Project description
A soft electronics device digitises the custom fit of orthotics
Orthotic devices, from the Greek ‘orthos’ meaning straight, are used to correct abnormalities in the human musculoskeletal system. They support a plethora of conditions including cerebral palsy, stroke, spinal cord or brain injury and multiple sclerosis. Until now, fitting orthotic devices was typically done manually by a trained technician. The Austrian SME sendance has developed a thin, stretchable sensor matrix that can be seamlessly integrated onto the surfaces of orthotic devices to provide accurate digital information relating to the fit. It is supported by a cloud-based data collection and analysis platform. The EU-funded SoftDesign_Orthotic project will aid the team in optimising the technology and preparing its commercialisation.
Objective
Custom-made orthotic devices such as orthoses, shoes, insoles, and prosthesis shafts are a central feature of orthotic therapy. It is estimated that 1-2% of the whole population are at some time in need of such an orthotic device, and about 1% of the global healthcare budget is spent on orthotic therapy.
Usually, an orthotic technician still produces these by hand and fits them by feel, visual inspection, and verbal feedback from the patient, if available.
sendance offers a complete solution to manufacturers of custom-made orthotic devices that enables them to digitize their products. The three components of this solution are:
sendance-grid: a thin, conformable and permeable sensor matrix called sendance-grid can be seamlessly integrated in the surface of the orthosis. This groundbreaking solution in the field of stretchable electronics enables for the first time a quantitative analysis of the fit of custom-made orthotic devices.
sendance-cloud: sendance provides an integrated software solution called sendance-cloud for managing and visuaizing the data gathered by the sendance-grids. The data collection in the sendance-cloud is the basis for Big-Data-Analysis that can help to optimize orthotic therapy.
sendance-services: the sendance-services provide assistance to patients, orthotic technicians and orthopedists with warnings and recommendations based on the data in the sendance-cloud.
In the framework of the Women TechEU, the CTO Dr. Yana Vereshchaga with assistance of the COO Dr. Daniela Wirthl will head a project to
- make a valid project plan for the sendance-cloud and sendance-service products
- create mockup demonstrators
- draft a roadmap for medical product regulations
- set up a first implementation of a quality management system according to ISO13485
Additonally, they will improve their business, project management and leadership skills in order to support their move from university science into leading positions in a dynamic start-up environment.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologyimplants
- engineering and technologymedical engineeringwearable medical technology
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.3.2 - European innovation ecosystems Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support ActionsCoordinator
4040 LINZ
Austria
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.