Financements cat: Equipment

Nowadays, technological innovation plays a crucial role in improving rehabilitation care, particularly in the manufacturing of prostheses. That is why, in 2024, the REA Foundation funded the acquisition of a Markforged Carbon 3D Printer (Mark Two), enabling the Assistive Technology Program at the Institut Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal to modernize its manufacturing techniques.

Reduced manufacturing delays

Another major advantage of 3D printing is the speed of production. Patients can thus try their prosthesis more quickly, facilitating better adaptation.

“Research shows that the sooner a patient can try a prosthesis, the higher their success rate in rehabilitation. Having our own 3D printer allows us to reduce intermediaries and drastically speed up production, enabling patients to begin their prosthetic training sooner.”

Félix Quentin Desrosiers, Orthotist-Prosthetist at IRGLM

Innovative prostheses tailored to specific needs

3D printing allows the creation of custom prostheses, tailored to the individual needs of patients. Many prosthetic parts are difficult to obtain on the market, or even non-existent, due to lower demand. Thanks to this technology, it is now possible to offer personalized solutions to IRGLM users for previously inaccessible professional and recreational activities. Among these prostheses are:

• Devices that assist with returning to work, such as a prosthesis specially designed for a butcher, allowing them to resume their profession.
• Partial hand prostheses and fingertip prostheses
• Models incorporating magnets to facilitate the grasping of metallic objects
• Prostheses specialized for swimming, golf, billiards, or video games. For example, a musician was able to resume playing the transverse flute and perform concerts thanks to a customized prosthesis.

3D printing also allows for the design of smaller, lighter, and better-suited parts to meet patients’ needs.

With over 850 hours of printing completed, the IRGLM’s 3D printer now makes it possible to produce custom-made prosthetic devices in greater volume, with shorter turnaround times and at lower cost. This innovative technological advancement helps better meet the specific needs of patients who were previously underserved, without replacing more traditional manufacturing methods.

Physical activity has long been recognized for its benefits, both for physical and mental health. However, for some individuals with progressive diseases, finding a suitable activity or hobby that accommodates their condition can be a real challenge.

That is why the REA Foundation funded the acquisition of an electric-assist bike for the patients at the Centre de réadaptation Lucie-Bruneau (CRLB). This bike provides users with a unique opportunity to engage in physical activity that facilitates active movement with reduced effort. It is particularly well-suited for individuals suffering from weakness in their lower limbs or decreased endurance, such as those with progressive diseases, chronic pain, who have experienced a stroke, or who live with a neuromuscular disease—representing a large portion of the patients at the CRLB.

“Before having this bike, it was quite complicated for our users to try an electric bike. They often had to travel directly to the supplier. This short trial did not allow users to practice and really take the time to get comfortable with the movement as well as the device itself. As has been scientifically demonstrated, neural plasticity plays a significant role in physical rehabilitation.

Having the bike at the Center allows us to practice the movement repeatedly so that both the brain and the user become familiar with this modality, which was not possible before. Moreover, the electric bike becomes a rehabilitation tool that helps work on balance, coordination, lower limb strength, and dual-tasking.”

Billy-Ann Houle-Powers, kinesiologist at the Progressive Diseases Program of the Centre de réadaptation Lucie-Bruneau

Thus, thanks to this initiative, the patients at the CRLB will be able to stay active while respecting their physical abilities.

“The benefits of this funding are significant. In fact, more than 5 programs will be able to use the electric assist bike. It will enable a diverse clientele to maximize their family activities, engage in active transportation, or even pursue a hobby that was previously inaccessible to them due to a lack of endurance.”

Billy-Ann Houle-Powers, kinesiologist at the Progressive Diseases Program of the Centre de réadaptation Lucie-Bruneau

Aphasia is a communication disorder caused by brain injury, resulting in difficulties understanding or producing language. People living with aphasia often face significant challenges in their social interactions, despite undergoing speech therapy.

To address these challenges, Eve Nadeau, a speech therapist in the stroke and other acquired non-traumatic brain injury program at the Centre de réadaptation en déficience physique Lucie-Bruneau, explored the use of virtual reality as a speech therapy tool for people with aphasia.

