoulder abduction. Infants try to compensate for this partial paralysis by using other muscles such their triceps, to more their arms. However, overcompensating can cause other injuries such as shoulder dislocation. Currently, therapeutic options for PBPI include microsurgery, and Passive Range of Motion therapy (PROM). If infants are not eligible for microsurgery, their only option is PROM. PROM is performed by a pediatric therapist where he/she manually moves the infant’s arm to stimulate oxygen and nutrients into the muscle. However, these passive movements do not actively recruit muscles. NeuRewards provides an at home component to physical therapy. It is operated by parents, and fills the gap between physical therapist follow ups. In addition, it increases active muscle recruitment which PROM does not achieve.

Market

Currently, therapeutic options for PBPI include microsurgery, and Passive Range of Motion therapy (PROM). PROM is performed by a pediatric therapist where he/she manually moves the infant’s arm to stimulate oxygen and nutrients into the muscle. However, these passive movements do not actively recruit muscles. NeuRewards provides an at home component to physical therapy. After diagnosing an infant with PBPI, the physical therapist will recommend NeuRewards to his or her parents. SInce NeuRewards is operated by parents, it fills the gap between physical therapist follow ups. In addition, it increases active muscle recruitment which, PROM does not achieve. Lodestar’s vision is to expand NeuRewards to infants with cerebral palsy, autism and other movement disorders to help them develop new motor skills.

NeuRewards

Targeted Movement Therapy

Prototype 1 Minimum Viable Product

Product

NeuRewards will guide infants with peripheral nerve injury through successful rehabilitation. Specifically, NeuRewards takes advantage of the infants’ neuroplasticity, which is their amazing ability to recover from nerve injury by developing new motor learning skills. NeuRewards is a rehabilitative device operated by the infant’s parent, that rewards infants for targeted movements. For example, when the infant generates specific movements considered as rehabilitative, the device rewards him/her through auditory feedback such as music, or visual feedback such as colorful lights. NeuRewards consists of two parts, a wristband with a motion sensing device and a positive reinforcement toy. When the wristband senses a specific movement that is conducive to physical therapy, the toy activates. The goal is for the infant to associate therapeutic movements with happiness, thus increasing the frequency of those movements, obtaining full functionality. NeuRewards will potentially reverse the effects of a life altering injury.