2025 Innovation Lab Entries

We welcome submissions from any of the following areas:

• Assistive Technology: equipment for accessing communication devices, computers, smart phones, tablets and other technology.
• Environmental Modifications: environmental equipment for improving independence and safety in the home, community, or work environment
• ADL & IADL: equipment for increasing independence in ADLs (bathing, toileting, dressing, eating, grooming, sleep, & sexual health), IADLs (caregiving, community mobility, financial management, health management, meal preparation, & shopping)
• Mobility, Seating & Positioning: equipment and modifications for assistive devices and/or facilitating mobility (includes ambulation and wheelchair mobility), posture, or body position
• Sports & Recreation:  equipment for use in sports/recreation activities .

Submissions under other categories will also be assessed.

Submission Categories:

• High-Tech Category: Creating this device requires use of high-level technology or machines, which may not be available to all clinicians, for example: 3D design software and/or 3D printers, and welding machinery.
• Low-Tech Category: Creating this device requires access to basic materials available to most clinicians, for example: thermoplastic material, basic power or hand tools, and standard hardware.

Judging Process:

All submissions will be reviewed by the TLC Board based on the following judging criteria, on a 1-5 point scale:

• Practicality: How easy is it for the client to learn to utilize the equipment and use it successfully?
• Cost: How does it compare to commercially available options in the same category?
• Innovation: How novel is the device?
• Replication: How easy would it be for most SCI clinicians to re-create the device?
• Durability: Can it be used regularly without breaking down?
• Style/Design: How is the aesthetic appeal of the device?

In the event of a numerical tie, the TLC board will be responsible for deliberating and selecting winners. The top six rated submissions (three from the high-tech category, three from the low-tech category) will be invited to present their device at the 2025 ASCIP Conference during a scheduled presentation time and display their device in the Expo Hall.

After the presentation, conference attendees will vote for their favorite piece of equipment to select a “People’s Choice” Winner. A panel of clinician peers will also select two winners, one from the high-tech category, one from the low-tech category. The winners of “People’s Choice” and the low tech and high tech peer panels will receive 1 waived conference fee per category for the 2026 ASCIP Conference.

Other Important Information:

Submissions cannot change the structure or integrity of any currently manufactured piece of DME or equipment.

Equipment that has already been commercialized cannot be submitted. The application must include instructions for how to replicate the device. All submissions will be available for ASCIP members to view to help share knowledge that can improve the lives of individuals with SCI.

Conference presentations must include a <2 minute video of the client and/or end user using the device that must be uploaded to YouTube; teams are responsible for obtaining permission from clients based on their organization’s standards and policies.

If you are submitting something that is 3D designed, we ask that you submit your .stl file too so that it could be shared for replication. If you are submitting something that involves programming or circuity, we ask that this file or instructions be submitted as well.

Multiple people can be listed on one submission if a team approach was utilized to create the device; however, each team member is only allowed to submit one application for one device.

Applicants who submitted last year are welcome to submit again, however it MUST be for a different device.

The top six finalists chosen by the Innovation Lab Committee will commit to attending conference to present their device. Or the presenter must submit a full narrated PowerPoint presentation to the organizer if they cannot attend the live conference.  All applicants will be notified shortly after the submission deadline of  June 2, 2025.  ASCIP will not provide financial assistance to attend the conference.

Winners will receive a waived fee to attend the 2026 ASCIP Conference. In the event that a winner cannot use their waived fee for 2026, it can be transferred to a colleague; however, the waived fee cannot be transferred to another year.

Submission Instructions:

The application includes: contact info of inventor team (identify the lead person), category of submission, title of device,

The application includes: contact info of inventor team (identify the lead person), category of submission, title of device, a brief description on how the device meets the judging criteria, consent to share instructions/materials/video to public so device can be replicated by others.

Additional files can be emailed as an attachment to Atom Young or Rachael Houtman.