Company Profile

Formally known as (NOC-watch) FallSaver Inc is a device that reduces falls by reliably anticipating high-fall-risk activity. Biometric testing shows that the long axis of the femur most reliably determines activity that precedes ambulation or weight bearing. NOC·watch monitors the position of the femur as an indication of pending ambulation. FallSaver is a wireless, inexpensive, disposable medical device used to prevent falls in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and at home. The most susceptible to falls are those over 85, the number of whom is expected to nearly quadruple in the next 50 years. There are an estimated 10 million falls annually among the elderly; 300,000 falls are documented within skilled nursing facilities (SNF), but most falls are unwitnessed. The total direct cost of all fall injuries for people age 65 and older was estimated by the CDC to be $20.2 billion in 1994; total costs in 2040 are estimated to exceed $240 billion. The average cost of a fall resulting in a hip fracture is estimated to be approximately $40,000 for the first year; the average jury award for negligent supervision in a nursing home is currently $689,200. This newly-patented device assists in the prevention of falls before they occur in this population by alerting caregivers to high-fall-risk activities. The product is a sensor attached to the back of the leg, which in turn uses a microprocessor-controlled accelerometer to measure attitude changes within the long axis of the patient’s femur. When a patient starts to get up unassisted, at about 70o from horizontal (the “launch position”) a signal is transmitted wirelessly to a bedside monitor, which concurrently sends an alarm to the patient and caregiver that a patient is exhibiting high-risk behavior for a fall. The patented product is a FDA Class 1 exempt medical device currently undergoing clinical trials in several locations throughout the US. The success of the product is based upon three principles: • Maintain the patients’ dignity and increase likelihood of acceptance by providing a discrete product that can be worn comfortably and unobtrusively under clothing. • Eliminate false alarms for caregivers by developing a product that only senses actual activity that is high-risk, thus increasing staff effectiveness in patient monitoring. • Minimize behavioral changes required by the patient and the caregiver to