Balance control deteriorates with age and neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, vertigo, or brain injury, increasing the risk of falls and loss of autonomy. Current clinical assessment methods are often subjective and poorly repeatable, limiting objective patient monitoring, while rehabilitation tools rarely integrate diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment in a standardized way.
In this context, researchers from the University of the Basque Country (EHU), in collaboration with Gorliz Hospital, have developed a mobile platform with integrated sensors for the objective evaluation and training of balance deficits.
OREKA is a medical device that uses controlled mechanical stimulation to objectively assess, monitor, and rehabilitate balance disorders. It consists of an instrumented moving platform with three degrees of freedom, where patients stand secured by a harness while predefined movements challenge postural control. Integrated force sensors measure plantar reaction forces to calculate the center of pressure (CoP), enabling precise balance assessment. The system also provides real-time visual feedback, standardized exercises, and data storage for objective progress tracking and comparison with healthy reference values.
A functional prototype of OREKA has been developed with clinical partners, and preclinical studies demonstrate sufficient measurement resolution to distinguish healthy individuals of different ages from patients with balance impairments. Phase I (2025, 30 participants) confirmed that the system is safe, well tolerated, and easy to use. Phase II is currently underway at Gorliz Hospital with 26 volunteers to progress toward TRL 6.
Benefits:
- Objective and quantitative balance assessment through precise force and center of pressure measurements.
- Integration of diagnosis, monitoring, and rehabilitation in a single device.
- High repeatability and precision through controlled platform movements.
- Standardized longitudinal follow-up using predefined and comparable exercises.
- Real-time visual feedback to support patient engagement and personalized rehabilitation.
- Safe and ergonomic design suitable for neurological and age-related balance disorders.
The represented institution is looking for a collaboration that leads to the commercial exploitation of the presented invention.
Institution: COMPMECH Research Group from Universidad del País Vasco (EHU) & Gorliz Hospital (IIS BioBizkaia)
TRL: 5-6
Protection Status: A Spanish patent was filed in 2023, followed by a PCT application, currently in the evaluation phase
Contact: Elisa Sáenz Gómez | e.saenz@viromii.com