Shoulder pain is a common condition among adults and elderly. The pain and discomfort can stem from accidents, a disease, surgical errors, or disorders, which can be either musculoskeletal such as rotator cuff injuries, or neurological, such as brain strokes and brachial plexus injuries.

Globally, stroke survivors total around 5 million patients a year, with 80% of them suffering from subluxation of the shoulder due to one-sided paralysis. These patients usually require joint immobilization and 6-12 months of rehabilitation leading to costly care, loss of productivity, and a decline in quality of life.

Commonly known devices for shoulder subluxation rehabilitation are slings and orthoses, however, they both come with limitations. Slings can promote stiffness and eventually do more harm than good, while the known orthoses do provide stability, but often are large and bulky, and limit the range-of-motion.

A NOVEL SOLUTION FOR IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE

Based on seven years of research and development, researchers from Aalborg University have developed a “Compact X-scissor Device” (CXD), which provides the shoulder with both stability and full range-of-motion whilst reducing pain. In 2023, the CXD became the bedrock of Liftya, a spin-out from Aalborg University and NCL Health Ventures.

The CXD is a unique retractable mechanical joint that can be moved freely in all directions around a sphere – e.g. a shoulder or even a hip. The joint is characterized by its compactness, performance, and wearability and is highly useful for shoulder patients to assist with controlled yet full range of movements during e.g. rehabilitation.

Contrary to current orthoses, the CXD is as versatile as a ball bearing, yet almost completely flat, meaning it can be worn discretely beneath clothes and, thus, solves one of the main problems with exoskeletons - clumsy and large joints.

FROM PROOF OF CONCEPT TO INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

The CXD was originally designed by former AAU PhD student, Miguel Nobre Castro, to aid children who had lost the use of an arm or shoulder due to illness or an accident. The device was further developed in collaboration with Professor Michael Skipper Andersen, Professor Shaoping Bai, and Professor John Rasmussen from the Department of Materials and Production at Aalborg University.

In 2018, the CXD won first place in the Wearable Robotics Association Innovation Challenge - an award presented at one of the industry's most important conferences in Arizona, USA.

Since then, the device has received both AAU Proof of Concept funding and an InnoExplorer grant from Innovation Fund Denmark, driven by Professor John Rasmussen, together with PhD student in Biomechanics, Bo Eitel Seiferheld, both of whom have been instrumental in the path towards creating the spin-out Liftya.

Over time, the CXD has been optimized through 7-8 new prototypes and tested on patients at the Silkeborg Regional Hospital and the Pain Clinic in Aalborg. Liftya is expecting to initiate an international collaboration with an American hospital for further patient tests.

THE COMMERCIALIZATION PROCESS

AAU Technology Transfer Office has been part of the journey since 2017, when Miguel, John, Michael and Shaoping presented the first invention that since has resulted in two patents on the CXD shoulder joint, including one issued in the USA in 2023, as well as the subsequent license agreement for Liftya.

Together with Professor John Rasmussen, AAU Technology Transfer Office has assisted with 2 x AAU Proof of Concept projects on DKK 500,000 and 300,000 and an InnoExplorer project of approx. DKK 1 million for the further development and commercialization of the CXD.

Furthermore, AAU Technology Transfer Office has been part of setting the right team for the project and the spin-out company in connection with business and product development, as well as starting the documentation system for the regulatory approval of the CXD as a medical device, making it easier for Liftya to achieve CE or FDA approval to sell their products.

Since September 2022, AAU Technology Transfer Office has worked closely with the venture builder, NLC Health in the Netherlands, regarding due diligence on the technology, patent rights, production documentation, commercial plans as well as assisting NLC Health in their selection of Liftya's new CEO, Alberto Verteramo in fall of 2023.