Verily Life Sciences, the healthcare play owned by Google parent Alphabet (NSDQ:GOOGL), said this week it launched the Liftware Level smart utensil designed to aid individuals with limited hand or arm mobility.
The Liftware Level is designed to help individuals who have hand and arm mobility issues, including those with cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, Huntington’s disease or post-stroke deficits.
The device operates by constantly monitoring the position of the hand, based on the handle, and intelligently adjusting the angle of the utensil, either a spoon or fork, so the user can eat without the contents spilling or falling off.
“One of the greatest pleasures in life is being able to enjoy a meal with friends and family—an activity that some may take for granted. Liftware Level is a utensil designed to specifically address mealtime struggles facing individuals with limited mobility or range of motion. Designed and developed with significant input from physicians and potential users, we hope this new device will turn the everyday task of eating into a more pleasurable experience for more people living with movement disorders,” liftware creator & Verily tech lead Anupam Pathak said in a press release.
The Level utensil is the 2nd product in the Liftware family, Verily said, joining the Liftware Steady. The Steady is a computerized stabilizing handle with similar utensil attachments designed to counteract the effects of hand tremors, the company said.
With the launch, the Huntington’s Disease Society of America is beginning a donation program to give 1,000 Liftware Level starter kits to individuals in need on a 1st come, 1st serve basis.
“For the estimated 30,000 Americans affected by Huntington’s disease, loss of independence to perform simple daily tasks is devastating. We believe that the new Liftware Level device will help many more people be empowered to improve their quality of life and truly enjoy mealtime again,” Huntington’s Disease Society of America prez Louise Vetter said in a prepared statement.
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