Internet search giant Google, Inc. has acquired medical device startup Lift Labs for an undisclosed amount.
San Fransisco-based Lift Labs is a startup that makes a tremor-canceling device to help people with Parkinson's disease to cancel the shiver that transfers on to the spoon while eating. The Liftware spoon has proven effective with 70 percent tremor cancellation in clinical trials. The proprietary technology uses an on-board computer to adapt to a user's tremor.
The tremor-canceling device, which costs $295, will continue to be available for sale. It helps improve quality of life for millions of people suffering from Parkinson's disease.
"We're also going to explore how their technology could be used in other ways to improve the understanding and management of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and essential tremor," Google said in a statement.
Essential tremor, characterized by involuntary, rhythmic shaking movement, occurring most often in hands, is a common neurological disorder among adults. An estimated 10 million Americans have essential tremor, according to experts. Though not life-threatening, essential tremor can significantly impact daily activities like writing, eating and getting dressed.
Lift Labs will join the life sciences division of Google (X) fold that is Google's research lab. Google (X) is a moonshot factory full of optimists who are focused on changing the world by seeking out massive unsolved problems that — when solved — will profoundly and positively alter the way we live. Self-driving cars and Google Glass have come out of the Google (X) stable.
Dr. Astro Teller currently oversees Google[x], Google's moonshot factory for building magical, seemingly impossible ideas that through science and technology can be brought to reality.
Google (X) is already working on a medical hardware project called Iris, which is developing a contact lens that measures glucose in tears.
"Google will enable us to reach even more people living with Parkinson's or essential tremor who could benefit from using tremor-canceling devices every day," Lift Labs stated.
GOOG closed Wednesday's regular trading session at $583.10, up $2.09 or 0.36% on a volume of 0.98 million shares.
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