Grant: College and Community Innovation Program
Collège Mérici
$200,000.00
Customization of lower limb orthotic devices
FY 2024-25
Summary
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.
Program
College and Community Innovation ProgramCollege and Community Innovation Program (linked with high confidence)
Recipient
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
544359-2019
Name nom
Martin, Edith E
Department département
Siège Social
Organization id
27113
Institution établissement
Collège Mérici
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2024
Competition year année de concours
2019
Award amount
200000
Program id
CCIP
Program name en
College and Community Innovation Program
Program name fr
Programme d'innovation dans les collèges et la communauté
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
1564
Committee name en
Innovation Enhancement Grants
Committee name fr
Subventions de renforcement de l'innovation
Area of application code
1211
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Medical and health sciences
Area of application fr
Sciences médicales et de la santé
Research subject code
1903
Research subject group en
Biomedical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie biomédical
Research subject en
Biomechanics
Research subject fr
Biomécanique
Field of research list names en
Not available
Field of research list names fr
Non disponible
Socioeconomic objective list names en
Not available
Socioeconomic objective list names fr
Non disponible
Application title
Customization of lower limb orthotic devices
Keywords
additive manufacturing; biochemical analysis; biomechanical corrections; cad/cam; customization; gait analysis; lower limb (foot, ankle, knee); orthotic devices; predictive modelling
Application summary
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.
