Developing novel ankle and foot orthoses for common conditions

Project leader

Prof Kenneth Dalgarno

Dates

October 2009 to September 2013

Sponsors

Commission of the European Communities

Partners

AnyBody Technology AS, Denmark

Firefly Orthoses Limited, Ireland

Junquera y Diz S.L, Spain

Peacocks Medical Group, UK

RSScan Limited, Belgium

UAB Baltic Orthoservice, Lithuania

K.H. Kempen University College, Belgium

Maastricht University Medical Centre, Netherlands

Fontys University, Netherlands

Materialise NV, Belgium

TNO, Netherlands

Description

The project developed novel ankle/foot and foot orthoses for common disabling conditions. These orthoses are cost-effective, high-speed to market, and personalised for form and function.

Disabling foot and ankle conditions affect approximately 200 million European citizens. Europe spends €300M per annum treating many of these people with orthoses and splints.

They often rely on hand-crafted manufacturing techniques. These are slow, costly and difficult to reproduce.

The A-FOOTPRINT approach aimed to automate processes. This speeds up the manufacture, delivery and supply of personalised devices. They exploit digital scanning, computer-aided design and rapid manufacturing.

Novel devices developed are cost-effective. They are also personalised to provide better fit and comfort and functional performance.

Rapid provision of better orthotic devices should result in quicker recovery times. This includes excellent supporting technologies and services. As a result people have reduced symptoms and improved functional ability. This increases their quality of life.

The project worked with multiple stakeholders. Together they developed flexible business models sensitive to different care models across Europe.

The research consisted of 9 integrated work packages. It aimed to develop new patient information systems. These systems enable more effective intelligent diagnostics and prescribing protocols for personalised orthoses.