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July 02, 2024 | Tom Ballard

MetaFlex Therapy Glove now used at two VA Medical Centers

Latest development comes after the then team of Tennessee Tech University students developed the concept that won the “Eagle Works Pitch Competition” in 2018.

Téa Phillips, Founder of ATS Innovations Inc., announced on social media that her signature product is now available in Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Centers. She posted that the Butler, PA and Madison, WI VA Medical Centers are deploying the MetaFlex Therapy Glove to help their patients reduce hand pain and improve mobility.

Téa Phillips wearing the glove

As noted in this May 2023 teknovation.biz article, the glove was developed by a team of students during their time at Tennessee Tech University (TTU) in Cookeville. They won several student-focused competitions for the device then known as Hands On including first place and biggest social impact in TTU’s “Eagle Works Pitch Competition” in 2018 (see teknovation.biz article hereand third place in Launch Tennessee’s “Student Pitch Competition” during the 2019 edition of the “3686 Entrepreneurship Festival.”

Phillips was also a finalist in last year’s pitch event during the 2023 “3686” event and, in April of this year, the Upper Cumberland Investment Alliance (UCIA) announced that its first investment was in ATS Innovations to support the development and commercialization of its groundbreaking product.

The MetaFlex Therapy Glove is the first product combining both compression and grip-strengthening into a soft glove that is comfortable to wear day or night. Its compression fabric has been shown to increase circulation which can reduce pain, swelling, and stiffness. The innovative resistance bands work to keep the hand open, so when a person reaches to grab something, the adjustable bands allow individuals to set the resistance to what works best for them. That also strengthens their grip over time.

In addition to serving as Chief Executive Officer of ATS Innovations, she also works part-time as Assistant Director in the TTU Office that manages the institution’s portion of the Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium.



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