Medical Assistive Devices

BEACTIVE provides medical assistive device that supports people in rehabilitation from broken bones and other injuries with minimal effects on their active lifestyle. It solves the challenge of suitable material that is strong, reliable and flexible enough to provide advantages over plaster or low-temperature thermoplastics. Additional functionality such as protection against bacteria support the advantages in use and application.

From challenges so solutions

The challenge in the development of additively manufactured assistive devices spans from the design, through the selection of materials to ensuring bio-compatibility. The key challenges are:

  • Multifunctional materials that have antimicrobial properties, required strength/weight ratio and can be printed
  • Design guidelines enable lightweight design, flexibility and stiffness tailored to the rehabilitation goals
  • Enhanced water exposure allowance when wearing the assistive device
  • Attractive design variations that address aesthetics and wellbeing of the patients

The solution to the challenge is expected to find suitable materials that are sufficiently bio-compatible. Adaptations will be necessary to ensure that the materials can be printed and that the reliability is achieved. With the aid of suitable scanning strategies for the person's injury, full personal individualisation is achieved.

Patients with injuries or disabilities are the prime users of the envisioned solution. They will benefit from new products that help them in recovering. Companies that produce classic medical aids will greatly benefit from a technology where they do not need to stock such devices any more. They will be able to provide print on demand services be it centrally in combination with logistic chains or in a distributed environment close to the patient.