MEDICAL
ETB are seeking joint venture partners for these applications and others where organisations see a fit with ETB’s product portfolio.

Diabetes
Stride frequency effects the contact time and pressure-time impulse in Type 2 Diabetes patients, which is related to plantar ulceration.[1]  The ETB system can be used to determine the preferred stride frequency (PSF) for a patient and then provide a revised, faster stride frequency (SF) for them to walk by.  Typical changes in SF need to be around 5% and patients are likely to have unusual gait profile.

The rhythm (cadence) product could also be given to the patients so they can monitor that they are walking as instructed by the clinician.

Hydrocephalus
Gait abnormalities are an early clinical symptom in normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and gait change is often used in the decision of whether to perform shunt surgery.[2]  The ETB system will enable the clinician to test the gait of a hydrocephalus patient before and after CSF drainage and decide whether to perform shunt surgery.  It could also be considered as a means of monitoring whether the shunt has blocked.

Parkinson’s Disease
The stride length and stride frequency relationship exhibits abnormalities in people with Parkinson’s disease.[3]  Levodopa medication can improve the stride length of Parkinson’s patients and this can be measured using the ETB system by monitoring the stride characteristic before and after treatment.

Osteoarthritics
Gait function is affected by osteoarthritics in the knee and can be improved by training.[4]  The ETB system can be used to determine the normal gait, particularly stride length, of a person with osteoarthritis.  The person will then be put onto an educational programme and improvements in their gait function, particularly stride length, can be objectively measured on a regular basis.

Knee/Hip replacements and injury
After surgery, the ETB system can be used to check on the rehabilitation progress to ensure the patient is carrying out the correct training exercises.  The system will also inform the clinician if the patient is over exercising which can be as worse as too little exercise.