Milan spin-out improving communications for disabled people

13 May 2007 | News | Update from Politecnico di Milano
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SXT, a spin-out company from the Politecnico di Milano, will develop and commercialize wearable products for measuring and monitoring biological signals and parameters as well as highly versatile aid and assistance accessories for the communications of disabled people.

The core business of SXT is the implementation of a monitoring system based on a patent owned by Politecnico di Milano. The company was established to “bring to the market some previous know-how for technical solutions to wearable monitoring sensors for sports, fitness and rehabilitation, as well as assistance technology for disabled people,” said co-founder Giuseppe Andreoni.

The company uses proprietary technology for the measurement of cardiac output based on impedance electrocardiography in order to measure different physiological effects such as breathing and cardiac output.

The first product to be commercialized was PHEDRA, a wearable hand-held polygraphic device which is able to measure multiple signals and transmit through wireless technologies Bluetooth® and ZigBee®.  The product provides “good results with both standard and textile electrodes,” explained Andreoni. “Our textile partners provide the sensor materials so that we can create complete wearable solutions, such as sensorised t-shirts.  The technology ensures real polygraphic measurement.  Other technologies mainly monitor cardiographic and respiratory signals, this is the first attempt to integrate all signals into one device, thereby providing a new way of monitoring.”

“The company has recently launched two lines of research,” continued Andreoni, “The first line is in technological improvement to add new signals to be measured.  We are looking for project assistance from the Lombardi region as well as technology development.  The second line is in the fusion of monitoring applications for non-standard situations, for example to monitor athlete performance in professional soccer teams, monitor astronauts and participants of speleological expeditions.”  SXT is also developing custom solutions for specific needs.

SXT was established in Milan in 2006 and currently employs seven people.

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