Verily Life Sciences LLC (formerly Google Life Sciences), an Alphabet company, today announced the commercial launch of its second consumer product, the Liftware™ Level, designed to help individuals with limited hand and arm mobility hold a utensil at the angle needed to easily feed themselves.
Liftware Level was designed to help people with limited hand and arm mobility, which may be related to cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, Huntington’s disease or post-stroke deficits, eat more easily. The restricted range of motion associated with these conditions may make it difficult to keep a utensil level while eating. The Liftware Level handle, combined with a spoon or fork attachment, is able to recognize the position of the hand at all times and intelligently adjust the angle of the utensil so users can eat without fear of spilling.
The Liftware Level Starter Kit starts at $195. It comes with the leveling handle, a soup spoon attachment, a travel pouch, a hand strap, and a charger. (Credit: Business Wire)
“One of the greatest pleasures in life is being able to enjoy a meal with friends and family—an activity that some may take for granted,” said Anupam Pathak, creator of Liftware and Technical Lead at Verily. “Liftware Level is a utensil designed to specifically address mealtime struggles facing individuals with limited mobility or range of motion. Designed and developed with significant input from physicians and potential users, we hope this new device will turn the everyday task of eating into a more pleasurable experience for more people living with movement disorders.”
Liftware Level is the second product in the Liftware family. The first Liftware product, Liftware™ Steady, is a computerized stabilizing handle and a selection of similar utensil attachments designed to counteract the effects of hand tremors. Together, the two products provide different solutions for those living with movement disorders.
In conjunction with the launch, the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA), with a charitable contribution from Teva Pharmaceuticals, will commence a donation program that will give free Liftware Level Starter Kits to those in need. Donated devices will be given on a first come, first serve basis to the initial 1,000 individuals that apply through the HDSA website at www.HDSA.org.
“For the estimated 30,000 Americans affected by Huntington’s disease, loss of independence to perform simple daily tasks is devastating,” said Louise Vetter, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. “We believe that the new Liftware Level device will help many more people be empowered to improve their quality of life and truly enjoy mealtime again.”
Liftware Level can be purchased through the company’s online store. The product is available for order as of today, December 1st and is expected to ship before the holidays. The Starter Kit costs $195, and includes the handle, a soup spoon attachment, a carrying pouch, a hand strap, and a battery charger. It ships for free within the United States. A fork attachment can be purchased separately for an additional $35.
