Success Stories

Innovation in Fluoridation Technology Promises Improvements in Oral Health

With Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) SBIR Program support, KC Industries (KCI) has developed a fluoridation tablet and feeder system for water systems unable to use traditional fluoridation equipment due to cost or operation limitations. Typically small water systems serving rural communities have more resource and capability constraints. This innovative technology will offer tens of thousands of smaller public water systems the ability to provide the benefits of water fluoridation to communities in need.

Community water fluoridation is the process of adjusting the amount of fluoride found in water to achieve the optimal level for prevention of tooth decay. Drinking fluoridated water keeps teeth strong, reducing cavities by about 25% in children and adults. By preventing cavities, community water fluoridation has been shown to save money for families and for the US health care system. It is an equitable and effective way to deliver fluoride to all community members, regardless of age, education, or income.

Today, more than 34,000 community water systems in the United States do not provide fluoridated drinking water to their customers…

Transforming the Way that Patients Recover from Surgery or Injury with At-home, Virtual Physical Therapy

Each year, approximately 30% of adults ages 65 years and older fall, and 20-30% of those falls result in serious injury. For community-dwelling older adults, exercise that improves leg strength and balance is one of the most effective interventions to prevent a fall. However, only few evidence-based exercise programs proven effective at improving strength and reducing falls are available to the public. Reflexion Health, a digital healthcare company based in San Diego, developed an FDA-cleared Virtual Exercise Rehabilitation Assistant (VERA™) that partners with clinicians to bring physical therapy into the home and give clinicians tools to remotely monitor patient progress beyond the traditional in-clinic setting. Older adults who use VERA™ have the convenience of completing physical therapy in the comfort of their home environment, at a time that works best for them.

After CDC SBIR Program support, VERA™ is currently being implemented in various adult living communities and assisted living facilities…