Scoliosis is a medical condition where a person's spine has an abnormal curve, resulting in difficulty of movement and pain. Occurring most often during the growth spurt just before puberty, an afflicted child's spine can adopt a "C" or "S" curve that may get more severe over time. Current methods for treating scoliosis include surgery, casting, and bracing. Bracing is typically used when growth is still occurring and attempts to curb movement of the spine so that surgery is not necessary. The braces used today are variations of individually-fitted devices that are limited by their rigid nature. This technology introduces a dynamic brace that has force sensors and motorized structures to adapt to the user. The brace consists of 3 or 4 concentric rings connected either by mechanically driven pistons or a cable assembly. Data from pressure sensors located around the rings are sent to a small, portable computer which determines the force necessary to correct the spine. This self-adjusting brace may provide better treatment options with potentially minimal side effects for scoliosis patients.
The design principle behind current spine braces is to provide pressure against specific areas of the torso to align the spine and promote normal growth in scoliosis patients. Since puberty is the most effective time to start using the brace, current fitted, non-adjustable braces have to be remade for individuals as they outgrow each personalized device. The rigid, plastic braces wrap around most of the torso, restricting daily activities and causing localized pain or skin irritation. Furthermore, the passive forces of these braces don't provide perfect spine correction as the spine changes over time. This technology is an active brace with a flexible design that would not require the patient to get a new device during growth. The communication systems in this brace would restrict movement in directions to treat scoliosis, but allow movement for daily activities. Meanwhile, the less intrusive design of the brace may fit more comfortably on the patient. The force sensors on the brace may also provide real-time data to map patient progress over time for personalized treatments as well as clinical studies. Thus, this dynamic brace offers numerous advantages over currently used braces in the treatment of scoliosis.
Schematic and mathematical models for this dynamic brace has been designed and tested. A proof of concept model of this technology with a 3-ring brace structure has been constructed and tested for the degrees-of-freedom allowed and movement of the brace.
Tech Ventures Reference: IR CU14307