The Relentless Drive Behind Innovation: The Perseverance Story of the Standsure Sit-to-Stand Device

Innovation doesn’t happen overnight. Behind every breakthrough product is a journey marked by determination, resilience, and a refusal to give up—even when the odds seem insurmountable. The StandSure therapy aid, a transformative aid in mobility and independence for therapists, patients and carers alike, is one such story.

The Problem Worth Solving

Every day, in hospitals, homes, and care facilities, physiotherapists face the challenge of helping individuals with neuromusculoskeletal disorders transition from a sitting to a standing position; the act of keeping the feet flat on the floor may seem simple to us, but for many is a major battle. Consider the physical strain for the therapist, the risk of falls, and the emotional toll on the patient of not being able to keep their feet grounded. The need for a solution was clear, but turning that need into a reliable, safe, and user-friendly device was anything but easy.

The Importance of Prototyping: Testing, Failing, Learning

The lightbulb moment came when I was working as a community physiotherapist in London; rehabilitating a lady who had hemiplegia following a stroke, she was struggling to keep her foot planted and I had to ask her husband for help. Disgruntled with his role of crouching on the floor holding her foot down he suggested nailing it to the floor would be easier. How can we do this humanely?? And StandSure was born!

One of the most critical phases in the Standsure journey was prototyping. The process didn’t begin with perfection—it began with questions. How can I keep my patient’s feet flat without contorting myself or needing to be an octopus? Could I design something to replicate an extra pair of hands? How can a device be robust enough without being too heavy or bulky? Could it be simple enough for everyday use, yet safe enough for clinical environments? How could it be adaptable for different sized clients? How could we make it easy to keep clean? So many questions!

The first few prototypes were rough assembled from off-the-shelf components. The first attempt was crafted from plywood, onto which we glued my patient’s slippers. It did the job nicely so concept was proven, but I needed a more professional aesthetic. A consultation with a design company proved costly and disappointingly unrealistic. A set of drawings provided a design that was eventually deemed too complicated and expensive and would have cost an estimated £50,000 to tool!

A chance meeting at a trade fair with the HDTI (Health Design and Technology Institute) team from Coventry University was also instrumental in helping to strip the design back to something simple yet effective. At the time I was fortunate enough to qualify for a research grant.

Each prototype revealed what worked, what didn’t, and—most importantly—what could work with refinement.

Prototyping turned abstract ideas into tangible experiences. It enabled real-world testing with patients, therapists and caregivers, where their feedback shaped everything from length and comfort of ankle straps to the placement of the carrying handle. The process was at times moving at the speed of a snail and sometimes not at all; so many times it ended up under the bed with me refusing to look at it. But then another bulb would light up and we would have another go.

In innovation, prototyping isn’t a step, it’s a mindset. It’s about embracing imperfection early so the final product can be strong, safe, and truly effective. You need it to fail so you can make it succeed.

Pushing Past Resistance

The healthcare space is notoriously conservative—and for good reason. Safety and efficacy must be proven, rigorously and repeatedly. Convincing therapists to adopt a new device would mean conducting trials, gathering evidence and showing measurable improvements. It required patience and there were moments when walking away would’ve been the easier choice.

The final partnership with Rehabilitation Manufacturing Supplies (RMS), a UK based firm specialising in medical devices enabled the final push over the production line; I had met them during a product demonstration meeting, started chatting about my prototype and was invited to the factory. After some time I had a manufacturing agreement with them. This pairing enabled me to utilise their materials that had already been rigorously tested, CE marked and classified. With their help a field trial was conducted over 6 months, and numerous prototypes were tested by physios working both privately and within the NHS. Standsure was finally getting the thumbs up from fellow professionals. My first sale was celebrated, and perhaps is the pinnacle of my career, as this was an endorsement that people were prepared to pay for my product. It represents what’s possible when engineers, therapists, caregivers and patients work together. Most importantly, it’s proof that with perseverance, the right solution can be brought to life.

I am now part of the 2025/6 cohort of the Mid and South Essex NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme which offers 12 months of mentoring to help NHS uptake of the product.

A Message to Future Innovators

If you’re on your own path of invention—especially in a space as vital as healthcare—remember this: innovation is a marathon, not a sprint. You’ll need a deep connection to the problem you’re solving. You’ll need to prototype constantly, test honestly, be prepared for failure, network, network, network. And above all, watch the pennies!