KMI receives 2-year Phase II SBIR grant to study new treatment for TBI

Apr 5 2010

Kinetic Muscles Inc. ("KMI", www.kineticmuscles.com), a leading innovator of neurorehabilitation technology, announced it has received a 2-year Phase II SBIR grant to study a new treatment for veterans returning from active duty with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

“We are pleased to work with KMI and Emory University on this important project. This collaboration is representative of the merging of technologies that will shape healthcare in the future.”

Promising results from a Phase I study which combined neuropsychological therapy and digital gaming technology led the DoD to fund this Phase II study that will validate effectiveness of the therapy system through clinical testing in VA hospitals.

KMI will collaborate with Emory University, Division of Neuropsychology (Atlanta, GA), the DoD, the VA, and the University of Advancing Technology (Tempe, AZ) which is recognized as one of the foremost 'gaming' schools in the nation.

TBI is not only the most prevalent injury affecting today's soldiers, but is also a major health issue for the general population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC -TBI) report that 1.7 million Americans are affected by traumatic brain injury each year and there are 5.3 million people with permanent TBI-related disability in the United States.

Clinical studies have shown that videogame-based therapies such as those used in KMI's Hand Mentor™ can improve cognitive ability, dexterity, memory, thought processing, and reasoning. Therapy interventions incorporating both state-of-the-art gaming technology and cutting edge cognitive and motor rehabilitation strategies have the potential to be cost-effective and engaging particularly for a generation of soldiers who have grown up using videogames for entertainment.

"Treatment of TBI builds upon KMI's neurotherapy technology platform," said Ed Koeneman, Chief Operating Officer at KMI and Principal Investigator for the study. "Patients with stroke and TBI experience similar cognitive and movement deficits. KMI technology addresses rehabilitation for both groups through repetitive training of specific tasks."

David Bolman, Provost of the University of Advancing Technology, added, "We are pleased to work with KMI and Emory University on this important project. This collaboration is representative of the merging of technologies that will shape healthcare in the future."

SOURCE Kinetic Muscles, Inc.