New product enables MND patients to hold their heads high

People with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) suffer from wasting muscles, often resulting in an inability to lift the head.  This has a profound impact on the quality of life, affecting common activities such as eye contact when communicating and eating and drinking.  Current support products vary from soft foam to stiff immobilising collars, but all support the head by pushing from under the jaw, limiting functionality such as eating.

Funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the MNDA Association, we worked with MND patients, specialist healthcare practitioners, industrial designers and engineers from within the University.  Combining this input with our research, and undertaking clinical comfort assessments, engineering simulations and creative prototyping, we were able to develop a product that considers the needs of patients, clinicians and manufacturers.

The new product provides MND sufferers with neck support whilst still enabling movement.  The product has been prototyped and a patent is currently being filed.  We are now working towards CE Marking and taking the product to market.