Testing and Iterating Adaptive Wearable Patches to Improve Treatment Outcomes of Musculoskeletal Conditions

Globally, there are more then 1.7 bn people worldwide suffering from musculoskeletal conditions. Out of this, alone 500 million people suffer from arthritis conditions, which is expected to grow to 1.2 bn by 2050 due to the ageing population, the obesity pandemic and lifestyle changes that reduce physical activity. Current devices to treat these hand and wrist conditions, such as splints, braces or other wearable support, immobilise major parts of the joint, affecting joint mobility and function. These devices are not tailored, don't fit very well or exert too much or too less compression, are very clunky and use materials that are not skin friendly. This often lead to side effects, such as skin rashes and cuts, swelling and pain, limited joint movement, slow recovery times and non patient compliance. There are currently no devices on the market that allow for long-term management of musculoskeletal conditions by offering a user-friendly design, personalised and targeted support, fit and comfort while allowing joint movement to accelerate healing and improve user experience. This project aims to explore the shortcomings in the existing splint designs by offering a completely new approach to brace and orthotic design, aesthetics and functionality. The project partner AIKNIT has developed novel wearable patches with variable stiffness levels, that fit the patient’s anatomical and physiological needs in a highly personalised fashion to facilitate faster and more effective healing with lesser side effects and shorter treatment times. AIKNIT has developed 3 different patches designed to support the thumb and index finger webspace, upper and lower thumb and wrist. The patches consist of geometrical structures that vary in shape, height, space and angle and are computationally designed and programmed to lock up at a certain angulation to support and modulate range of motion. This project proposes to test and iterate the existing wearable prototypes of AIKNIT with users, clinicians and other stakeholders, to further develop its product market fit and therefore entry to the market. The aim is to demonstrate that the tested and iterated wearable patches can improve joint pain, increase hand function and mobility, lower side effects, improve patient adherence and satisfaction, as well as overall quality of life. This grant will allow us to undertake the necessary user testing and stakeholder engagement as well as further develop the design and functionality of the patches to ensure they provide the right treatment and support, are easy to use and comfortable, and increase patient compliance. If the technology shows positive impact and feedback from users, it has the potential to create significant network effects across the healthcare sector by inspiring applications in other disease areas. Potential applications include the use for other musculoskeletal conditions such as the elbow, knee and ankle. The device could be used in performance sports to treat and prevent sports injuries and help with post-exercise recovery. It can also address systematic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus or be applied to neurological diseases, such as stroke rehabilitation and wound healing. The technology could also benefit children suffering from juvenile idiopathic arthritis or congenital musculoskeletal abnormalities, offering non-invasive pain management and functional support through child friendly designs.