The REA Foundation supported this project by granting $6,798 for the purchase of a virtual reality headset (Meta Quest 2), access to therapeutic virtual reality software, and training on these tools and their therapeutic applications. Offering several scenarios for public speaking (auditorium, conference room, etc.), the software developed by C2Care allowed Eve Nadeau to experiment with the application of speech therapy techniques in immersive virtual environments.

To learn more about this project, the REA Foundation met with Eve Nadeau and Christian, a patient with aphasia, who introduced us to this approach. With Eve Nadeau’s guidance, Christian was able to practice communication through various virtual simulations, such as speaking in front of an auditorium, interacting in a conference room, or reading written materials.

“I sometimes have difficulty expressing myself when dealing with someone who is stressed or in a hurry. For example, there was a time when a delivery driver, unaware of my aphasia, was rude to me over the phone because he had trouble accessing my apartment. When he saw me in person and realized I had a disability, he understood the situation and apologized. These misunderstandings can happen, especially when my disability is less visible, like over the phone. Being able to practice these kinds of interactions in a virtual environment would help me a lot in expressing myself better and handling these situations.”

Testimony of Christian, a patient with aphasia.

Although there is not yet software that perfectly simulates human interactions, such as the ability to create a conversation with an avatar, exploring the C2Care software has paved the way for new research to better understand the needs for developing more advanced virtual reality tools, specifically designed to assist people with communication disorders.

“People with aphasia need to regain confidence in their ability to express themselves. This is why developing virtual reality tools tailored to their specific needs could be an effective way for them to practice communicating in real-life simulations, moving beyond the confines of the office while still remaining in a safe environment.”

Eve Nadeau, Speech-Language Pathologist in the Stroke and Acquired Non-Traumatic Brain Injury Program

Photo credit: Elisa Gallot

Each year, the Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal (IRGLM) supports thousands of patients in their rehabilitation process following an event that may have led to a disability. Therefore, actions as simple as using a light switch, a computer, or a phone can then become real challenges.

This is why the REA Foundation has funded the acquisition of new equipment for the Assistive Technology Clinic (ATC). This clinic supports a dozen IRGLM patients with disabilities each year, helping them relearn how to use everyday technological devices.

Whether it’s computers, phones, adapted mice, or smart home devices like specialized switches, the ATC plays a crucial role in improving access to everyday technology. Sophie Laplante, an occupational therapist at the Assistive Technology Clinic, explains:

“We strive to offer to our patients adapted solutions so they can regain their independence and feel equal to others in their daily activities.”

Thanks to the support of the REA Foundation, ATC has been able to acquire, for example, a MacBook and an iPad Pro of the latest generation, featuring advanced accessibility functions such as voice commands or eye-tracking control. A HomePod smart speaker was also added to allow individuals with limited mobility to control their home environment using their voice.

The Assistive Technology Clinic also allows patients to borrow equipment to test it before making a purchase. The team sometimes even visits patients’ homes to assess their needs and provide personalized solutions.

“A patient told me he found it amazing to be able to test a computer before purchasing it. As a person with a high-level spinal cord injury, he also had the chance to try a phone with adapted features and said it was the first time he had seen this kind of technology.

Another user was also able to reconnect with her family in her home country thanks to the adapted equipment made available to her.”

Sophie Laplante, Occupational Therapist at the Assistive Technology Clinic

Through these innovations, the REA Foundation and ATC provide patients with the opportunity to regain maximum independence by giving them access to the latest technological advancements in accessibility.

Photo credit : Elisa Gallot

On October 5, 2023, the REA Foundation met with physiotherapist Béatrice Walsh of the program for strokes and other acquired non-traumatic brain injuries at the Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal. She introduced us to the Tovertafel magic table, a project funded thanks to a $17,767 contribution from the REA Foundation. With the six current users, we were able to discover some of the 25 interactive games designed to work the users’ weaker arm or hand. With varying levels of difficulty, the activities include team games and puzzles as well as musical games that help improve speech.

The Tovertafel table is a precious resource for our rehabilitation program, offering fun opportunities to improve users’ motor skills and cognition.

The REA Foundation is funding the upgrading of Quebec Sign Language (LSQ) training material.

