The Exersides Refraint system was born from Dr. Pavini’s quest to develop a way for patients who have vital tubes and lines to safely maintain arm movement and cognition in order to improve short and long-term outcomes.
In 2015 she began researching design concepts and gathering feedback from nurses, and physical & occupational therapists. In 2016, Dr. Pavini founded Healthy Design and the first prototype was manufactured. In 2017 she performed a Pilot study with that prototype. In 2018 she assembled a world-class research team and was awarded a NIH grant to produce and test a revised prototype. In 2019 a Phase I NIH trial was successfully completed. FDA registration was obtained and a patent was granted in the US and internationally.
In 2020 the NIH granted Healthy Design another award for the ‘CALMER’ project – COVID Associated Lightning Manufacture of Exersides Refraints – specifically to enhance production efforts in time for COVID, to assist with decreased sedation usage and decreased agitation in the face of decreased family visitation, staff availability, and sedation shortages. During this phase, the Remote Mobility Coach platform was created to educate and support hospital staff remotely. In 2021 Healthy Design was awarded a NIH CRP award to make the Exersides Refraint available to patients nationally and internationally.
Healthy Design Team
Marie Pavini MD FCCM FCCP
Founder & CEO
Assistant Professor of Research: University of Vermont College of Medicine
ICU Physician and Inventor of the Exersides Refraint
Stephen C. Flint
Chief Operating Officer
Thomas Lichtman
Vice President Manufacturing
Arooj Fatima MD
Remote Mobility Coach Director
Michael Rosen PhD
Academic Liaison
Cortni Kapitanski
Quality, Regulatory and Business Process Administrator
John Dyer BSN RN CCRN PCCN
Clinical Development Manager
Erica Caetano
Production and Operations Manager
Richard Merrifield MBA
SimRichard
Veteran
Amadeu Pavini Jr. M.Ed
SimDad
Veteran