Using advanced manufacturing to lower the cost of customizable assistive health care devices

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The objective of Red Deer Polytechnics's (RDP) proposal "Using advanced manufacturing to lower the cost of customizable assistive health care devices" is to both increase the number of companies manufacturing health care devices in Alberta and to increase the affordability and selection for those that need them.This is a complex problem with many different solutions. Consultation with Alberta innovators and industry highlighted the need for an integrated team approach to solving this problem. Several organizations that support health care devices, also noted that the innovators lacked either the knowledge and/or the access to advanced manufacturing solutions. The research approach, in this proposal, will rely on a multi-faceted team of experts. Clinicians, manufacturing experts, business experts, health researchers, and industry will collaborate on the design, validation, market assessment and manufacturing viability to drive health devices to commercial success. The research will apply new methodologies to the design and manufacture of devices. RDP's Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing - Technology Access Centre (CIM-TAC) has the advanced manufacturing tools and software required to assist these innovators. RDP's CIM-TAC will coordinate the research with the integrated team. The technicians, engineers, students and faculty members will assist predominately in the manufacturing/prototyping of the devices, but also with validation and economic analysis. This integrated approach coupled with an advanced manufacturing centre is unique in Alberta. Also unique to the proposal is the involvement of the end manufacturers in the process. The outcome of this work will be a roadmap for developing and commercializing customizable assistive health care devices for the benefit of those that need them.