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

这个I-Corps项目的更广泛的影响和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，使军人、退伍军人、运动员以及其他脚部或脚踝受伤的专业人士受益。该团队开发了一种镍钛镍基足部矫形器。与目前由非金属材料制成的足部矫形器相比，镍钛诺基足部矫形器具有更强的功能，包括优化的能量耗散能力、更高的舒适性、更长的使用寿命和更轻的重量。镍钛诺矫形器的使用寿命是塑料矫形器的两倍。足部矫正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。该项目是一家以科技为基础的新公司的开端，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项目将探索该团队先前开发的新型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。它们在增材制造过程中产生的细胞结构可以从客户采取的每一步中吸收更多的冲击能量，从而为客户提供可调节的缓冲和舒适度。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的相互作用下更容易发生偏转，能够承受腐蚀环境和疲劳载荷条件。I-Corps项目旨在评估已开发足部矫形器的市场机会，以明确该技术的市场，并更深入地了解潜在客户的需求。这个项目的发现将为下一步启动和商业化的决定提供信息。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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.