EU Projects

DESIGN AUDIT

ACCREA commissioned a design audit understood as a comprehensive analysis of the company's activities in terms of design potential and needs. The design strategy (hereinafter SW) developed on the basis of the audit contains recommendations regarding further actions related to the use of design in the company in the scope of individual areas of activity, i.e. values, offer, business model, technology, organizational structure and communication processes.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE DESIGN STRATEGY

• •Introduction to production of a new robot with active gravity compensation supporting upper limb mobility of people with hand paresis – NeuroFlex Assist
• •Creating and implementing a marketing strategy for product innovation
• •Creating marketing materials for the new product brand

SCOPE OF PLANNED ACTIVITIES

• •Conducting a design audit and developing the Design Strategy (21.06.2024-12.07.2024)
• •Designing a new product (2.01-31.05.2026)
• •Prototyping of a new product (01.09.2025-31.05.2026)
• •Testing of a new product (1.09.2025-30.06.2026)
• •Purchase of other consulting services necessary for SW implementation (1.09.2025-31.08.2026)
• •Purchase of fixed assets necessary for SW implementation (1.09.2025-31.08.2026)

PLANNED ACTIVITIES USING DESIGN PROCESSES

As a result of implementing the DS recommendations, the final result will be the market introduction of:

EXPECTED PROJECT RESULT

The final result of the project will be the implementation (no later than the last day of the project) on the market of an innovative robot that will significantly improve the mobility of patients' upper limbs, enabling them to perform daily activities with greater precision and less effort.

The implementation of the project will increase the company's competitiveness through:

• •Introduction to the market of the innovative NeuroFlex Assist
• •Increasing the share of recyclable materials in the product composition to 25% of the entire product
• •Ensuring accessibility for groups: people with neurological diseases or their complications, elderly or weakened people who need support in performing daily activities

The project will contribute to strengthening the company's position in the market, increasing customer satisfaction and implementing a sustainable development strategy. The activities planned in the project result from recommendations and are consistent with the company's development vision, and the scope of recommendations was justified in detail in the DS. These activities will contribute to comprehensive optimization of the production, organizational and marketing process, which will affect the increase in competitiveness.

PRODUCT PURPOSE

NeuroFlex Assist is intended for patients with neurological deficits affecting the upper limb, manifested by weakening of muscle strength and reduced mobility. The device is an ideal solution for patients with diseases such as stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), mechanical damage to the hand and spine, demyelinating and inflammatory diseases of the CNS. Thanks to passive and active modes, NeuroFlex Assist is useful for patients at various stages of disease development. The product will support rehabilitation and daily functioning, enabling users to perform activities such as reading, writing or eating.

Project Description:

There is a growing demand for specialized medical care, with deepening staff shortages. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is typically performed by a surgeon with 1-2 assistants operating the camera, holding instruments, patient organs, etc. Their remuneration increases the overall cost of the procedure, and the need to manage them (verbal communication, supervision) is burdensome for the surgeon.

The innovative, hybrid robotic arm AVROS, representing significant scientific and technological progress, aims to:

• •Reduce operation costs by relieving assistants; ultimately enabling work without assistants
• •Increase surgeon comfort through advanced, proactive and intuitive control methods
• •Improve the quality of medical services, shorter procedure time, shorter waiting time for the procedure

System Description:

AVROS consists of a set of robotic arms and modules for perception and surgeon support. These arms can function as both a visual pathway arm and an arm supporting MIS tools. They can be configured in a system of 1, 2 or 3 arms, mounted on a table or an independent base. The structure of the arms, dimensions, kinematics and positioning will allow them to be used in most (90%) types of MIS operations. The system is compatible with most commercially available endoscopes, MIS tools and operating tables. The arms are lightweight (<10kg) and the intelligent control system ensures safe and intuitive operation by the surgeon and support staff.

Project Stages:

The project is divided into 4 stages:

Target Groups:

AVROS is dedicated to MIS surgery hospitals, one-day surgery, surgical practices.

In the current state of the art, the procedure is performed by 1 surgeon and 2-3 assistants (assistant surgeon and 1-2 scrub nurses), whose task is to lead and maintain the camera, tools and patient organs. There are no solutions available on the market that enable an MIS procedure to be performed by one surgeon.

In the AVROS solution, the role of assistants will be taken over by 1-3 robotic arms controlled by the surgeon, equipped with semi-autonomous supporting functions, increasing work comfort and reducing cognitive effort.

Recipient Groups:

Needs: Reducing staff workload, increasing work ergonomics, freeing up some staff to perform other tasks, shortening the procedure time.

Beneficiaries:

Direct beneficiaries of the project results will be practicing surgeons specializing in minimally invasive surgery, who will be directly involved in the practical implementation of the AVROS system during laparoscopic operations performed in hospitals decided to use the AVROS system.

The final beneficiaries of the project results will be citizens using the health care system. Due to the planned pilot implementation of the system in hospitals in the Lublin province, the first beneficiaries will be citizens of the Lublin region.