// INDES INFO FEBRUARY 2009

> Medical Technology Innovations for Ageing Society (MIAS project)

> Meander Groep very satisfied with the Sprizer debut

> The bicycle industry enthusiastic about MovaNext bicycle carrier

> Medtechpartners meeting at Indes

EUREGIO has earmarked around €6.9 million for cross-border technology transfer between businesses and universities of applied sciences. The aim of the MIAS project is to develop new products and services. One of the research directions in this project is AAD (Active Assistive Devices), which builds on the ‘power assist technology’ developed by Indes. Various partners from the Netherlands and Germany are collaborating in the project, specifically: Roessingh Research and Development (RRD), Innotronic, Use-Lab, Handicare and JoyinCare.

RRD is represented by Prof. Hans Rietman, scientific director at Roessingh Research and Development. ‘The AAD project could mean a great deal for patients with impairments in relation to walking and/or standing up. Sometimes a project has much scientific value on its own, but the AAD project also produces results that are immediately applicable in practice – intelligent products that can adapt more to the needs of the patient, instead of the other way around. I also find the products in development very attractive, and at the same time I see a big future for disabled people without a “disabled” label on it. In short, it’s a very practical and attractive concept.’

‘We also hope to gather more information in relation to the strengths that go hand-in-hand with the use of the aids, as well as in relation to users’ activity levels. We want to know whether they increase, or whether they remain at the level at which you would expect gradual deterioration with a conventional system,’ says Prof. Rietman. Choosing partners for this project was also very important. ‘These types of projects always create new ideas and collaborations with other partners. The regular discussions of concepts, possibilities and impossibilities are lots of fun, but also very educational, inspiring renewed enthusiasm and initiatives.'

Roessingh Research and Development and Indes know each other from other projects, and are happy to be co-operating on this project. ‘Indes develops the products, knows a lot about the technical possibilities and has a good feeling for the important issues in rehabilitation practice. In that sense, I believe that Indes plays an important central role in this project. As well as being innovative, expert and full of initiative, above all they are enthusiastic and have a healthy belief in their own products and ability. And they are a pleasure to work with’, says Prof. Rietman.

Expectations are very high. Prof. Rietman: ‘Once the project is complete, I expect the development of the products to have advanced to the extent that the new generation of aids can be introduced to the market as genuinely hybrid concepts, whose functionality we at the RRD can demonstrate and use to support more patients in their daily activities. We also want to prove that patients’ activity levels increase, and that the transition to full-support aids can be delayed.’ More information will be available soon on the project website

Indes developed both generations of the product – the Cairlift (the initial version) and the Sprizer (the new version). Compared to its predecessor, the Sprizer is lighter, more compact and even easier to use.

The Meander Group was the first residential care agency to use the product, and is very satisfied with this product debut. ‘Last September, a survey was conducted into the use of the Sprizer. The initial response was very positive’, says Dré van Neer, manager of the Nursing Supplies and Aids department at Meander Thuiszorg.

Its compactness is particularly appealing to customers. Dré van Neer: ‘People often ask for a height-adjustable bed, and we simply offer them two small packages – that’s how compact this product is. Before, when you needed an adjustable bed, you often had to rebuild half the room, and the bed produced an instant hospital atmosphere. Married couples were also doomed to sleep apart. But those problems are a thing of the past – using the Sprizer you can elevate the mattress of your own bed. This is not only a huge benefit for our customers, it also helps informal carers and my home-care colleagues, because this innovative mattress-raiser will spare their backs.’ The Nursing Supplies and Aids department of the Meander Group is currently already hiring out 16 Sprizer models. (Source: Arion International).More information on this product is available at www.sprizer.com.

For over nine years now, the Multanational Sales firm has been a prominent player in the market for bicycle carriers. At FietsVak, the Schagen-based company introduced the Movanext, a new bicycle carrier developed by Indes. ‘Consumers are placing ever higher demands on the user-friendliness and design of products’, says René Huyskes of Multanational Sales. ‘The Movanext’s design is particularly user-friendly, and will quickly convince any potential customers. For dealers, it is a very easy product to sell.'

Visitors to FietsVak, especially entrepreneurs from the bicycle industry, expressed very high praise for the MovaNext. This was more or less to be expected, since Indes expressly involved the sector in the development process. One of the dealers who provided input was Rene Pot of Pot Tweewielers in Haaksbergen. ‘If you want to sell something, you need to have complete confidence in it. That’s why we are always very critical of new products. I have nothing but praise for the MovaNext. It is a dream product – extremely user-friendly, with a modern look. Demonstrate it, let the customer try it out, and it’s sold!’

‘I’ve been involved in the development of products before’, says Rene, 'but this time it was different. Indes works in a very professional manner. I could see that my comments were taken seriously and have been reflected in the design.’ The Movanext will be available in specialist shops as of …… For more information on the carrier and the dealer network, please visit www.movanext.nl.

Medtechpartners is a collaborative enterprise involving knowledge institutes, manufacturers and academic and other medical centres, whose aim is to successfully launch technical medical innovations on the market. Medtechpartners network meetings are organised alternately by one of the partners. Indes hosted the first meeting of 2009.

‘The Indes building is a fantastic location for this meeting’, said Bart Blokhuis of Medtechpartners in his welcoming address. ‘Here, you can feel the company’s innovative power straight away.’

After the opening, account manager Anita Brinks gave a short presentation about Indes, after which four of the partners presented technical medical discoveries. Various attendees showed an interest in developing the ideas further and putting them on the market. Following the discussion, a range of individual follow-up meetings were arranged. During the networking drinks, the guests were able to take a look at the Indes building and showroom. The next meeting has been scheduled for April. More information is available at www.medtechpartners.nl

New employee at Indes: Gijsbert van Rooyen

On 1 March, the Indes team will be reinforced by one new member.Gijsbert will join as accountmanager and projectleader.

Indes design displayed at Zorgtotaal

Zorgtotaal, the largest trade fair for professionals in health care, will be held from 18-20 March in the Utrecht Jaarbeurs. Two Indes customers will be running stands at the fair, displaying new products: Arion International with the Sprizer high-low bed, and JOYinCARE with the Touch & Move battery-powered hoist.

The Sprizer is a nominee of the Zorgtotaal Inovation Award.