Rehabilitation focuses on the recovery or improvement of capabilities in people with a permanent physical injury or a functional limitation. There are millions of people worldwide with such a functional limitation, which can have far-reaching consequences in daily life. A small auxiliary aid or supporting system can often make a big difference to a patient’s life.

In 2004, the rehabilitation sector provided care for 38,500 outpatients, including more than 7,700 children and young people and 7,400 clinical patients, including 400 children and young people. The last few years have seen a sharp growth in rehabilitation, which has continued in 2006. The number of hours of rehabilitation treatment increased by 8%. In the Netherlands, approximately 8,000 people work in the rehabilitation sector. The budget available in 2006 was more than €400 million.

Much of the equipment and many of the instruments and auxiliary aids employed in rehabilitation utilise external stimuli. Because of this, the requirements made of this equipment are often less rigorous than for those in direct contact with internal organs. In the majority of cases, CE certification is sufficient for using the product concerned. De Koningh Medical Systems is the ideal partner for making and testing the prototype of this developed product or system. So that customers can market the product themselves. ISO 13485 is not essential in this industry, but it does indicate De Koningh’s level of quality. Many rehabilitation products are assembled in low-dust environments.

References

De Koningh manufactures for their client, Exact Dynamics in Arnhem, the ‘Robot arm’. This Robot arm is designed to compensate the limited arm- and hand functions of the physically disabled. The Robot arm has a range of 80 centimeters and a maximum gripping power of 2 kilograms. The most important advantage of this arm is that the different joints can be independently rotated.This means that the gripper can be directed straight to its target.De Koningh is partner in the production and assembly. We are also involved in the Craft project ‘Amor’.  This is a joint adventure with Exact Dynamics whereby a new Robot arm has been developed which is even more compact and easier to operate. At the moment this product is being extensively  tested in practice. 

Another reference is a major player in electrotherapy and ultrasound, for which we produce and assemble systems. This equipment helps to stimulate the blood flow in muscles, so that torn muscles and other muscular injuries can heal quicker and better. Due to the complexity  of the system, is a high standard of accuracy essential in the production and assembly.