Lab4Living wins NIHR i4i bid to develop new ‘HeadUp’ neck supports

Designers from Lab4Living have been successful in winning an i4i (Invention for Innovation) research bid from the NIHR with partners from D4D (Devices for Dignity) and SITraN (Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience). The project will be developing a new neck collar for people with neck muscle weakness, using Motor Neurone Disease as the focus.

The project was initially proposed by the DeNDRoN Clinical Studies Group for motor neurone disease with support from patients and carers, who approached D4D with the view that current neck collars are inadequate in terms of function, comfort and cosmesis.

The project originated as one of three case studies used in the D4D/KT-EQUAL funded design workshop in July 2010. The new project will start in April 2012