Switzerland-based MindMaze announced today that it has received FDA clearance for the MindMotion Go, a gamified neurorehabilitation therapy platform for medium and light severity impairments able to be deployed in the patient’s home.
Using motion capture technology based on the Microsoft Kinect, the Go engages patients with a range of activities set in displayed 3D environments that promote motor and task functions.
Today’s announcement comes roughly a year after the company received clearance for its MindMotion Pro platform, a similar offering intended for patients with severe impairments and early hospital care.
“Now that both MindMotion products have FDA clearance, MindMaze delivers a full spectrum of neuro-care solutions for both inpatient and outpatient recovery for patients in the United States,” Tej Tadi, CEO and founder of MindMaze, said in a statement. “Our unique capability to safely and securely acquire data through our platform is essential for patient recovery and performance, and positions MindMaze as a powerhouse for the future of brain-machine interfaces. Beyond healthcare, this will enable powerful AI-based applications. We are working on a range of braintech initiatives at MindMaze to build the infrastructure for innovations to improve patients’ quality of life.”
According to MindMaze’s website, the Go can be set up, calibrated, and ready to use in fewer than five minutes, and is capable of tracking a user’s performance over time. The platform has so far only been available in Europe, where it has been trailed by over 300 patients in the UK, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. Both the Go and the Pro have obtained CE marks, and have been used by more than 1,300 patients in 45 medical centers since launching in 2013.
MindMaze made a splash in early 2016 when it announced a $100 million funding round. Of note, the company also has a third product, called Mask, that received some attention when it was announced in 2017. The device is a thin sensor that can be worn with a VR headset. It can detect the user's facial expressions and map them onto an in-game avatar.
"One of the things we need to do is address cognitive issues and neurodegenerative diseases," Tadi told MobiHealthNews at the time MindMotion Pro was approved. "So we started with movement deficits and then we move into cognitive deficits eventually neurodegenerative deficits. So we need to become the standard of care platform that eventually brings together VR, AR, neurosciece to help accelerate recovery across a wide range of indications."
