Abilitech Medical

About Abilitech Medical

Abilitech Medical, Inc. is a medical device company, founded in 2016 by Angie Zavoral Conley, that develops assistive technology for individuals with upper-limb weakness due to neuromuscular conditions. Conley, who serves as the company's CEO, leveraged her previous experience at Medtronic and as executive director at the nonprofit Magic Arms to establish Abilitech. Her experience seeing children with rare medical conditions use a 3D-printed exoskeleton inspired her to create a more advanced solution for a broader patient population.

The company's flagship product is the Abilitech Assist, a powered orthotic device that provides functional assistance to both the elbow and shoulder. It is designed for patients with conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), muscular dystrophy (MD), and spinal cord injuries. The Abilitech Assist is a wearable, sleeve-like device supported by a vest, which uses a hybrid system of springs, motors, and software to augment the user's residual strength. This allows users to perform activities of daily living, such as eating, drinking, and using a computer. The device is calibrated for each user and has programmable settings to provide the right amount of assistance for lifting objects weighing up to 12 ounces.

Abilitech Medical operates on a business model centered on the sale of its medical devices. The company works with clinicians, caregivers, and patients, and also assists customers with the insurance reimbursement process, although obtaining coverage has seen mixed results. The product is listed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has received a Medical Device Establishment License (MDEL) from Health Canada, allowing for its sale in Canada. The company has secured significant funding through various rounds, including investments from Sofia Fund and DEFTA Partners, to support commercialization and further research.