TRUE ANGLE : Creating patient-centred solutions to critical health issues
Innovation in health technology often emerges from a convergence of diverse backgrounds and a keen understanding of patient needs. That’s exemplified by the founding of True Angle and its creation, Mobili-T, a technology designed to address a critical health issue.
Jana Rieger traces her True Angle roots to her childhood, when her father's entrepreneurial ventures in the hospitality industry sparked an early interest in business. This interest collided with a clinical career, culminating in a PhD and work with patients facing swallowing disorders, known as dysphagia. The profound impact on patients' lives, not just in terms of nutrition but also in quality of life, motivated Rieger to seek a solution.
True Angle's Mobili-T technology revolves around a sensor placed under the patient's chin, providing real-time feedback on muscle contractions during swallowing exercises. This data-driven approach not only aids patients in performing exercises correctly but also fosters adherence by allowing clinicians to monitor progress remotely.
The Mobili-T technology was created by a multidisciplinary team, including engineers, industrial designers, clinicians and patients, ensuring a holistic approach to product development. The integration of patient feedback into the design process proved pivotal, resulting in a user-friendly and effective solution. “That was really important in the development because then when we went to market, we had something that we knew was going to resonate with the patient population,” says Rieger.
As True Angle continues its expansion in the U.S. healthcare system, Rieger envisions further growth and an extension of True Angle’s technologies into addressing associated respiratory issues.