some patients’ hands don’t shake as much when they hold it, Pathak says. Using the device may also lower anxiety—a factor that tends to worsen the tremor.
“Having the reassurance that the device is working for them kind of calms them down,” Pathak says.
In a small clinical trial with 11 participants, Lynx staffers found that the tremor-induced movement of the spoon attachment was reduced by 76 percent when the computer-controlled stablizing system was engaged.
Lift Labs started taking orders on Sept. 18 for the spoons, which will be shipped by Dec. 15. In its next stage, the company will release extra attachments, each costing less than $20. First on the list of new Liftware will be a fork, a soup spoon, and a key holder.
The company has also been exploring the use of smartphones by releasing two free apps for people with Essential Tremor or Parkinson’s disease. The first, Lift Stride, uses the phone to emit a sound signal to help Parkinson’s patients maintain a steady walking gait. The second, Lift Pulse, uses the phone’s internal motion detectors to allow people to track and record the extent of their tremors as they change over time, or under varied conditions. Lynx is working with a neurologist to evaluate the use of Lift Pulse as a clinical tool.
So far, none of the Lift Labs products qualify as medical devices, so they don’t need FDA clearance, Pathak says. The cost of Liftware is not covered by medical insurance, although Pathak says he has discussed this with Medicare administrators. In the meantime, Lift Labs has set up an online donation option for people who want to contribute to the purchase of spoons for people who can’t afford them. The company has a partnership with International Essential Tremor Foundation to identify recipients who qualify.
The new spoons are the first products in a line of “home health hardware” planned by Lynx. It’s easy to imagine other attachments for the spoon base—pens, combs, kitchen knives, paintbrushes, camera grips, or screwdrivers for afflicted do-it-yourselfers. The thick handle of the anti-tremor device can be scaled down for new uses.
But Pathak isn’t ready to announce what tools might be in the works.
“The sky’s the limit,” he says.
Here’s a company video of a user trying the Liftware spoon for the first time.
Berta tries Liftware for her first time from Lift Labs on Vimeo.
