10 Years After….

October 13th, 2011

Reading about the Afghan situation 10 years after US military involvement began got me
thinking about what I was doing 10 years ago and how much has changed, for me
and for the world. Ten years ago I was working at the National Security Agency,
in the Department of Defense, as a policy director and staff officer. I wrote
many intelligence reports about Afghanistan, and helped to create policies and
procedures that contributed to the US military effort there. I was definitely
thinking globally, but somewhat isolated working safely inside a large defense
facility.

But I longed to get outside of government, outside of my safe place, and I wanted
to start a business. I left the government and went to work for a technology
company, so I could learn more business skills before setting out on my own.
When I was ready to start my business, I looked to local universities to see
what technologies were available for licensing that I could develop and market.
I noticed a stroke rehabilitation device at the University of Maryland Medical
System that had been patented and clinically tested, but was not available for
sale, so I decided to take a closer look.

After about a year of doing market research, validating the patent, talking to stroke
survivors, and meeting with the device’s inventors, I decided to acquire the
rights to the device and manufacture it. In late 2006, Encore Path was formed
to build and sell the device, which was then called BATRAC, or bilateral arm
trainer with rhythmic auditory cueing. It would be almost 3 more years before
the device was on the market, but I had finally taken my leap into
entrepreneurship, outside of my global, but isolated, existence.

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Tailwind Featured at Maryland Baby Boomer Expo

October 7th, 2011

We are here today at the Baby Boomer/Senior Expo at the Maryland State Fairgrounds. It’s a great place to meet seniors and show them the Tailwind for arm rehabilitation. By far the largest number of people having strokes are seniors, but increasingly younger and younger people are having them. The fastest growing age group for stroke is age 45-57! And we’re seeing plenty of younger stroke survivors today.

I’m also surprised by the number of people who are stopping by to say that they have a family member who has had a stroke. This shouldn’t surprise me, though, because according to the American Heart Association, 4 out of 5 American families will be affected by stroke. And nearly 85% of stroke survivors will experience some arm mobility issues. We developed the Tailwind for people with moderate to severe paralysis after stroke and want to improve their arm function and range of motion at home. We’re proud that we can help some of them get better arm movement with the Tailwind.

An expo like this is a great way to meet stroke survivors and their families, and to show them how the Tailwind works. We are based in Baltimore, but it’s hard to get all over the country to demonstrate the Tailwind. If you’re in the Baltimore area and want to come to the Baby Boomer Expo, please stop by and say hi!

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New Ultrasound Techniques May Help Prevent Strokes

August 30th, 2011

A new study finds that two ultrasound imaging tests of the neck can help determine who is likely to have a stroke.  The study went on for two years and tested 435 people who had severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS), a narrowing of the carotid arteries in the neck, which deliver blood to the brain.  Of these 435 people, 10 had strokes and 20 had mini-strokes.  What the study found is that people with fatty plaque in their carotid artery where much more likely, up to 6 times more, to have strokes.  However, those individuals who had both fatty plaque and signs of microemboli were over 10 times more likely to have a stroke.

The first ultrasound procedure determines the quality of the plaque in the arteries; the second ultrasound, known as a Doppler ultrasound, looks for the presence of blood clots or microemboli, particles that may travel to the brain and cause stroke.  The ultrasound procedures used to determine plaque build-up in the carotid artery and signs of microemboli are non-invasive and do not require any sort of surgery.

According to Lars Marquardt, M.D., “If techniques like the one presented by [study researcher] Topekian are confirmed to be able to detect patients that have a higher than normal risk of stroke, screening of patients with this technique seems necessary.”

The results of the study are very positive, demonstrating that it may now be possible to identify individuals with a high-risk of stroke.  Once identified, these individuals can undergo surgery to prevent future tragedy, preventing the need for stroke rehabilitation.  However, the study is only the first to find these results, and more studies are necessary before this procedure becomes common practice.

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a new arm thing………..

December 1st, 2009

….Good Monday morning, Everyone! Last night after I gave my husband his nightly two arm hug, I was able to control my arm enough to slowly put it back down to my side, instead of simply dropping it back down, after my hug. This indicates a little more control in my effected arm. Good news! Sincerely, Shary PS slowly, but surely, I’m coming along.

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new interest for tailwind

October 7th, 2009

Good Wednesday morning, Everyone! I have enlisted a new recruit for Tailwind. My new Tailwind buddy is interested in how it might benefit her, so she is investigating her options with Tailwind. After she tries it out again (at my house) She will consider future use, on her own. The ball is in her court! Sincerely, Shary

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