The Institut Raymond-Dewar has been providing Quebec Sign Language (LSQ) training for several decades. A remarkable number of people have come to Raymond-Dewar to learn the language and culture of the deaf community. From 2012 to 2016, more than 2600 people between the ages of 11 and 79 participated in different levels of training (LSQ 1 to 6). For many of them, this is their first contact with a deaf person, since instruction is provided by deaf instructors. For this reason, and because LSQ instruction is so important for the Institut Raymond-Dewar and the CIUSSS, the REA Foundation is supporting this project to modernize and update the teaching material.

The REA Foundation is providing up to $10,500 to fund the purchase of specialized equipment (Visual Eyes 505M) to help the specialists at Lucie Bruneau provide more effective treatments for vestibular disorders.

Over the last few years, vestibular disorders have become better understood and easier to identify. Dizziness and loss of balance have an enormous impact on a person’s autonomy and quality of life, and hinders their progress in rehabilitation. The stroke program and other neurological programs at the Centre de réadaptation en déficience physique Lucie-Bruneau are seeing an increase in referrals in physiotherapy directly related to these problems. In fact, 40 to 60% of patients in physiotherapy present vestibular problems that need to be assessed and treated.

Concrete progress

Vestibular disorders can be peripheral (the vestibular system in the inner ear) or central (the brain). Good assessment makes it possible to target the cause of the dizziness and offer a treatment plan adapted to the person’s condition. Currently, professionals must conduct their assessment using the naked eye due to a lack of specialized equipment. However, certain clinical tests require the use of assessment goggles that prevent visual fixation and facilitate diagnosis. Acquisition of this equipment will refine assessments and eliminate false negatives related to compensation through visual fixation. It will also provide opportunities for peer self-training by analyzing the recordings.

Above all, the main objective is to have a greater impact on function and quality of life for the patients suffering from these disorders.

Exponential positive effect

In addition to stroke patients, many of the patients served at Lucie-Bruneau suffer from chronic pain, Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis. Since vestibular disorders, whether peripheral or central, can occur in all of these cases, the vestibular goggles can be used by all of the Centre’s  physiotherapists.

The REA Foundation purchased a $1,000 adapted tricycle for people with physical limitations.

This adapted tricycle enables people in rehabilitation to resume practising a sport, safely and autonomously. Among other things, kinesiology is about making sports accessible to all types of patients with physical limitations following a medical diagnosis, such as a stroke, multiple sclerosis or pain. Many of these people are cycling enthusiasts and would like to resume this activity in a safe fashion, adapted to their new condition. With funding from the REA Foundation, it was possible to acquire a device adapted to people with serious problems related to balance, coordination, paresis, muscle weakness, endurance, etc. It’s now possible for the kinesiologists to respond to this need and support users in resuming this activity.

The tricycle helps the user feel at ease and balanced, which is impossible on a bicycle. With six speeds, users can work at different intensities and progress to the next stage.

Resuming physical activity after a diagnosis also promotes integration back into the community, improves physical condition parameters and reduces risk factors related to a sedentary lifestyle.

A new tool is now being used to help traumatic brain injury victims. Thanks to a $5,165 donation from Andrea and John David Miller to the REA Foundation, traumatic brain injury victims and people with balance disorders will benefit from new state-of-the-art equipment.

The Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal (IRGLM) will now be able to purchase a Head Tracker. As the name implies, this tool detects head movements. Placed on the patient’s head, it assesses how head movements impact the user’s balance when they’re standing.

The physiotherapist specialized in vestibular rehabilitation can then provide a service more precisely adapted  to IRGLM’s users. This is particularly the case for people who have sustained a traumatic brain injury or suffer from a balance disorder when standing, which affects their daily activities.

The REA Foundation is funding the creation of a highly specialized research laboratory at the Institut Raymond-Dewar for the rehabilitation of people who are deaf or deafblind, or have a language or auditory processing disorder.  

The acquisition of technologies, such as the Neuroscan and Eylink II, will make it possible to measure changes in brain activity during listening and visual stimulation exercises. With this laboratory, the professionals will be able to personalize rehabilitation services, asses the added value of interventions, adapt clinical support, develop new rehabilitation methods and build projects based on patient experience. Nearly 1500 children, 400 adolescents and 2700 adults with hearing loss or a hearing processing disorder, deafblindness or a language disorder are currently users at the Institut Raymond-Dewar.