As the opioid crisis continues to rage, so does the fight. This series about how technology is being used to combat the crisis also continues, as the spotlight on how technology and startups are seeking solutions.
Hamilton County saw an increase in opioid overdose deaths in 2017. The statistics released in March 2018 from the Hamilton County coroner show 529 succumbing to overdose, compared with 403 in 2016 and 414 in 2015.
Last year, Ohio Governor John Kasich called on Ohio Third Frontier to find scientific solutions and technology to fight the epidemic. Through the Ohio Opioid Technology Challenge, which is “a three-phase, prize-based competition to find technology-based solutions that address or improve opioid abuse prevention, treatment and overdose avoidance and response,” technologists are coming together to find solutions to battle the crisis.
The ideation phase launched in October 2017 and closed in December 2017. Award winners were announced in January of 2018. The original call for proposals brought in quite a few pitches, with five pitches winning $10,000.
One of those winners was Cincinnati-based Kinematechs. Dr. Yong Pei, CTO, and David Martineau, CEO, applied to the challenge because they believe their values and technology were a natural fit.
"We have been working [on] pain management and post-surgery rehabilitation for the past three years, so this is a great opportunity for us to align our effort with this critical task," Pei said.
In a nutshell, their company's technology is simple — to meet the patient at the moment that an opioid is prescribed, right after the patient has surgery. This prevents the opportunity for addiction, as it helps with “pain management and post-surgery rehab management,” according to Pei.
"Studies show that preventing opioid addiction before it starts is a much more effective way at tackling the problem then trying to recover and rehab a person addicted."
The technology uses a patented augmented and virtual reality software and hardware, and combines the use of a motion tracking device that allows doctors to customize and speed up a patient’s therapy. Ultimately, it will reduce the need for prescription painkillers, specifically any type of opioids.
They further developed this technology to create KARE, or Kinematechs Augmented Reality Expert, which they pitched to the challenge. It aims to be with a patient undergoing surgery every step of the way, via an app and an additional KARE device. It instructs the user about their surgery, gives insight on check-in and preoperative preparation. Clients are introduced with both their anesthesia team and the surgery staff, and receive reminders about not eating or drinking before their operation.
Then there's the after-surgery care. Patients can communicate via the app with their doctor about pain levels, so they can accurately control the amount of pain medication.
The KARE device that a patient is given will teach them to follow rehab demonstrations, which will then guide the patient through safe exercises. The device can also check to make sure the exercises are completed and done correctly. If there are any issues, the users' doctor and therapist are alerted.
It’s this preparation that will allow a patient not to feel overwhelmed, the Kinematechs team said.
"Studies show that preventing opioid addiction before it starts is a much more effective way at tackling the problem then trying to recover and rehab a person addicted," Martineau said. "We also know that liberal use of post-operative opioid pain killers can lead a person directly down the path of addiction."
Pei and his team plan on applying for the next stage of the competition, which is the challenge phase. This will focus on four challenge topics: "diagnose, prevent, connect and protect," and Kinematechs will focus on the "prevent" track.
For this round, winners will receive twelve prizes of $200,000, and then move on to the product phase, which will determine the grand prize winners. They could win $1 million in funding, with the possibility of more.
Pei believes that his team is perfect for the last two stages, and they have a prototype already in place.
