Musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the back, affects 80% of the global population at some point in their lives (as we explained in this other article). Traditional treatments often include medications and, in extreme cases, surgery. However, these approaches typically provide temporary relief of symptoms without addressing the root of the problem.
ThermoHuman, together with the Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV) and ADAMO Robot, has obtained approval for an R&D project to develop a system that enhances the identification and treatment of these ailments using harmless technologies and the implementation of artificial intelligence.
AIRESPALTER (CPP2022-009565) is the name of the project, funded with nearly 400,000 euros from the European Next Generation funds and with a duration of 3 years. The main objective is to design a system based on thermography for the identification of thermal patterns in back pain, which will serve as input data for focused treatment using compressed air through a robotic arm.
The interaction of the three institutions is key: ThermoHuman's extensive experience and knowledge in the field of thermography applied to health and sports; Adamo's expertise in developing solutions in the field of physiotherapy using robotic technologies, combined with the infrastructure and experience of Francisco de Vitoria University in clinical research.
The implementation of a robotic solution that links thermographic diagnosis with treatment through compressed air is itself an innovation in the sector. This will be the world's first project to apply this technology in a university setting, with the subsequent research goal of transferring the developed product to society. This innovation allows for earlier intervention in the diagnosis and physiotherapeutic treatment of back pain. As a result, significant improvements in recovery times, reduction of waiting lists, improved accessibility to health technology systems, cost savings for national health systems, and consequently, improved quality of life for patients can be achieved.
This project is carried out thanks to the funding from the call for public-private collaboration projects (2022), framed within the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, funded by the Next Generation EU Funds. This R&D+i project (CPP2022-009565) receives financial support from MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ and the European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR.
ThermoHuman has had the support of the Funds of the European Union and the Community of Madrid through the Operational Programme on Youth Employment. Likewise, ThermoHuman within the framework of the Export Initiation Program of ICEX NEXT, had the support of ICEX and the co-financing of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Thermohuman has received funding from the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), in participation with the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), for the R+D activities involved in creating a new tool, based on thermography, for the prediction and prevention of rheumatoid arthritis. See project detail.
