Steadiwear has launched its third-generation Steadi-3 glove designed to reduce hand tremors for people living with Essential Tremor and Parkinson’s disease – and nearly half the size and weight of the previous device.
Steadiwear is an AGE-WELL startup affiliate and has received support from the network through the development of its anti-tremor glove. Steadi-3 is registered with Health Canada and the FDA and is now available for pre-order in Canada and the U.S. at https://steadiwear.com/ for delivery in early 2025.
“Our team is driven to create technology that gives people with hand tremors back their independence. Steadi-3 is a significant step towards this vision—and we’re incredibly excited to launch it,” says Mark Elias, CEO of Steadiwear. “We designed Steadi-3 specifically so it’s more effective and more comfortable to wear for users.”
When Elias saw his grandmother spilling coffee on herself because of her hand tremors, he made it his mission to develop a solution. He applied his expertise in vibration mechanics, used for stabilizing buildings during earthquakes, to create a device to help people with tremors. In 2015, Elias co-founded Steadiwear with Emile Maamary, Chief Marketing Officer, whose grandparent also has hand tremors. The Canadian startup launched Steadi-1 in 2019, followed by Steadi-2 in 2021.
Like Steadi-2, Steadi-3 is a battery-free device that incorporates a novel magnet-based system that moves in the opposite direction of a person’s tremor, designed to stabilize the wrist and forearm and minimize tremors. The glove’s overall size has been reduced by nearly half, the weight has decreased from 550 grams to 275 grams, and it can target a much larger band of tremor frequencies.
Maamary explains, “The user feedback for Steadi-3 has been positive across the board. In our study of the new device, 85 per cent of users reported significant improvements with their tremors because of the Steadi-3 technology.”
People with hand tremors can face challenges eating, drinking, dressing, handwriting and using a cell phone or computer, along with many other activities in their personal and professional lives. An estimated 10 million Americans have Essential Tremor, affecting people of all ages. Studies show that 30 per cent of people with tremors lose their jobs or retire early because of their condition.
Betty Faulkner of St. Albert, Alberta has lived with Essential Tremor for more than 50 years. Her tremors have slowly limited her daily activities more and more over time. A retired federal government auditor, Faulkner faced career roadblocks going out to audit businesses with her visible tremors. She made the tough decision mid-career to shift to office work doing problem resolution for auditors who engaged with businesses on-site.
Through the years, Faulkner tried prescription medications to manage her tremors without significant results. But it wasn’t until she was introduced to Steadiwear that she had a solution to stop her hand from shaking. Faulkner started using Steadi-1 in 2020 and has beta-tested every version, including the new Steadi-3.
“I love it – it’s fantastic,” says Faulkner about the new Steadi-3. “The glove just gets better with each version.”
The ‘intelligent’ glove allows Faulkner to do activities she hasn’t done in years, like put on make-up, cook, handwrite, and eat soup.
Faulkner explains, “Steadi-3 gives me freedom and confidence to do things I haven’t done in a long a time. I have more use of my fingers and can wear it for a longer period because it’s smaller and lighter.”
