Bisep Inc.

Innovative medical technology for aging population

CHALLENGE

Bisep Inc., a Niagara Falls-based innovation start-up, invented a device that connects a patient’s wheelchair to their walker, acting as a security bridge to enable unaided movement and solve the common issue of understaffing in long-term care homes. The device, named the ARMM (Ambulation, Retraining, Mobility, and Mechanism), needed thorough design engineering improvements in order to be mass-produced commercially.  

SOLUTION

Getting to the final prototype took two projects, executed by the Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (WAMIC). The research team first leveraged its mechanical design software and rapid prototyping technologies to create an initial prototype for real-world testing. The WAMIC team conducted final design modifications to ensure the device was adjustable to accommodate varying heights of patients and added an “exercise mode” for patients to use to strengthen muscles from a seated to standing position. Bisep is currently manufacturing 1,000 units in a Niagara Falls facility.

Funding: The Niagara Region; and the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI) – a Niagara College-led consortium funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

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