Smileyscope uses clinically tested Virtual Reality technology to reduce stress in pediatric needles, with clinically proven results. Before Smileyscope joins the Health Horizon Innovation Alley at the World Hospital Congress in October, we spoke about the benefits offered by Smileyscope.
What is your health innovation? What does it aim to do?
Our virtual reality program improves pediatric needle procedures by taking the child on an underwater experience that follows the procedure. For example, there are fish that come and nibble at avatar arms while the needle is being inserted.
How is your innovation relevant to hospitals?
Smileyscope was developed by clinicians for clinicians. Our first VR solution keeps children calm and still for needles, making it safer and easier for clinicians to perform the procedure.
What challenges have you come up against in developing your health innovation? What motivated you to keep going?
Using scientific principles, we reviewed over 12,000 papers, performed hundreds of user tests, and embedded the best clinical and digital practice in our virtual reality product. We scientifically tested this in the world’s largest clinical trial in pediatric needles. This study confirms that our virtual reality adventure makes needles better for children.
What is one thing the public could do to help your innovation to succeed?
If parents are wanting to reduce their child’s anxiety, they can raise awareness of Smileyscope by requesting it for their child’s procedures. This will increase demand and promote the product to health services that may not be aware of it.
What is the next step for your innovation?
We are currently developing other virtual reality programs for use in pediatrics.
What are the benefits of developing your innovation in Australia?
We are an Australian company and our staff are all clinicians who understand and have relationships in the local healthcare environment.
Smileyscope is one of twelve Australian health innovations being showcased by Health Horizon at the 2018 World Hospital Congress in Brisbane. Find out more about our diverse Innovation Alley cohort here.
Heading to WHC? Be sure to check out the Health Horizon Innovation Alley Stands 65–70. Chat and learn more about our great cohort, search our 1000+ database of Australian innovations, and add your own innovations to our growing global database.