Sleeptite receives funding to commercialise REMi

Sleeptite has received $872,000 in federal funding to fast-track the development of its non-invasive monitoring and alert sleep technology for aged care.

Melbourne research and advanced manufacturing company Sleeptite has received more than $850,000 in co-investment funding to get its non-invasive aged care monitoring and alert system ready for market.

REMi is made up of flexible sensors integrated into a medical grade mattress cover, a backend platform that analyses the data collected and a front-end user interface for aged care staff.

It is designed to monitor residents during the night and alert staff at critical moments, such as when a resident falls or is at risk of falling. It can also monitor a resident’s presence, posture and position as well as their heart rate and respiratory information.

The system has been developed in collaboration with RMIT University and Sleepeezee Bedding Australia with the support of a $1.7 million Cooperative Research Centre grant.

Sleeptite has secured an additional $872,004 in co-funding from the Federal Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre’s $30 million Commercialisation Fund, which aims to help businesses bring their products and services to the market.

The funding will enable Sleeptite and its partners to continue the development of REMi and boost their local manufacturing processes towards commercialisation.

Sleeptite CEO Cameron van den Dungen said the funding would ensure that the Sleeptite laboratory and manufacturing processes would be built locally.

Cameron van den Dungen

“This AMGC Commercialisation Fund grant will allow us to further our research and development activities, invest in new manufacturing and engineering capabilities locally, commence field trials and ultimately bring REMi to market,” Mr van den Dungen said.

“I applaud the Federal Government for their initiative in supporting Australian researchers and manufacturers who are creating products and services that will not only benefit the Australian public but will create export opportunities and strengthen our sovereign manufacturing capabilities,” he said.

AMGC managing director Dr Jens Goennemann said REMi addressed an important issue affecting many people.

“If fall injuries can be prevented, any expenditure saved could be diverted to quality-of-life measures. It is essentially a win-win for all and part of the reason we’ve endorsed Sleeptite’s innovation,” Dr Goennemann said.

Main image: REMi alert for a person who has fallen out of bed

Comment on the story below. Follow Australian Ageing Agenda on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn, sign up to our twice-weekly newsletter and subscribe to AAA magazine for the complete aged care picture.  

Tags: assistive technology, Cameron van den Dungen, remi, rmit university, Sleepeezee Bedding Australia, Sleeptite, technology,

Leave a Reply