Njord MedTech established partnerships with the two Nordic testbeds through the Nordic Proof portal. The aim was to test the product Atle 180 – a patient transfer device aiming to reduce the physical burden for caregivers and to increase productivity at hospitals with a special focus on radiology departments.
Njord MedTech
Rooted in an innovation project initiated at Sahlgrenska University Hospital to address unmet needs within the radiology department, Njord MedTech came into existence in 2019 following its inception in 2017. Today, the company boasts a team of 10 dedicated individuals.
Partnering for progress
By initiating contact through the Nordic Proof portal, Njord MedTech established partnerships with the two testbeds. The initial two-day test at Norwegian Smart Care Lab was followed by an extensive six-week testing period at Oulu Health Labs, which recently concluded in June.
The two-day test conducted in Stavanger University Hospital and Sandnes Education and Research Center Høyland was set up as a dynamic demonstration and feedback session. The company demonstrated Atle 180 in the radiology lab, followed by a dialogue with clinicians facilitated by the Norwegian Smart Care Lab. The aim was to map interest and get feedback on the product and the department’s needs within patient transfer. At Sandnes Education and Research Center Høyland Njord MedTech explored how Atle 180 could be relevant to clinical studies involving animal patients.
Feedback from the clinicians and nurses working at Oulu university hospital imaging and emergency imaging wards has been positive. The solution has been tested in all different imaging modalities such as magnetic imaging, CT, ultrasound and native imaging. Atle was also used with angiography and procedural radiology procedures.
All the testers would recommend Atle for the hospital use. (Oulu Health Labs)
Atle was tested for one month in the departments, thus many employees at the departments were able to use Atle several times. They experienced a user-friendly product that streamlines patient transfers, offering enhanced efficiency and speed compared to current methods of moving patients from their beds to CT-tables. Crucial to this was the feedback process with healthcare professionals, whose insights proved invaluable in assessing Atle’s efficacy and usability within clinical setting. The hospital staff experienced that using Atle is more pleasant, gentle, and less stressful event for the patients.
The biggest benefit is that using Atle requires less physical strength from nurses. No extra help is needed. (Oulu Health Labs)
Vision and next step
Going forward Njord Med tech is looking to expand into all Nordic markets with the existing medical device Atle 180, as well as to bring forward additional solutions to ensure a sustainable healthcare system. The following chapter entails a clinical trial set to commence at Stavanger University Hospital in the upcoming autumn of 2023.
“It’s been a pleasure working with Nordic Proof collaborating around the introduction of Atle 180 in both Norway and Finland. We received good support facilitating and planning introductory workshops at three different hospitals in these markets”. (Jacob Ahrnstein, CEO at Njord MedTech AB)
