MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS: SIMAVITA
The Australian medical technologies sector has a reputation for innovation and quality. The Australian
companies in this industry are at the forefront of developing ground-breaking products to improve the
health and well-being of global communities. With significant investment in research and development
and high-value manufacturing – the industry is situated perfectly to take advantage of Australia’s
competitive strengths to export niche products to the global market.
Simavita has developed a Smart Incontinence
Management (SIMTM) medical device for home and
institutional aged care. SIMTM helps restore continence
and minimises dependency on costly care staff and
incontinence-pads. SIMTM is a fully-instrumented
continence tool, providing accurate data and personalised
toileting plans via Wi-Fi-enabled smart devices.
Sensor technology to manage incontinence
Today 4.6 million Australians are affected by incontinence, with up to 70 per cent in the residential aged
care population. An ageing population is set to see the increasing impact on quality of life from
incontinence. Current management of incontinence can be costly, relying on incontinence pads or care
staff (typically two hours per person per day).
Simavita has developed the SIM medical device to provide data that accurately maps each individual's
continence needs. Using disposable sensors, SIM collects and analyses patients’ micturition data to
accurately profile and then plan individual continence care needs. Care plans are developed by
clinicians to restore and maintain normal, productive toileting - helping to keep the aged healthy and
independent for longer.
By encouraging healthy toileting, Simavita hopes to reduce over-reliance on incontinence-pads and
carers. This can lead to decreased infections, a lower number of injuries from falls and less patients
being escalated to acute care.
Benefits of collaboration
Simavita has highlighted two key factors which have contributed to its success.
Collaborating with local research networks:
Simavita has worked with a number of Australian universities to test and validate break-through SIM
technology. Collaborations included participation in innovative research and peer reviewed clinical
studies and trials of Simavita's technology in more than 40 aged care facilities. These collaborations also
proved invaluable to securing objective third-party validations of SIM’s significant cost savings and
improved aged continence care outcomes.
Leveraging existing distribution channels
When moving into the US, its biggest available market, Simavita distributed SIM via Medline, the leading
aged care products supplier in the U.S. Medline's existing distribution channels helped Simavita
challenge the dominance of existing products such as
incontinence pads in the market.
Pictured: Simavita's SIMTM device.
This case study Is based on information from Simavita and was
developed with the assistance of AusBiotech.
For further information visit www.simavita.com.