Breaking News, World News and Taiwan News.

Updated Monday, April 6, 2009 10:28 am TWN, By Meredith Cohn, The Baltimore Sun



	Sandy McCombe Waller coaches Norris Turner, 68, of Columbia, Md., on a new exercise device called the Tailwind BATRAC at the University of Maryland. (The Baltimore Sun) Enlarge Photo

Sponsors
▪	Buy china wholesale products from reliable chinese wholesalers on DHgate.com!
▪	Save 75% for all hotels in Shanghai, Beijing and whole China. Lowest rates for Flights in China.
▪	Get the best deals for Guangzhou Hotels or choose from more than 10,000 hotels in 499 Chinese cities.
▪	Find great real time deals on China Flights. Book flights to China or China domestic flights 24/7.

Tailwind device helps brains of stroke victims

To market the product, the inventors were matched with an entrepreneur who participated in a four-year-old program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County that has been funded in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Called ACTiVATE, it trains women in business and hooks them up with technology invented at Maryland universities. So far, 25 companies have been formed, according to David J. Fink, director of entrepreneurial services for the university's research and development park.

Since 2005, companies have launched or are forming to sell products including DNA-based therapies for ovarian cancer, pain therapies, test kits for monitoring melanoma and a device to remotely monitor infants' and the elderly's vital signs.

Kris Appel, a former linguist at the National Security Agency, bought the Tailwind license and plans to begin selling the machines in earnest in the next few weeks through her Baltimore-based company, Encore Path Inc.

“I was convinced it was a great product,” Appel said. “I knew I could sell it because I understand it. It will help so many people.”

Those involved in stroke therapy say there isn't much else available for such patients. There are even fewer options that are portable and can be taken home.

The device's success in studies was notable for showing “neuro-plasticity” — recovery of brain function years after a stroke, said R. Samuel Mayer, who did not take part in the Tailwind research. Mayer is a physician adviser for the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins Hospital and medical director of the hospital's inpatient rehabilitation.

“Traditionally, people thought that little recovery occurs from stroke after three to six months,” he said. “We now know that rehabilitation can help people even years later recover some function.”

It's not clear how clinics and individuals will respond to the US$2,400 price tag on the Tailwind — insurance and Medicare will not cover therapy. Formal marketing begins in the next few weeks, and none have sold yet.

Mayer said other promising therapies are being studied for low- and higher-functioning patients, some of which the Tailwind researchers are involved in testing.

“The important issue is to keep patients active after stroke,” he said.

Turner plans to continue working on his Tailwind five days a week. He also plans to keep tossing a ball to his grandson.

1|2