Research & development of joint health support aid made from sustainable textiles

该应用程序的重点是开发可持续材料和智能设计，以生产一副手套，提供特定区域不同的机械特征，以缓解手部骨关节炎的症状。其目标是生产一副可以根据用户的状况、症状和康复阶段手动调整的手套。这种方法是可能的，因为申请人已经进行了3D打印和先进纺织编织相结合的早期研究，以生产“可编程”纺织品。可编程材料是一种不寻常的材料，在激活时可以改变其行为和功能。这为生产先进的手套设计提供了可能性，这些手套精心设计了僵硬或灵活的区域，有助于减轻疼痛，支持手部发炎的关节和肌肉。申请人现在已经成立了一家新公司来推进这项技术。我们正在寻求转型技术的投资，以使团队能够开发可编程纺织品的设计和生产过程，这些纺织品由可持续来源的材料（天然纱线和可回收塑料）生产。该项目将侧重于使用计算设计、材料和设备原型以及骨关节炎患者的用户测试。一旦完成，申请人将拥有适合正式转化为生产的设备，以便在患者/用户中进行大规模试验。

This application is focused on the aim to develop sustainable materials and smart design to produce a pair of gloves that provide specified zones with different mechanical features to ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hands. The aim is to produce a pair of gloves that can be manually adjusted to the user's condition, symptoms and stage of healing. This approach is possible because the applicants have conducted early stage research on the combination of 3D printing and advanced textile knitting to produce "programmable" textiles. Programmable materials are unusual materials that change behaviour and functionality when activated. This opens up the possibility of producing advanced glove designs that have carefully designed regions of stiffness or flexibility that help mitigate pain and support inflamed joints and muscles in the hand. The applicants have now formed a new company to take this technology forward. We are seeking Transformative Technologies investment to enable the team to develop the design and production process for the programmable textiles that are produced from sustainably sourced materials (natural yarns and recyclable plastics). This project will focus on the use of computational design, material and device prototyping and user testing with persons with osteoarthritis. Once completed, the applicants will have a device that is suitable for formal translation into production to enable large scale trials with patients/users.