One of the finalists in the Massachusetts eHealth Institute’s (MeHI) Healthy Aging Challenge and a recipient of MeHI’s Sandbox Rolling Grant recently closed a $9.2 million funding round. The company, REEV, makes an AI-powered robotic knee brace called DREEVEN to reduce muscle fatigue and restore mobility for those with multiple sclerosis or recovering from a stroke or spinal cord injury.
The company’s CEO and co-Founder Amaury Ciurana said that REEV’s participation in MeHI’s Healthy Aging Challenge has been instrumental to the company’s progress.
“The Sandbox Challenge has helped REEV better understand our product and its potential to help patients by providing both vital financial support and invaluable connections,” said Ciurana.
The Healthy Aging Challenge also provided REEV with connections to academic and industry professionals, including an introduction to the Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a member of MeHI’s Digital Health Sandbox Network.
REEV’s work with the CCTR was funded in part by a Sandbox Rolling Grant from MeHI to tackle critical research questions. This included gathering data that showed REEV’s gait analysis device, REEV SENSE, currently achieves precision levels that are comparable to motion capture labs. Ciurana said the gait data collected on post-stroke participants will help REEV refine the AI algorithms embedded in DREEVEN.
According to Ciurana, DREEVEN stands out due to its highly tailored design, offering a custom-fit brace powered by an intelligent electro-hydraulic system that delivers precise, adaptive support when needed. Embedded algorithms continuously learn and adapt to each user’s unique gait patterns, ensuring optimal performance and personalized assistance.
REEV is focused on building upon its success through several exciting initiatives, including conducting clinical studies in the Boston area to validate DREEVEN’s effectiveness and further refine its performance.
REEV is working to expand its team, including adding business and clinical positions in Massachusetts. They are also looking to build their network of clinical partners and foster collaborations with health care providers to ensure their solution reaches as many patients as possible.
Visit REEV’s website to learn more.