Our correspondent Valérie Gauriat met with Dessintey, a startup located in Saint-Étienne that has grown into a worldwide leader in medical rehabilitation.

Established in 2017, Dessintey specializes in developing neuroscience-based motor rehabilitation platforms, including its signature devices centered on mirror therapy. “We capture the patient’s unaffected limb on video and invert the image, allowing the patient to visualize movement in their paralysed limb again,” explains Davy Luneau, co-founder and product specialist. “This type of visual feedback supports brain plasticity and assists motor function recovery.”

The user base is diverse, covering stroke survivors, individuals with neurodegenerative illnesses, paraplegics, tetraplegics, as well as amputees.

“Originally, the device was tested for research purposes,” notes Professor Pascal Giraux, head of adult rehabilitation at CHU Saint-Étienne and a co-founder of Dessintey.

“The company was created to expand access to these therapies for a larger number of patients, as no existing firms had the capacity to industrialize such equipment.”

In addition to mirror therapy, Dessintey has developed multiple advanced rehabilitation platforms that incorporate connected devices and interactive gaming technologies.

Currently, the company distributes its products across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, generating nearly €10 million in annual revenue. “Our network of regional partners enhances our efficiency in developing new products,” states Nicolas Fournier, the third co-founder and CEO.

“We compete with technologies originating from the United States, while new competitors are emerging from Asia. The only approach to maintain leadership and thrive is through continuous innovation,” he concludes.