A novel sensor system to monitor gait in outpatients or at home

ETB has developed a sensor based system (GaitSmart) for objectively measuring and
monitoring gait, including knee and hip function, in clinics. This is used by clinical leaders in
the UK and overseas but ETB has not yet managed to capture the mainstream outpatient
market.
Musculoskeletal disease accounts for 31.1% of disability in the UK, and there are over
160,000 hip and knee joint replacements every year in the UK alone. As current technology
has not allowed for monitoring either to assist diagnosis or follow the rehabilitation phase, the
outcomes are sub optimal. The absence of pain and recovery from gross anomalies of gait
currently indicates success, although there is significant evidence that at one year post op, less
than 40% of patients for TKA and less than 50% for THA achieve a normal gait. Poor
recovery results in incorrect loading on joints and likely further treatment and this has both a
significant financial impact and affects the patients’ Quality of Life. ETB is aware that their
current system can address this market, but due to the cost of the system and lack of
knowledge of the problem, significant commercial penetration is not possible.
The aim of this proof of market proposal is to ascertain if a lower cost, simpler system would
be able to capture the mass market of monitoring pre and post op patients for total hip and
knee surgery. If so, ETB needs to determine what the best business proposition would be,
both in the UK and overseas market.