A California-based startup has won a $30,000 grant to help bring its Move-D mechanical elbow brace to market.

In a Nov. 1 news announcement, Innovation Lab said it designed the Move-D brace to help Dylan, a child with ataxic cerebral palsy. On its Web site, Innovation Lab said Dylan “feels as though he cannot perform academically in comparison to the other students in his class and cannot function independently because it takes him longer to complete certain tasks.”

The Move-D Stabilix brace “utilizes locking and damping mechanisms in a single hinge to provide complete stabilization of the user’s tremors,” the company said. “The hinge works in tandem with a nerve pressure-stimulator inside an arm cuff to stifle an incoming tremor’s intensity.” Innovation Lab added that the brace is lightweight and portable, with a design that “allows the user to independently operate the device and adjust the setting to their comfort.”

Move-D also said the brace would be “affordably priced when compared to competitors.” Future products will seek to stabilize tremors in lower extremities or will target adult patients.

Innovation Lab was presented the grant award at the “Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!” competition, held during the 10th Annual Pediatric Device Innovation Symposium at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., in October.

The grant program is sponsored by the National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation, which is funded by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Photo of Dylan using the Move-D brace: Courtesy Innovation Lab.