Approximately 7 million people in the US are affected by scoliosis and the primary age of onset is between 10-15 years old (Source: scoliosis.org). Traditional treatment for scoliosis requires patients to wear a bulky back brace for 18 hours per day to keep the curvature in the patient's back from progressing. UNYQ (pronounced ‘unique’) focuses on making prosthetics fashionable and functional. On this project I worked worked with UNYQ to incorporate the Intel® Curie™ module, and a series of sensors to provide real-time insight into brace fit, effectiveness, and wear time. This study involved conducting qualitative interviews with scoliosis patients, parents, orthotists, nurses, orthopedics, and brace designers to design a pilot program for a new scoliosis brace called UNYQ Align™. This POC investigated end user experiences using an IOT platform and user app that analyzed brace positioning and wear time. This award winning design and use of IOT has gained attention as leading the way for social innovation in health engagement.
https://www.wired.com/story/studio-bitonti-algorithm-intel-cast/
In this brainstorming session with an MD that offers UNYQ's braces to his patients, we discussed potential redesigns of the brace that would allow for better sensing technology.