Novel Material for Conformable Splints

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。保守估计，仅在美国，每年使用的夹板数量就有数百万个。通常，夹板是由训练有素的物理或职业治疗师在康复诊所为患者定制的。通常使用动态夹板。如果安装得当，这些夹板有更好的临床效果。然而，问题出现了，因为通常很难达到适当的匹配。需要相当多的时间来适当地安装一个舒适的夹板，在动态夹板的情况下，随着治疗的进展，重新审视夹板的合适性，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，患者的依从性也是一个问题。我们提出了一种新型的编织复合材料的合格夹板，可以减轻所确定的问题。这种材料可以用标准程序成形。然而，编织材料可以比目前的热塑性材料更薄、更轻，而热塑性材料是现代合格夹板的标准材料。此外，复合材料中的单个纤维将允许更容易地安装到身体部位，包括手和手腕等复杂区域。这种材料可以很容易地在骨突起周围形成，并散开为手指打开。外围设备，例如动态夹板中需要的那些，可以很容易地安全地连接到新材料上，并且在必要时很容易移除和重新定位，而不会损坏完成的夹板的形状或强度。在第一阶段，我们将构建和开发用于手和手腕的材料。选择手和手腕是因为它们表现出较高的受伤率，如果夹板或患者依从性出现问题，则会出现高度的慢性问题。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。我们将进行拟合试验来研究避免压疮，并获得临床医生对使用方便等参数的反馈。我们还将从有执照的治疗师那里获得关于材料的反馈，这将有助于我们的研究进一步发展。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有执照的手部治疗师组成。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。

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.