SBIR-STTR Award

Advancing Early Intervention Orientation & Mobility App with Pediatric Belt Cane
Award last edited on: 3/23/2023

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DoEd
Total Award Amount
$1,200,000
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
91990021R0002
Principal Investigator
Abhishek Datta

Company Information

Soterix Medical Inc (AKA: SMI)

Aspen Corporate Park 1480 US Highway 9 North 204
Woodbridge, NJ 07095
   (888) 990-8327
   contact@soterixmedical.com
   www.soterixmedical.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 06
County: Middlesx

Phase I

Contract Number: 91990021C0032
Start Date: 5/3/2021    Completed: 12/31/2021
Phase I year
2021
Phase I Amount
$200,000
In previous research and development, the project team developed a prototype walking cane attached to a wearable belt to support children who are blind of with visual impairments in learning to walk. In this Phase I project, the team will develop a new prototype of a smart belt and accompanying mobile app. The prototype belt will collect data as children practice walking and through the app present data with insights to special education professional and caregivers to support children as they progress. In a pilot study with 25 children who are blind or with visual impairments, 25 special education educators, and 25 caregivers, the researchers will examine whether the prototype functions as planned, whether educators and parents understand and find the information generated by the mobile app useful, and if children progress in their ability to walk.

Phase II

Contract Number: 91990022C0043
Start Date: 5/15/2022    Completed: 5/14/2024
Phase II year
2022
Phase II Amount
$1,000,000
Purpose: This project team will develop a product to help children who are blind or visual impaired to learn to walk. Currently there are few interventions for caregivers and practitioners to support children who are blind or visually impaired students in learning to walk safely and independently. Project Activities: In the prior 2021 Phase I project, the team developed a new prototype of a smart belt and cane with an accompanying mobile app. The belt and cane collect motion data as children practice walking and the app presents the data to caregivers and practitioners with insights to improve walking. At the end of Phase I, researchers completed a pilot study with 25 children who are blind or visually impaired, and their caregivers and practitioners, that demonstrated that the prototype functioned as planned, caregivers and practitioners found the information generated by the mobile app useful, and children progressed in their ability to walk. In the Phase II project, the team will fully develop the product, including a machine learning algorithm to generate real-time prompts that will guide children as they walk. The research team will also improve the accuracy of the data that is provided to caregivers and practitioners through the mobile app, optimize the smart belt for commercial use, complete the instructional components, and finalize professional development and training materials. The team will iteratively refine the product with feedback from practitioners, parents, and children at major production milestones until the product is fully functional. After development concludes, researchers will carry out a pilot study to assess the feasibility and usability, fidelity of implementation, and promise of the product to support children in learning to walk. The team will collect data from 100 children who are blind or visually impaired, as well as one caregiver and one practitioner for each child, over a 4-week period. Researchers will gather cost information using the ingredients method to capture all relevant expenditures, including the costs for personnel, facilities, equipment, materials, and training. Product: The product is a smart walking cane and belt for children who are blind or visually impaired with an accompanying mobile app. The smart belt's sensor collects data as children practice walking and transmit these data to the app. A machine learning algorithm provides just-in-time feedback to children with audio prompts for supporting walking through the app. The app will also present data to early intervention practitioners and caregivers to track child progress and recommend lesson plans. The project will result in training curricular materials for practitioners and parents to support children and use data to inform instruction.