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

这个I-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是解决对高度耐用和更舒适的足部矫形器的迫切需求，以使军人和退伍军人、运动员以及其他遭受足部或踝关节损伤的专业人员受益。该团队开发了一种基于镍钛诺的足部矫形器。与目前由非金属材料制成的足部矫形器相比，基于镍钛诺的足部矫形器可以提供增强的功能能力，包括优化的能量耗散能力、改善的舒适度、长的功能寿命和轻质。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，所提出的足部矫形器的商业化和应用将极大地影响制鞋业。这个项目是一个新的科学和技术为基础的公司，将加强技术基础设施的开始，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项目将探索由团队以前开发的新颖的足部矫形器的市场潜力。足部矫形器由镍钛诺使用增材制造方法制成。在增材制造过程中产生的蜂窝结构可以吸收客户每一步的冲击能量，从而为客户提供可调节的缓冲和舒适性。由于镍钛诺的形状记忆特性和超弹性，所设计的足部矫形器在人体支撑相互作用力下更容易偏转，并且可以承受腐蚀性环境和疲劳载荷条件。该I-Corps项目旨在评估已开发的足部矫形器的市场机会，以明确该技术的市场定位，并更深入地了解潜在客户的需求。该项目的发现将为启动和商业化的下一步决策提供信息。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.