Ralph Hamilton says the Steadi-3 Plus anti-tremor glove has improved his life
For more than 30 years, Ralph Hamilton represented his country around the world as a senior U.S. diplomat. Throughout his distinguished career, he also faced a daily challenge that was often visible to others: Essential Tremor, a neurological condition that caused his hands to shake and could make him appear nervous when speaking to audiences.
The condition runs in his family and affects both hands, making everyday activities — such as writing a note, using a computer mouse, eating soup or working with tools — difficult. Medication provided limited relief and came with side effects.
A year ago, Hamilton discovered the Steadi-3 Plus glove, a wearable device designed to reduce hand tremors in people living with Essential Tremor and Parkinson’s disease. Because Hamilton is right-handed, he wears the glove on his right hand. Developed by Canadian startup Steadiwear, with support from AGE-WELL, the intelligent glove has helped him perform everyday tasks with greater ease and confidence.
“The glove works amazingly well for my tremor,” says Hamilton, now retired and living in Wilmington, North Carolina. “I wish I’d had the glove years ago. It has really improved my quality of life.”
He vividly recalls the first time he used a screwdriver while wearing the device. “My right hand has been useless for 10 years. With the glove, I could actually use a screwdriver with my right hand. Wow! I still shake, but nothing like before putting the device on my hand.”
Today, Hamilton wears the glove for tasks such as handwriting, texting, using a computer mouse and iPad, unloading the dishwasher, doing puzzles and eating out at restaurants. He estimates that it has reduced his tremor by about 90 per cent.
Essential Tremor and Parkinson’s disease are among the world’s most common movement disorders. For many people, the impact extends far beyond difficulty with daily tasks. Studies show that about 30 per cent of people with tremors lose their jobs or retire early because of the condition. In the U.S., where an estimated 10 million people live with Essential Tremor, the annual economic burden is estimated at $142.7 billion.
The Steadi-3 Plus is a lightweight, battery-free wearable that uses a patented magnet-based system inspired by technology that stabilizes buildings during earthquakes. By counteracting a person’s tremor, it helps stabilize the wrist and forearm, reducing unwanted movement.
Steadiwear was founded after CEO Mark Elias, a civil engineer, watched his grandmother struggle with hand tremors. In 2014, he met Emile Maamary, whose family had also been affected by tremors, and together they founded the company the following year.
From prototype to global impact
For Steadiwear, the journey from promising prototype to commercially available product was accelerated through support from AGE-WELL, Canada’s technology and aging network.
Research funding from AGE-WELL in 2016 was “pivotal,” says Elias, helping the team move from laboratory testing to beta testing with people living with tremor. Additional support followed in 2017, when Elias won the AGE-WELL/HACKING HEALTH national ideathon with a pitch that showcased the glove’s potential to restore independence, boost confidence and reduce social isolation.
The Steadi-3 Plus hand stabilizer for tremors
“AGE-WELL’s funding support accelerated a lot of product development in the early days, which allowed us to get a foot in the market earlier and ultimately led to greater commercialization,” says Elias.
Beyond funding, AGE-WELL helped Steadiwear refine prototypes through user feedback, connect with researchers and industry partners, and increase its visibility through AGE-WELL events, media coverage and the network’s AgeTech Innovation Catalogue.
“AGE-WELL has supported Steadiwear through grants that allowed us to build prototypes for user feedback, connected us with multiple networks that shaped our approach to technological development, and introduced us to the right industry partners to take our products to the next level,” says Elias.
“Being part of the AGE-WELL network has made our company have a good standing on the national level, which opens doors,” says Maamary.
Today, the latest model, Steadi-3 Plus, is registered with Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is shipped to more than 150 countries. The glove has benefited approximately 6,500 people. Steadiwear has leveraged AGE-WELL’s early and ongoing support to attract additional investment, helping the company grow and expand its global impact.
In a recent user study of Steadi-3, 84 per cent of users reported significant improvements with their tremors, says Maamary.
“The most rewarding part is being able to support people and give them the confidence, comfort and peace of mind that, even if medication doesn’t work or they’re not eligible for surgery, there is an affordable option out there,” says Maamary. “It brightens our day every single time we hear from someone who is using the glove and regaining their independence.”
For his part, Hamilton says the glove has made “a huge difference.”
“It’s helped improve my life.”