Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AQB-CARE (AQUABUDDY-CARE: A Groundbreaking Solution for Elderly and Disabled people with Reduced Mobility that Finally Enables Caregivers to Effectively and Safely Bathe/Shower them in their own Beds.) Reporting period: 2017-08-01 to 2017-11-30 Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project For some types of diseases, a patient is required to be on absolute bed rest for fast and complete recovery. In other cases such as degenerative diseases and age related mobility loss, a person gradually loses the capability to move around and is restricted to being on the bed. Incorrect hygiene practice is one of the most common causes of infection spreading among bedridden patients and its result is a reduced life quality and expectancy, as well as the massive use of antibiotics, leading to increased resistance to them. We are developing a portable showering unit: AQB-Care, which allows the caregiver to set up a bath and/or bidet in an effective and dignified manner in the patient´s bed, reducing infections, preventing injuries and bringing physical and emotional comfort to the patient. Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far The Feasibility Study performed has focused on 3 main areas. From a technical point of view, we have validated the technology optimization roadmap and the specifications of the final product. We have prepared the clinical validation plan and we have outlined the industrialization and scale up process assessing those tasks that could require a subcontractor. Commercially, we have performed an analysis of our target market, focused mainly on the segment of bedbound care. We have assessed partnerships with local distributors to consolidate our marketing strategy. We have updated our Freedom-to-operate and confirmed our compliance with EU regulation for AQB as a medical device. Finally, on the economic side, we have built financial forecast for the next 5 years, based on the best business model and pricing strategies. Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far) Once in the market, AQB will bring significant benefits to caregivers and patients worldwide, helping alleviate the raising burden of ageing and disability, while improving patients’ life quality and health outcomes. AQB project will contribute to reduce costs in the European Health Care systems since it can reduce significantly the patients’ bathing time performed by caregivers and prevent falls and cross-patient infections. Thus AQB can contribute to decreasing the use of antibiotics and associated resistance issues, which is a huge threat to global public health nowadays image-1.png
