Is it comfortable?
Our belt has been designed with older adults (65+) who are fearful of falling, and/or curtail their activities due to falling. During design, development and testing, we worked with residents in long-term care and post-acute settings on the form, fit, and features, and amassed over 200,000 hours of wear showing a high rate of belt usage.
Will deployment of the belt cause any additional injuries?
We are using a “stored (non-flammable) gas” airbag which is designed to be worn on the body. In-house testing has shown that the belt reduces ground impact forces at the hip*.
*Test data on file internally.
Does the belt come in different sizes?
Yes, 5 sizes which cover the 5th to 95th percentile of the US older adult population. The belt can be adjusted within each size for optimal fit.
How does the belt work?
Most simply, the belt uses 3D motion sensors to determine out-of-control motions that don’t exist in balanced human movements and would result in a serious, hip-impacting fall. We call our patented technology “fall disambiguation,” and we utilize machine learning to continually refine it.
Is the belt showerproof?
The belt is water-resistant, however, the belt cannot be submerged or used while showering.
Can the belt be cleaned?
The belt can be cleaned using a premoistened, non-bleach germicidal wipe*.
*Cleaning test data on file internally.
Can the belt be used for other activities?
The belt is designed to be used with older adults. It is not intended for use with sport-type or fast-moving activities.
Can people sleep in it?
Yes. Many wearers find the belt comfortable enough to sleep in, as long as they are not stomach sleepers. Others find it practical to charge the belt on their bedside table and put the belt on before getting out of bed or going to the bathroom.
Can the belt be worn under clothes or concealed?
Yes, the belt can be worn under a shirt/sweater/jacket that is not tucked in.
Is the belt reusable?
Deployment of the airbag is a normal function of the Tango Belt. For perspective, the Tango Belt contains advanced software which deploys the airbag in motions. When the airbag deploys, the Tango Belt cannot be reused.
Is the belt heavy?
The belt weighs around 2lbs, and when properly fit is nearly unnoticeable as it rests on the hips. It is widely regarded as very comfortable.
Can the belt function similarly to an alert pendant and send notifications?
When connected to the facility WiFi, the belt has a button that can be pressed to call for help, and it will automatically notify caregivers in the event of a fall with airbag deployment.
Will it still work if it’s not connected to WiFi?
Yes, when off-network, it will still work, however, it requires WiFi for sending notifications.
How long does the battery last?
The belt’s battery will last most users up to 7 days between recharging.
How long does it take to size a new user?
Setup and sizing is similar to getting fit for a pair of crutches: Measure user to determine the appropriate belt size, and adjust the sizing strap. Sizing can be done in a matter of minutes.
Can the Tango Belt be used in conjunction with a gait belt?
The Tango Belt should not be used stand-alone as a gait belt, but can be worn adjacent to a gait belt.
Is the belt reimbursable by insurance/Medicare?
Not yet, but we are working with several large insurers due to the economic and quality-of-life benefits of the belt.
Is the belt dangerous?
The belt uses a cold gas inflator designed for wearable safety applications. It does not use an inflation source like many traditional automotive airbags.
What are bundled payments, and how are they relevant to the belt?
Bundled payments are a risk-sharing program designed by CMS (Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services) in an effort to save money by financially motivating providers to deliver efficient, succinct care, and drastically reduce readmission rates. Facilities that show above average patient outcome measures may get additional referrals from providers in this partnership, among other benefits.
Additional Information
What is a hip fracture?
A hip fracture is not actually a fracture of the pelvis, but most commonly a fracture of the upper portion of the thigh bone. This typically happens in three main areas: the femoral head and neck, the greater and lesser trochanters, or the subtrochanteric region. (Source: Cleveland Clinic (2021, January 21). Disease & Conditions. Hip Fracture. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17101-hip-fracture)
Doesn’t the hip break before the fall?
This is almost never the case. Multiple studies have confirmed that up to 96% of hip fractures occur due to a fall from standing height. (Source: Parker, M. T. (1997) Spontaneous Hip Fracture. Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica, 68 (4): 325 – 326)
How effective is hip protection?
Large clinical trials and a Cochrane Review has been conducted on hip pads proving their effectiveness when worn. The Kannus study published in the New England Journal of Medicine had 1400 participants, and was able to reduce hip fractures by 84% when padding was worn. Our airbag was designed to have greater coverage than the pad utilized in that study.