Customization of lower limb orthotic devices

自从TOPMED被公认为加拿大独一无二的矫形器、假肢和医疗设备技术转让的学院中心以来，TOPMED一直与Collège Mérici密切合作，通过为Mérici人员配备技术资源和工具并帮助他们发展基本的医疗专业知识来提高学院的研究能力。Collège Mérici和TOPMED现在希望将学院的研究能力提升到一个新的水平，并通过开发新的工具和方法来为患者提供新的、高质量的定制支持。定制的方法不仅非常适合开发创新和适应性强的解决方案和产品。这种方法对需要矫形器的患者也是有益的，因为它可以更好地采用为他们设计的干预措施和矫形器。患者的生物力学特性、活动度和稳定性、痉挛等条件以及肌肉力量都将指导选择理想的矫形器。因此，我们建议开发一种新的定制方法来治疗下肢病变。基于患者的客观生物力学数据，我们将量化和调整矫形器提供的矫正水平。研究团队将与行业合作伙伴密切合作，以：1.开发一种分析和预测生物力学矫正的方法，以适应脚部、脚踝和膝盖在各种运动(行走、攀登、跑步时)中的常见病理；2.开发生物力学矫正的工具和方法：根据患者特定的解剖和补偿生物力学设计、模拟和先进制造定制的矫形器部件；3.与患者反复验证整个过程，以便优化生物力学矫正分析和预测建模工具以及先进的制造工艺。

Since the recognition of TOPMED as a college center for technology transfer in orthoses, prostheses, and medical equipment - unique in Canada - TOPMED has worked closely with Collège Mérici to increase the college's research capacity by equipping the Mérici personnel with technological resources and tools and by helping them develop essential medical expertise. Collège Mérici and TOPMED now wish to take the college's research capacity to a new level and provide patients with new, high-quality custom support by developing new tools and approaches for "Customization of lower limb orthotic devices."The customized approach is not only highly suitable for developing innovative and well-adapted solutions and products. The approach is also beneficial for patients needing an orthotic device as it leads to an improved adoption of the interventions and orthoses designed for them. The specifics of the patient's biomechanics, the level of activity and stability, conditions such as spasticity, as well as muscular strength will all guide the choice of the ideal orthosis. Thus, we propose to develop a new customized approach to the treatment of lower limb pathologies. Based on objective biomechanical data of the patient, we will quantify and modulate the level of correction that an orthotic device offers. The research team will work closely with industry partners to:1. Develop a methodology for the analysis and predictive modelling of biomechanical correction adapted to common pathologies of the foot, ankle, and knee during various movements (walking, climbing staires, running when appropriate);2. Develop tools and approaches for biomechanical correction: Design, simulation, and advanced manufacturing of custom-designed orthotic components according to patient-specific anatomy and compensatory biomechanics;3. Validate the entire process iteratively with patients in order to optimize the biomechanical correction analysis and predictive modelling tools as well as the advanced manufacturing processes.