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Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease, with individuals developing weak neck muscles, leading to pain, restricted movement.
This research built understanding of optimal requirements for a supportive neck collar with flexibility to allow functional head movement. Through an iterative prototyping process the HeadUp Collar, a class one medical device, has been patented.
Funded by: National Institute of Health Research, NIHR Devices for Dignity, Motor Neurone Disease Association
Partners: University of Sheffield SITraN (Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience), NIHR Devices for Dignity, Motor Neurone Disease Association, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Barnsley NHS Foundation Trust, TalarMade
Project team: Heath Reed, Joe Langley, Andy Stanton
Co-design workshops brought together people living with MND, carers, clinicians and designers. Participatory methods, including qualitative interviews, 2D visualisation and 3D mock-ups, helped build understanding.
The study is an example of collaborative, interdisciplinary research and new product development underpinned by participatory design. NIHR i4i funding enabled the team to iteratively develop and detail the product over a 24-month programme.
“This is a product that can be completely customized to the patient’s needs and requirements – that’s the huge benefit and the beauty of the collar and its design.”
(Liz Pryde, Devices for Dignity)
“The proof of the pudding for me was that they were coming to clinic wearing the collar, it wasn’t in the drawer with the other collars.”
(Chris McDermott, Consultant Neurologist)
Following the iterative prototyping process the HeadUp collar, a class one medical device, was patented. It has undergone multi-centre clinical evaluation with results indicating that the product meets user requirements and showed an increase in the number of hours the collars are used, compared to existing neck orthoses.
It looks like clothing, really, rather than a medical device. Without the collar, I wouldn’t be able to drive and that makes a huge difference. With a rigid collar, you can look ahead but you can’t turn your head to see the traffic, but with this collar you can do that. It’s life-changing really.
(Philip, wearer of HeadUp Collar)
That’s 1500 people now able to get on with their lives with the support of this simple collar.
Talarmade were shortlisted for the Partnership with Academia Award at the Medilink North of England Healthcare Business Awards 2019.
The collar is now in use at 25 UK NHS trusts, and is available worldwide.
The collar, now known as HeadUp, is available to purchase from local manufacturing company TalarMade, who have more than 30 years’ experience in developing clinical innovations for use in rehabilitative and orthotic practice.
In June 2023 Head Up was recipient of the global ‘Made with Patients Award’
The Made with Patients Awards, hosted by the Patient Focused Medicines Development (PFMD), celebrate those who are driving patient engagement forward in the development of medicines, medical technology, and digital health. This is the first ever global award celebrating excellence in patient engagement and 140 submissions were received. In addition to the three awarded initiative categories, the Patient Focused Medicines Development jury chose “a remarkable initiative that surpasses expectations. The Jury Special Award recognizes an initiative that embodies the essence of patient engagement, from co-creation with patients to improving the quality of life for those with Motor Neuron Disease.”
Resources
Related research on Sheffield Hallam University’s Research Archive
- Case study: Head Up Case Study; The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme review case study
- Paper: A comfort assessment of existing cervical orthoses
- Paper: P30 – Patient involvement at every stage: design and coproduction of the Head Up neck support collar
- Paper: Evaluating a novel cervical orthosis, the Sheffield Support Snood, in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease with neck weakness
- Paper: Assessment of the Sheffield Support Snood, an innovative cervical orthosis designed for people affected by neck weakness
- Paper: Co-design and development of a specific cervical orthosis to support neck weakness due to neurological disease
- Paper: Head up ; an interdisciplinary, participatory and co-design process informing the development of a novel neck support for people living with progressive neck muscle weakness
- Paper: The impact of neck weakness and experiences of using neck orthoses in people with motor neuron disease
- Paper: Head-Up : co-designing novel neck orthosis for neck weakness in MND
- Neck Orthosis patent
- Journal Article: A comfort assessment of existing cervical orthoses – Dr Joe Langley – 50 free copies available
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