About The Ohio State University Spine Research Institute
The Ohio State University Spine Research Institute (SRI) is a pioneer in adapting a variety of innovative technologies into the medical market. They run the world’s largest motion capture facility of its kind and have created a variety of highly sensitive monitoring devices. Their goal is to find better ways to understand, categorize, and assist in treating spine and neck injuries. They worked with Switchbox to assist them with developing a best in class software application to process medical data.
Client
Ohio State University Spine Research Institute
Website
The Challenge: No Objective Way to Measure Neck Health
Despite decades of clinical research, healthcare professionals still face a major diagnostic gap: there are virtually no objective, real-time metrics to assess neck and spine disorders.
This lack of data creates problems at multiple levels:
- Clinicians struggle to accurately diagnose and monitor neck pain over time
- Employers can’t effectively evaluate the impact of workplace ergonomics or injury prevention programs
- Patients are often left with generic treatment plans and unclear recovery timelines
The Spine Research Institute (SRI) at The Ohio State University set out to solve this problem with a first-of-its-kind prototype that could quantify neck movement using wearable sensor technology.
The Solution: A Wearable Sensor Platform with Real-Time Motion Data and Digital Health Tracking
Partnering with Switchbox, SRI developed a digital health prototype to capture, analyze, and deliver functional, quantifiable metrics of cervical spine motion using wearable inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors.
Key elements of the solution included:
- A user-friendly software application that collects and processes sensor data in real time
- Digital forms and metadata capture tools to integrate clinical questionnaires and other relevant inputs
- Custom mounting hardware designed for quick, reliable sensor placement across a variety of body types—lightweight, flexible, comfortable, and production-ready
- A back-end system built for accuracy, reliability, and scalability, positioning the platform for clinical and commercial use
This prototype marks a shift in how neck injuries can be diagnosed and tracked—not through assumptions or subjective reports, but through real, reproducible movement data.
The Outcome: 10x Funding and a Clear Path to Commercialization
After successfully completing all technical requirements for the Department of Defense Phase I grant, SRI and Switchbox were selected for Phase II funding—at 10 times the original investment.
The Phase II initiative will focus on:
- Evolving the prototype into a scalable, enterprise-grade platform
- Developing clinically actionable metrics for medical providers and occupational health decision-makers
- Positioning the system for future regulatory approval and widespread adoption
This collaboration is pushing forward a new era of precision diagnostics in musculoskeletal health—where software, sensors, and science converge to improve care.
The Technology & Services Involved in this Effort
IoT Custom Device
Product Configuration
Prototyping
Data Integration
Workflow Management
Custom Reporting
Process Management
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