I-Corps: Customer Discovery for a Novel Performance-Enhancing Foot Orthoses

I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是为了满足对高度耐用和更舒适的足部矫形器的迫切需求，使军人和退伍军人、运动员以及其他足部或脚踝受伤的专业人员受益。该团队已经开发出一种基于镍钛醇的足部矫形器。与目前由非金属材料制成的足部矫形器相比，基于镍钛醇的足部矫形器可以提供增强的功能功能，包括优化的能量消耗能力、更好的舒适性、更长的功能寿命和轻量化。镍钛合金矫形器的预期寿命是塑料矫形器的两倍。足部矫形器鞋垫市场目前估计价值26亿美元，到2021年将增长到37亿美元。因此，拟议中的足部矫形器的商业化和应用将对鞋业产生重大影响。这个项目是一个以科技为基础的新公司的开始，该公司将加强技术基础设施，并在完成后为密西西比州的STEM(科学、技术、工程和数学)劳动力提供就业机会。这个i-Corps项目将探索该团队以前开发的新型足部矫形器的市场潜力。足部矫形器是由镍醇采用添加剂制造方法制成的。在添加剂制造过程中产生的蜂窝结构可以从客户采取的每一步中吸收更多的冲击能，从而为客户提供可调的缓冲和舒适性。由于镍钛合金的形状记忆特性和超弹性，所设计的足底矫形器在人体-支架相互作用力下更容易发生偏转，并能承受腐蚀环境和疲劳载荷条件。这个i-Corps项目旨在评估已开发的足部矫形器的市场机会，以清楚地识别该技术的市场，并更深入地了解潜在客户的需求。该项目的发现将为下一步创业和商业化的决策提供依据。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is to address the urgent need of highly durable and more comfortable foot orthoses to benefit military service members and veterans, athletes, as well as other professionals suffering from foot or ankle injuries. The team has developed a nitinol-based foot orthoses. Compared to the current foot orthoses that are made of nonmetallic materials, the nitinol-based foot orthoses can provide enhanced functional capabilities including optimized energy dissipation capacity, improved comfort, long functional life, and lightweight. The life expectancy of the nitinol orthoses is twice as long as that of the plastic orthoses. The foot orthotic insoles market is currently estimated to be worth $2.6B and will grow to $3.7B by 2021. Thus, commercialization and application of the proposed foot orthoses will greatly impact the footwear industry. This project is the beginning of a new science and technology based company that will enhance the technology infrastructure and upon completion provide jobs for the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workforce of the state of Mississippi.This I-Corps project will explore the market potential of the novel foot orthoses previously developed by the team. The foot orthoses are made of nitinol using additive manufacturing methods. Their cellular structure generated during the additive manufacturing process can absorb more shock energy from every step a customer takes, therefore offering adjustable cushioning and comfort to the customer. Due to the shape-memory property and superelasticity of nitinol, the designed foot orthoses are easier to deflect under human body-support interaction forces, and can withstand corrosive environments and fatigue loading conditions. This I-Corps project aims to evaluate the market opportunities of the developed foot orthoses to gain a clear identification of market of the technology, as well as a deeper insight into the needs of potential customers. Discoveries from this project will inform the decision of the next step towards a startup and commercialization.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.