Mission Padula Rehabilitation Technologies (PRT) was created from the Padula Institute of Rehabilitation (PIVR) whose mission is to develop unique, high technology medical instrument systems for diagnosis and rehabilitation of visual dysfunction related to neurological events.
Problem There is a void in the field of rehabilitation to help persons with visual spatial problems affecting balance caused by a neurological event. PRT has created an instrument (NeurOpTrek) that assesses visual spatial processing dysfunction in relationship to deviation in the center of mass (COM) dynamically and determines the yoked prism correction to realign COM thereby improving dynamic balance and reducing ROF. NeurOpTrek is the first instrument to measure COM dynamically and provide a means to rehabilitate balance thereby reducing ROF.
Solution NeurOpTrek utilizes a gait-mat and correlated software to assess deviation in COM during ambulation and converts this to measure correlated shift in visual midline. Algorithms then are applied to determine power and axes of rehabilitative-yoked prisms to shift the VM and realign COM. The NeurOpTrek demonstrates before and after change in deviation of the COM following introduction of yoked prisms. Two versions of NeurOpTrek will be offered. NeurOpTrek I will be for ROF assessment and will be provided to primary care clinicians, community centers and nursing homes. This instrument is rate ROF only. The NeurOpTrek II will include rating ROF rating as well as algorithms to affect deviation in the COM through yoked prisms to affect Visual Midline Shift Syndrome (VMSS). NeurOpTrek is in final phase of development and a trail study has been completed demonstrating statistical significance.
Competition Current instrumentation primarily uses static balance testing or ambulation on a gait mat to assess difficulties with gait and balance. No instruments provide rehabilitative treatment protocol. There is no known direct competitive instrument to the NeurOpTrek™. The instrument will pioneer a major expansion in diagnosis and treatment of balance/posture dysfunction. It is patented and evidence based.
Sales and Marketing Presently, NeurOpTrek™ is being used in conjunction with the ProtoKinetic software and the Zeno gait balance system but has the capability to use a similar system. NeurOpTrek is patented. The ROF assessment and rehabilitative protocol are billable. Marketing will focus NeurOpTrek I on community offices and centers for the ROF rating. NeurOpTrek II will be marketed to hospitals, rehabilitation centers, physical therapists, rehabilitation optometrists and ophthalmologists. NeurOpTrek I will be able to fit into the pre-testing space in the office of all primary care optometrists or ophthalmologists, as well as at nursing homes or emergency rooms. The company plans to develop a database from studies in 2020 that will allow the instrument to determine the percent of increase (if any) of the patient’s RoF compared to our age based norms. Referrals to rehabilitation specialists would include an electronic record that would show the reasons for ROF. The documentation within the EMR provides opportunity for diagnosis with CPT codes and billing of visually related balance difficulties. A five-year plan is in place for marketing."
.jpg "William v. Padula, OD SFNAP FAAO FNORA photo")
