How Watching My Grandmother Inspired a New Arthritis Solution
Sometimes the most impactful innovations come from observing the everyday struggles of those closest to us. For Téa Phillips, founder of ATS Innovations and inventor of the Metaflex glove, the journey from engineering student to medical device innovator began with watching her grandmother's hands.
The Personal Connection
"My grandma had really bad arthritis and I watched her lose her mobility," Phillips shares. This personal connection became more than just inspiration – it became her driving force. "That's why this felt so important to me to bring to market." The impact of watching a loved one lose their ability to do what they love created a deep sense of purpose that would carry her through the challenges ahead.
Engineering Solutions for Arthritis Pain
As a mechanical engineering student at Tennessee Tech University, Phillips discovered her opportunity to make a difference. "We found compression and grip strengthening were two of the most recommended therapies that were non-medicinal," she explains. "Like opioids, just a holistic way to manage pain. And compression was easy enough, but people weren't doing their grip strengthening exercises because it's burdensome and it's time consuming."
This insight led to a breakthrough idea: "We made a wearable grip strengthener that allows you to build that strength, build that mobility, flexibility, range of motion as you're going about your day." For those interested in learning more about hand health and mobility, Phillips' team has created comprehensive guides on topics like managing carpal tunnel syndrome and staying active in cold weather.
The bands mimic the placement of EXTENSOR tendons, that provide passive resistance against the flexion for strengthening. When used to stretch, the bands helps the fingers extend, which helps manage many pathologies that may help prevent or delay more invasive options. (Trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, dupuytren's, amongst many others).
Understanding the Need For Compression Gloves
The innovation wasn't just about the technology – it was about creating a solution people would actually use. Phillips developed a device with:
* Resistance bands sewn into the fingertips that run the length of the fingers
* Natural hand motion design that mimics tendons
* Gentle resistance during hand closure to build strength during daily activities
* Compression features to help with circulation, pain, swelling, and stiffness
Learn how these features work together.
From Concept to Reality
Taking this concept from a university project to a market-ready product required more than just technical expertise. "I have something that I'm really passionate about and I have like a purpose and a reason for doing this," Phillips reflects. This sense of purpose drove her forward, even when facing challenges.
"This is the hardest job I've ever had," she admits candidly. "And I went to engineering school and got my way through that. And this is way more difficult because there's not a roadmap. Everybody is doing this differently and there's a million ways to do it."
Beyond the Original Vision
What started as a solution for arthritis has evolved far beyond its initial purpose. "We got it to market last year as a way to help people with arthritis and it's helped so many more people like atheletes and our users are using it in ways that I didn't expect," Phillips shares excitedly. "Like half of our users are using it to sleep to just keep their fingers extended during the night."
The impact has been profound. "I've got customers that say, 'Thank you. You changed my life. I can sleep at night. This is a miracle.' And it's kind of mind blowing to me to read those, but it's also like the fuel that keeps me going," she says. "If I hadn’t made something that was having such a big impact on people's lives, then I don't know if I'd still be on this journey."
The Power of Personal Connection in Innovation
Phillips' journey demonstrates how personal connection to a problem can drive innovative solutions. Instead of choosing an easier path – "I'd probably be making six figures as an engineer working for some large company" – she chose to pursue her passion project "on this mission to reinvent healthcare."
Her story offers a powerful lesson for aspiring innovators: sometimes the most meaningful solutions come from deeply personal experiences. As Phillips puts it, "I don't want to just share the highlights. I want to be real. I want people to know what it takes to do what I'm doing." It's this combination of personal motivation, technical expertise, and genuine desire to help others that can turn an observation about a grandmother's struggles into a medical innovation helping thousands of people maintain their quality of life and independence.
Ready to learn more about the Metaflex glove? Discover how this innovative solution might help you or someone you love.