Cambridge University Hospitals NHS FT has launched a pilot of a medical device hoped to support Parkinson’s disease inpatients in significantly improving their movement.
The body-worn device developed in Cambridge will now be offered to Parkinson’s disease inpatients at the trust. Called the CUE1, the device is commonly worn on the sternum, to deliver “specialised patterns of vibration and pulses, known as vibrotactile stimulation and cueing”. In result, the aim is to improve motor skills, walking parameters, and reduces freeze-of-gait and stiffness, CUH said.
The hospital has purchased ten devices to trial with their inpatients with Parkinson’s disease. The overall aim is to reduce length of stay and support improved mobility.