Novel Material for Conformable Splints

用于适形夹板的新型材料

• 批准号: 7108195
• 负责人: Anna M Galea
• 金额: $ 14.58万
• 依托单位: INFOSCITEX CORPORATION
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-09-01 至 2008-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7108195
• 关键词: clinical research; hand

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Splints are a common therapeutic aid used in the rehabilitation of numerous injuries and diseases. Conservative estimates place the number of splints used each year in the multiple millions in the US alone. Often, the splints are custom-made for the patient at a rehabilitation clinic by a trained physical or occupation therapist. Frequently, dynamic splints are used. These splints have a better clinical outcome if fitted properly. Problems arise, however, in that it is often difficult to achieve a proper fit. Considerable time is needed to fit a conformable splint properly, and in the case of dynamic splints, to revisit the fit of the splint as the therapy progresses, and to fix any problems that arise out of normal wear and tear of the splint. Patient compliance is also an issue due to the bulk and complexity of certain splints. We propose a novel braided composite material for conformable splints that can alleviate the problems identified. The material can be formed using standard procedures. The braided material, however, can be made thinner and lighter than the current thermoplastic materials that are standard in modern conformable splints. In addition, the individual fibers within the composite material will allow for easier fitting to body parts, including complex areas such as the hand and wrist. The material can easily form itself around bony prominences, and be spread apart to make openings for fingers. Peripherals, such as those needed in dynamic splints, can be easily attached securely to the new material, and readily removed and repositioned if necessary, with no deterioration in the shape or strength of the finished splint. During the Phase I, we will construct and develop the material for hand and wrist applications. The hand and wrist are chosen as they exhibit a high rate of injury, with a high degree of chronic problems if problems arise with the splint or patient compliance. We will also construct sample attachments for the material, and test the strength of both the material and the pullout strength of the attachments. We will conduct fit tests to study the avoidance of pressure sores and obtain clinician feedback on such parameters as ease of use. We will also obtain feedback from licensed therapists about the material, which will help finetune our study for further development. The team assembled for this work is comprised of biomedical device engineers, biomaterials and composite engineers, and licensed hand therapists. The team will work in close collaboration to realize the specific aims of this project for further development in Phase II.

描述（由申请人提供）：夹板是一种常见的治疗辅助工具，用于许多损伤和疾病的康复。据保守估计，仅在美国，每年使用的夹板数量就有数百万。通常，夹板是由受过训练的物理或职业治疗师在康复诊所为患者定制的。经常使用动态夹板。这些夹板有一个更好的临床效果，如果安装正确。然而，问题出现了，因为通常难以实现适当的配合。正确安装舒适的夹板需要相当多的时间，对于动态夹板，需要随着治疗的进展重新检查夹板的安装情况，并解决夹板正常磨损引起的任何问题。由于某些夹板的体积和复杂性，患者依从性也是一个问题。我们提出了一种新的编织复合材料的适形夹板，可以减轻所发现的问题。该材料可以使用标准程序形成。然而，编织材料可以比现代适形夹板中标准的当前热塑性材料更薄和更轻。此外，复合材料中的单个纤维将允许更容易地装配到身体部位，包括手和手腕等复杂区域。这种材料可以很容易地在骨赘周围形成，并被分开为手指打开。外围设备，例如动态夹板中所需的外围设备，可以容易地牢固地连接到新材料上，并且在必要时容易地移除和重新定位，而不会使成品夹板的形状或强度劣化。在第一阶段，我们将构建和开发用于手部和手腕应用的材料。选择手和手腕是因为它们表现出高损伤率，如果夹板或患者依从性出现问题，则具有高度的慢性问题。我们还将为材料构建样品附件，并测试材料的强度和附件的拔出强度。我们将进行适合测试，以研究避免压疮，并获得临床医生对易用性等参数的反馈。我们还将从有执照的治疗师那里获得有关材料的反馈，这将有助于我们进一步发展研究。这项工作的团队由生物医学设备工程师、生物材料和复合材料工程师以及持牌手部治疗师组成。该团队将密切合作，以实现该项目的具体目标，以便在第二阶段进一步发展。