Abedi, Kelly, Hayes quoted in media articles on medical device that can detect Alzheimer’s

The Bangor Daily NewsWABI (Channel 5) and WVII (Channel 7) reported on a medical device created by a University of Maine spinoff company that detects brain injury by measuring sleep movement patterns. Safe Rest is a fitted mattress sheet equipped with more than a dozen sensors using the SleepMove monitoring system that will allow it to gather information about a person’s sleep-wake and respiratory patterns while they are sleeping at home instead of in a sleep study facility. The monitoring system has the potential to detect early symptoms of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. UMaine was recently issued a patent for the device, which will be licensed by Activas Diagnostics. This piece of fabric is the culmination of 10 years of research and development by UMaine professors Ali Abedi and Marie Hayes, the BDN reported. “The beauty of this technology is that it’s very simple,” said Abedi, assistant vice president for research and professor of electrical and computer engineering. “Nobody will see the sensors. They don’t touch your body, and you never feel them. There is no electromagnetic field and no radiation.”  “We really feel that theses devices are underdeveloped and home technology for sleep are underdeveloped, so we are hoping that our device can fill that gap,” said Hayes, a professor of psychology. Activas Diagnostics works with UMaine’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development, which provides university spinoff companies with coaching and other resources they need to launch successful businesses, the article states. Activas’ contribution to the Bangor-area economy goes beyond creating jobs, said Renee Kelly, UMaine’s assistant vice president for innovation and economic development. “They’re also a great role model for faculty and students who would like to commercialize their research,” she said. “It’s our goal to see the research activity that happens spin off into new companies or products. This is a great example of that happening.” Maine Public and Fiddlehead Focus published the BDN article.