ReMoD is a Berlin-based start-up active in the field of rehabilitation technology. Their focus is a new method of correcting posture and movement of patients with postural defects.
The team focuses on hemiparesis patients. Hemiparesis is a partial paralysis of one side of the body, which mainly occurs following a stroke. This innovative method was nominated in 2010 by the Scientific Committee of ISPO Germany/Switzerland/Austria for the Best Paper Award in the science category. ReMoD was sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Economy and Energy, the European Social Fund for Germany and received EXIST grant from the European Union. ReMoD has 20 years experience in dealing with hemiparesis and has successfully worked for 10 years with a device for the correction of posture and movement and corresponding movement training.
Over the years, the mother-daughter team has noticed that the walking aid not only helps people with hemiparesis, but also other people with vestibular disorders and a disturbed proprioception.
The History of ReMoD
Team member Dindia Gutmann’s condition was the impetus for the development of ReMoD (Remember Motion Device). Following a stroke, Dindia Gutmann became paralyzed on one side and suffers from spastic hemiparesis since her birth in 1990. The immobility induced by the paralysis led to various other secondary damages, which in turn caused more mobility problems and finally made independent movement almost impossible. The fact that no long-term effective treatment method was available for the condition promoted the mother and daughter team to develop a device for correcting posture and movement.
From torch to minicomputers
Without any prior technical knowledge Dindia Gutmann and Anna Gutmann developed a device that allowed Dindia to relearn how to walk. The first prototype was built in 2005 on their kitchen table. The progress made with the device has not only led to a greatly improved gait pattern, but also to a significant decrease in secondary damage. Among others, the level of spasticity sharply decreased.
Between 2008-2013 this device has been developed in collaboration with the Department of Medical Technology of the Technical University of Berlin within the framework of various graduate theses under the supervision Dr. Roßdeutscher and ReMoD. Tobias Brose from Brose Systeme GmbH is currently the lead developer since 2016.
Prizes and awards
- In 2013 Dindia Gutmann and Andras Botos, the then student who had worked on the development under the supervision Dr. Roßdeutscher, received the ESF prototype scholarship from the start-up service of the TU Berlin. A mature prototype was created as part of this funding. A year later, the ReMoD received the EXIST scholarship and developed a market ready prototype.
- In early 2015, the ReMoD team won 1st prize in the first stage of the Berlin / Brandenburg business plan competition in the Business Model Canvas category. In the second stage of the competition, the team also managed to take first place, this time in the Business Plan category.
- In 2015 ReMoD won 3rd place in the Nationwide Business Plan Competition Medical Technology.
- In 2017, the ReMoD project was funded as part of the European Union’s Call H2020.
- Since 2017, the start-up is also being supported by investors Carsten Maschmeyer and Dagmar Wöhrl.
- In 2019 Anna Vonnemann received the encore award from the Körber Foundation.
The founders
Dindia Gutmann is the idea provider. She is paralyzed since birth because of a stroke. The resulting physical and psychological problems led to the development of the device. Together with her mother, she developed the training process and the associated walking aid. In constant self-experiment, the dialogue with the mother and the effort to optimally adapt the device to the needs of a paralyzed person, Dindia is the central idea generator at ReMoD. Dindia finished her studies in economics at the Humboldt University in Berlin in the summer semester of 2015. She further completed her master’s degree in business administration at the Free University in Amsterdam in 2016.
Anna Vonnemann is a biologist and developed the ReMoD device together with her daughter Dindia Gutmann. The first and second generation of the device were built by her. At the same time, she developed a training procedure linked to the device based on the training she and Dindia designed for Dindia’s needs. Anna Vonnemann takes over the role of the ReMoD’s CEO and is the patent owner. Anna Vonnemann has a special insight into the essential functional processes of the body. Anna Vonnemann studied Marketing Management and Sales at the Vienna City Economic Development Institute.
At this point we would like to thank our partners very much for the great support and reliable cooperation!
MADE IN GERMANY!
For years, we have been actively supported in development, production, final production as well as safety and quality control by:
Photo left and right: Torsten Brose, Dindia Gutmann and Anna Vonnemann
IMM electronics GmbH, Mittweida (Responsible for the assembly)
Housing technology is carried out by the Ulf Briesenick engineering office in Luckenwalde.
The entire team of the Trautmann Group from Nauenhof near Leipzig was also always at our side with expert advice and great dedication, and together we were able to work together to meet the many legal and regulatory requirements for our product and thus master the market entry in accordance with the law.
Thanks also to the company Page-Tec. Their electronic quality management system (eQMS) helped us to a great extent to implement our processes and the documentary requirements effectively and in a structured manner in a short time.
Photo: Team ReMoD at Trautmann
We would also like to thank Dr. Roßdeutscher and Prof. Kraft from the Technical University of Berlin.
For more than ten years, Dr. Roßdeutscher was available at any given time when it comes to questions of technical implementation, security and licensing. Dr. Roßdeutscher monitored our developments and the safety standards of our devices.
Dr. Roßdeutscher taught at the TU Berlin in the field of medical technology. He is a senior engineer and is among others responsible for advice and expert opinions on handicapped people with electronic aids as well as supervision of student scientific work.
Prof. Kraft was tirelessly available for us as mentor during our EXIST funding scholarship. Prof. Kraft is head of the medical technology department at the TU Berlin.
Without our investors, Carsten Maschmeyer and Dagmar Wöhrl, we would not be where we are today. We are very happy about the great trust that both put in us and their professional support.
We also like to thank the many supporters of our Crowdfunding Campaign from both, Indiegogo and Kickstarter. Your help helped us decisively at the time we needed it the most and also motivated us to continue.
So once again to all partners: Thank you for the intensive, informative and pleasant cooperation. We are looking forward to our joint future projects.
