Saphten

Para qué sirve

This dynamic anti-spastic orthosis manufactured by 3D printing from recycled plastics, helps the patient to be able to perform physiotherapy treatment on his / her own.

Qué te inspiró

In addition to Industrial Designer, I am a physiotherapist, and the last clinic where I was, we treated patients with neurological diseases, therefore, spasticity was one of the pathologies that I have seen the most during my career. Talking to patients about their orthoses, the damage they caused, how uncomfortable it was to adjust them, and how frustrating it was not being able to adjust them according to their needs at any time, I realized that this field needed to be worked on.

Cómo funciona

This orthosis works through a bidirectional millimeter system designed to be printed also in 3D, which when turning for a side tenses a cable causing a dorsal flexion of the wrist. If it is turned to the opposite side, the dorsiflexion is reduced, therefore the muscular tension would be reduced if the patient needed it. In the middle of the wrist has a kind of accordion that was designed to allow the flexes without having to make a mechanism of several pieces. In this way, installation and manufacturing is much more comfortable and effective.

Proceso de diseño

During the design I was advised by the director of the Neurological Physiotherapy Clinic in which I previously worked to try to do it as accurately as possible. Many ergonomics tests have been carried out to adapt the arm as comfortably as possible, cushioning the possible areas of pressure to avoid damage, and it would be made to measure for each patient through a 3D scan of his arm. . For the design of the millimeter closing system, the tests that had to be performed were infinite so that it really worked in both directions and was comfortable so that one could regulate it.

Qué lo hace diferente

It is the first antispastic orthosis that has a bidirectional millimeter closure system. What makes it much more comfortable and accurate. You really only have to look for what there is right now in the market to realize that it is a considerable advance, since the rest of dynamic orthoses present infinity of pieces, quite a variety of materials, including metal, plastics, rubbers, glues. . And also, whenever they need to adjust it, they have to go to the physiotherapy clinic for a professional to do it, since the process is very complicated. Saphten is designed for underdeveloped countries, in which simply with a 3D printer, patients can have an infinity of customized orthoses, easy to assemble and adjust. It is also the first bidirectional millimeter locking system printed in 3D and had never been applied in an anti-spastic orthosis.

Planes para el futuro

In the future, I would like to continue developing it since it still lacks certain aspects to solve, such as including the thumb in the millimeter adjustment to avoid the hand in claw. It has been highly praised by all the professionals in the sector who have come to know the product, so it would be great to be able to make it a reality and thus improve the lives of people with this type of pathology.

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