An interview with Claudio Semplicini: Walk better, Walk longer with ExoBand on September 6, 2024.
Biography
I’m Claudio Semplicini, MD, PhD, neurologist and Medical Director of Moveo, Padua, Italy.
I was graduated in 2007 from the University of Padua Medical School, where I also completed my Neurology residency program (2013) and earned the PhD in Medical, Clinical and Experimental Sciences (subspecialty Neuroscience, 2017). From 2013 to 2023, I was actively involved in clinical work at the Neurology Unit of the University Hospital of Padua, Italy and at the Neurology Unit of Sant’Antonio Hospital (2018 – 2023), Padua, Italy. My primary focus areas included neuromuscular diseases, neurophysiology, emergency neurology, and cerebrovascular diseases, but also neurodegenerative disorders such as dementias and Parkinson’s.
In 2023 he became Medical and Scientific director of Moveo, to give my contribution to enhancing mobility for individuals in need.
Moveo is an Italian start-up set in Padova, that has developed a self-powered, lightweight soft exosuit to support walking by people with limited mobility. This is the first self-powered suit in the world and is designed for those whose walking ability has been affected by degenerative disease, neurological or orthopaedic diseases, or injury.
Moveo was founded by Dr. Fausto Panizzolo, formerly a research fellow at Biodesign Lab in Harvard University with a PhD in Biomechanics from University of Western Australia, and a MSc in Bioengineering from University of Padova. Fausto acquired particular expertise on cutting edge soft exoskeleton technology during several projects commissioned by the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency – DARPA in the US.
Can you tell me more about your Advocacy?
Our company was founded with the idea of helping one million people walk better, thanks to the concept of a wearable medical device that is lightweight, easy to use, and accessible to a wide audience of people with disabilities. Having always worked with neurological diseases and dealing daily with the clinical challenges of individuals with motor limitations, I decided to contribute by connecting a problem (gait disorders in neurological patients) with a potential solution (our device).
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
I am a neurologist with a professional background in research (primarily in the field of muscle diseases) and clinical neurology (neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s, genetic diseases, stroke, etc), where I have worked closely with patients and their families to address both acute (in emergency care settings) and chronic issues. Providing solutions to their needs has always been my goal. I have also witnessed the development and growth of the first pharmacological treatments for genetic muscle diseases and the disruptive impact they have had in the world of neuromuscular diseases and on the patients affected by them: clinical improvements, but also excitement and hope. This is similar in Parkinson’s, where a treatment is available since long time ago, but not yet definitive and curative. However, I have always believed that we cannot focus solely on medications or hi-tech pharmacological treatments without considering the daily needs of patients. This is why our device, which can help improve walking, fits perfectly into the idea of enhancing quality of life.
What type of goals do individuals with Parkinson’s have when seeing your Advocacy?
Our disruptive next generation device, ExoBand, is for persons who can walk to a limited extent but who need additional support. The two novel elements of our technology are the soft exosuit wearable component and the self-powering mechanism. The soft exosuit is a lightweight comfortable garment made of an elastomer material that ‘stores’ energy generated by hip extensor muscles during walking. It uses this stored energy to assist walking motion, resulting in a reduced metabolic burden. Our exoskeleton technology is currently the lightest available and was named as one of the best of the decade by the Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation[1]. ExoBand allows those with limited mobility to walk further, with less exertion and in a more functional manner.
ExoBand was launched in Italy in 2020 after receiving CE marking in 2019, and since then was available across Europe and United Kingdom. Public reimbursement is available since February 2021 in several EU countries. Since 2024, ExoBand is available also in USA and Australia.
What type of training and how long are the programs?
ExoBand can be effectively used to improve mobility in daily life and used to ameliorate the results of individual physiotherapy treatments ameliorating standard treatments.
What effect can your Advocacy have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
ExoBand can be efficiently used for rehabilitation and walking aid in patients with walking impairment due for example to:
– Neurodegenerative disorders: movement disorders (i.e. Parkinson’s), multiple sclerosis, ataxias, etc
– Neuromuscular diseases: polyneuropathies, muscular dystrophies, myopathies
– Acquired brain injuries: post- stroke, traumatic brain injury, neoplasm.
– Incomplete spinal cord injuries.
– Post-surgical intervention (hip, knee, other)
The common problem within all of the above groups is reduced mobility. All of them can walk to some extent, but can greatly benefit from an ability to walk for longer or faster. We address this problem using our smart lightweight wearable devices that reduce energy expenditure and allow users to walk farther and for longer with the same effort. Furthermore, ExoBand ameliorates rehabilitation outcomes.
The use of ExoBand in patients with walking impairments results in a longer distance covered, a higher walking speed, an improved adherence to a more natural walking pattern, and a decreased metabolic cost with a reduced sense of fatigue. In essence, patients can walk longer, faster and better.
The benefits in terms of disability compensation are therefore:
- Improvement of the results of individual physiotherapy treatments, both ameliorating standard clinical treatments and allowing independent rehabilitation sessions at home
- Maintenance of muscle function and general physical wellbeing in patients with multiple sclerosis, movement disorders, stroke, neuromuscular disease or spinal cord injuries.
- Reduction of energy expenditure, with less fatigue perceived by the patient, and a lower risk of falling
- Greater participation in social life and work
All the publications concerning ExoBand are freely available in our website: https://www.moveowalks.com/en/publications-2/
What would you like to see as a future goal for your Advocacy?
We are on a mission of helping one million people walking better, and we hope our scope aligns with yours for Parkinson’s patients.
What events do you participate in?
Moveo participated to Italian and international congresses about Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (SIMFER, SIRN), Neurology (SIN, ECTRIMS) and Health Tech.
How does this also assist the caregivers?
Walking problems often require that people need assistance in doing normal daily tasks, like visiting shops or parks. It also affects ability to access public transport. This lack of independence greatly impacts quality of life of the patient, but also of the caregivers. To quote the author Susan B. Anthony “Independence is happiness”.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
Website: moveowalks.com
Address: Via Monsignor G. Fortin, 38, 35128, Padova, Italy
Phone: +39 049 261 44 27 | Mobile/whatsapp: +39 391 459 0627
Mail: info@moveowalks.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moveowalks/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moveowalks/
What are the main difficulties in pursuing your idea of helping one million people walking better?
Starting from Padova, our devices now reached all Europe, the US and Australia. Our team includes biomedical engineers, medical doctor, administrative assistant, and we are reaching many clinicians and patients, building relationships and improving our scientific basis. It’s a long road to walk
In your opinion, what is the key to effective advocacy?
Building strong personal relationships, creating effective networks, and including all potential stakeholders. Patients leading the way.
Why should people who don’t have Parkinson’s care about this?
Everyone can have in the future a family member with neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s, and we all want everybody to be active and healthy, even if affected by neurodegenerative disorders. No one left out.
Have you had any family members or relatives affected by Parkinson’s disease? If you had one song that would tell us more about you or represent your life, which song would it be?
No
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
As our slogan says, for patients with Parkinson’s and their community, we hope they take every day one step ahead. Faster and more effectively. Both in their daily lives and in the journey toward a cure.