Encore Path, Inc.

Company: Encore Path, Inc., Baltimore, MD
Company Description: Encore Path develops next-generation rehabilitation products for survivors of stroke and brain injuries based on leading research at the University of Maryland. Its first product is the Tailwind arm rehabilitation device, which helps stroke and brain injury patients recover arm movement and range of motion. Founded in 2006, Encore Path has won dozens of awards for innovation and entrepreneurship
Nomination Category: Products & Product Management Categories
Nomination Sub Category: New Product or Service of the Year - Other

Nomination Title: Encore Path's Tailwind Arm Rehabilitation Device

1. Tell the story about this nominated product or service (up to 500 words). Describe its function, features, benefits, and sales to date. You may include hyperlinks to product photos and data sheets. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

The Tailwind is an easy-to-use device that helps stroke and brain injury
survivors with semi-paralysis recover arm movement and range of motion. It was
developed principally for home use, because most stroke survivors living with
chronic stroke are no longer in rehabilitation and need to continue their
recovery at home. However, the Tailwind is also in use in leading stroke
rehabilitation clinics around the country.

Designed to be used independently by stroke survivors without the aid of a
therapist, the Tailwind comes fully assembled and can be used on any table. The
user sits at the device, grasps the handles, and moves the handles along a
resistance-free track to the rhythm of an auditory cue. The combination of a
controlled, repetitive, bilateral arm movement combined with the auditory
cueing has been shown in studies published in the journal Stroke and the
Journal of the American Medical Association to activate the motor cortex of the
brain, helping the brain to recruit new neural pathways around the damaged
areas. With continued use, increased movement is gradually restored to the arm.
The arm tracks of the Tailwind move upward and outward into varying positions
for progressively more challenging movements.

The Tailwind was launched in mid-2009, and is now in use on every continent and
throughout the United States. With very little marketing, sales have grown
through word-of-mouth and news stories. Stroke and brain injury survivors
worldwide are seeking new treatments for arm paralysis, and have found the
Tailwind to be very beneficial. Few arm rehabilitation therapies are available
for stroke survivors, and even fewer have the scientific evidence of the
Tailwind. Most are not made for home use, leaving the 6 million Americans
living with stroke and brain injury without options for pursuing arm
rehabilitation outside of a rehabilitation clinic. With the aging of the US
population, the number of Americans suffering from stroke is rising, and new
therapies are needed to help return these survivors to healthy, active living.
Stroke survivors who do not recover their arm movement have a greater chance of
institutionalization than those who do make such recovery.

The Tailwind was invented at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine,
Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science. The device was
engineered and assembled in Maryland, and has received awards in innovation and
Photos and videos can be viewed on the website and YouTube channel
http://www.tailwindtherapy.com and http://www.youtube.com/tailwindtherapy.

2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, product reviews, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

Research Behind the Tailwind
http://www.tailwindtherapy.com/tailwinds-proven-technology/clinical-trial.php
Tailwind Online Placements
http://pt.umaryland.edu/docs/fall2009.pdf
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?s=11977806&clienttype=printable
http://www.buffalonews.com/2009/04/28/654148/new-tailwind-device-shows-promise.html
http://m.alamogordonews.com/alamogordonews/db_13388/contentdetail.htm;jsessionid=857AB96CB3A8D59C7C5899C2CE8B855A?full=true&contentguid=jxXuhSbx&pn=&ps=
http://www.ptproductsonline.com/SOAPNotes/2010-02-17_04.asp
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090409/LIFE/904090302
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/health/stroke/2009/04/06/203127/p2/Tailwind-device.htm
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2009-03-30/news/0903270103_1_stroke-university-of-maryland-turner
http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/tailwind.htm
http://www.prlog.org/10453374-new-tailwind-device-improves-arm-function-in-stroke-survivors-with-paralysis.html
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/health&id=7293050
http://physical-therapy.advanceweb.com/Article/A-Stroke-of-Genius-2.aspx
http://www.oea.umaryland.edu/communications/news?ViewStatus=FullArticle&articleDetail=5555
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/12/prweb3348294.htm
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/health/22525484/detail.html
http://www.ecademy.com/module.php?mod=list&lid=172327
http://www.wndu.com/mmm/headlines/84731082.html
http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=23493
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=11977806
http://www.wptv.com/content/health/mb/story/At-Home-Stroke-Rehab/_QNcLgboAkqVg4FUwwtHoQ.cspx
http://somvweb.som.umaryland.edu/absolutenm/templates/?a=503&z=2
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/tailwind-device-helps-retrain-brain-of-stroke-victims-1.1217577?qr=1
http://www.bmoremedia.com/features/krisappelencorepath020210.aspx
http://www.buffalonews.com/2009/04/28/654148/new-tailwind-device-shows-promise.html
http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=113583&top=22&ksectionid=19327&productid=194846&trail=0&discontinued=0
http://www.rehabpub.com/news/2009-02-09_02.asp
http://media-dis-n-dat.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-device-helps-retrain-brain-after.html
http://www.wctv.tv/medicalminute/headlines/85531322.html
http://www.kptv.com/health/22774738/detail.html
http://dreaminginthedeepsouth.vox.com/library/post/tailwind.html
http://gerontology.umaryland.edu/documents/AdvancesInAging_F08_rev4.pdf
http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news-1/New-Tailwind-Device-Improves-Arm-Function-in-Stroke-Survivors-with-Paralysis--63370-1/
http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=23490
http://physicaltherapy.isgreat.org/tailwind-device-demonstration-arm-movement-rehab/
http://sls.news.mediaspanonline.com/Lifestyle/041409-health-stroke
http://www.max3dmodels.com/vdo/TailwindstrokerecoveryinventionUniversityofMarylandmp4/tsUFPXNbqtE.html
http://www.abc12togo.com/wap/news/text.jsp?sid=67&nid=7001872&cid=145&scid=-1&title=Health%20News&ith=0

3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader(s) of the team that developed this nominated product or service:

Kris Appel is the founder and president of Encore Path, and a 2006 graduate of
the ACTiVATE program for women technology entrepreneurs at the University of
Maryland, Baltimore County. She was compelled to end a 17-year career at the
National Security Agency, Department of Defense, in order to commercialize the
Tailwind to improve the lives of stroke survivors worldwide. The Tailwind was
conceived by Drs. Jill Whitall and Sandy McCombe Waller of the University of
Maryland, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science. Drs.
Whitall and Waller research methods to help severely impaired stroke and brain
injury survivors recover mobility.