Custom 3D printed braces for scoliosis treatment

Because the braces could be completely customized, based on the shape of the patient’s body as well as their corrective needs, they were both more efficient and more comfortable for the patient to wear.

3D Systems Unveils 3D printed Bespoke Braces for Chronic Condition Scoliosis. 3DS’s personalized medical device team working in collaboration with Dr. James Policy, MD of Stanford University and Robert Jensen, CPO, tested 22 patients at Children’s Hospital of Oakland. Across the board, patients responded favourably to the enhanced aesthetics of the brace as never before seen with traditional braces, and reported strong levels of wear and compliance.

By Brian Krassenstein, 3dprint.com September 8, 2015

The medical applications for 3D printing continue to expand, encompassing numerous areas within both internal and external medicine. For instance, we’ve seen dozens of different 3D printed medical implants, as well as 3D models used for surgical preparation, and of course we also have seen the vast array of external 3D printed devices such as braces and prostheses.

Last June the Rock Hill, South Carolina-based company, 3D Systems, unveiled their bespoke back braces which were entirely 3D printed and used to correct the curvature of the spine caused by severe scoliosis. Because the braces could be completely customized based on the shape of the patient’s body as well as their corrective needs, they were both more efficient and more comfortable for the patient to wear.

Here we are a little over a year after 3D Systems unveiled their innovative new braces, and now the Chinese are looking into the technology to treat similar conditions which include mild to moderate scoliosis.

The braces currently used in the medical field are clunky, uncomfortable, large and do not allow for the circulation of air. Considering that the braces are supposed to be worn for the majority of the day, these issues often lead children to find ways to remove them.

Embarrassment is often a reason that kids take their braces off, as they protrude out of clothing, and oftentimes other children poke fun at these abnormalities. 3D printing, however, can overcome almost all of the shortcomings of current corrective braces, and that’s just what Dr. Hans-Rudolf Weiss MD and Orthopedic Surgeon in Gensingen, Germany has been working on with Chinese researchers at the National Rehabilitation Aids Research Center in Beijing.

They have been able to utilize 3D printing to create customizable braces, which are slimly fit to the patient’s body and possess intricate patterns to increase air flow, while reducing the buildup of heat. The braces are fabricated using thermoplastics, making them incredibly light, but also strong enough to support the realignment of the patient’s back, as well as all the activities that children are used to taking to part in.

Dr. Weiss along with the National Rehabilitation Aids Research Center are continuing to develop these braces even further, making them more robust, lighter, and less noticeable. It’s research like this which continues to surprise many within the medical field, gradually driving additional funding towards the space. Let us know your thoughts on Dr. Weiss’ work and what these braces will ultimately mean for those suffering from Scholiosis.

While minor cases of scoliosis tend to go untreated and unnoticed (simply causing the person minor discomfort), severe cases are faced with significant treatment procedures as the only way to reach a normal posture. Traditional treatment includes physical therapy, bracing, casting, and in the most extreme cases surgery. Bracing, one of the more common treatments, is used to keep the spine in its place, and can even gradually reduce the degree of curvature. Of course, the quality and accuracy of the brace, as well as the ability to adjust the brace is paramount to a proper treatment. 3ders.org

Discuss in the 3D Printed Back Brace forum thread on 3DPB.com.

Source 3dprint.com

References

Workflow of CAD / CAM Scoliosis Brace Adjustment in Preparation Using 3D Printing, Weiss HR, Tournavitis N, Nan X, Borysov M, Paul L. Open Med Inform J. 2017 Oct 24;11:44-51. doi: 10.2174/1874431101711010044. Full text, PDF

Bracing scoliosis: the evolution to CAD/CAM for improved in-brace corrections, Weiss HR, Seibel S, Moramarco M, Kleban A. Hard Tissue 2013 Nov 25;2(5):43.