Studies show VR based digital therapeutic reduced injection pain in children aged 4 – 11 by up to 60% and anxiety by up to 40%.
Fantastic results for Smileyscope a virtual reality injection pain management device for kids that recently received FDA clearance.
It helps lessen the pain of a blood draw or IV insertion by sending the user on an underwater adventure that begins with a welcome from an animated character called Poggles the Penguin. Inside this watery deep-sea reality, the cool swipe of an alcohol wipe becomes cool waves washing over the arm. The pinch of the needle becomes a gentle fish nibble.
By repurposing the actual physical stimuli, Smileyscope effectively blocks pain signals at a significantly higher rate than a pure distraction model, like a VR beach scene.
In keeping with the DeepWell DTx model for medicinal media, the patient/player becomes most bio-availabile to the digital therapeutic when the treatment mechanism is embedded in a narrative based game mechanic.
In other words, the therapeutic experience must make sense to the patient in terms of the immersive experience to maximize the treatment effect.
Awesome work Team Simleyscope! Kiddos everywhere will be experiencing much less needle pain and fear, ðŸ‘ðŸ¼â™¥ï¸ bringing some welcome relief for patients, parents and practitioners. 😃
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