Hipcare is a 3D-printed and customizable splint for treating hip dysplasia in babies, replacing traditional plaster casts with a lightweight, breathable, and sustainable alternative that improves babies’ quality of life and reduces medical interventions.
Define the problem/need you are solving or addressing with your project. How does it address the Open Call criteria, such as environmental impact, social engagement, circularity, user experience, resource efficiency, and community-driven solutions?
Hipcare addresses the limitations of traditional plaster casts that often cause skin irritation and hygiene issues while requiring repeated anesthesia for replacements. Our innovative solution promotes comfort and hygiene with a customizable, breathable, and hygienic 3D-printed splint. This design ensures optimal hip positioning for effective treatment while crafted from lightweight PLA mixed with copper particles, enhancing hygiene and sustainability. The design streamlines the application for medical professionals, alleviating strain on healthcare systems. Our approach aligns with Open Call criteria by advancing resource efficiency through sustainable materials, embracing circularity via 3D printing, enhancing user experience with superior comfort and hygiene, and promoting community-driven solutions that meet the needs of infants, parents, and healthcare providers.
Please describe your project, reflecting on the concept, inspiration, materials, technical aspects, methods and process(es).
Hipcare is a groundbreaking treatment for hip dysplasia, featuring a 3D-printed splint designed with comfort and hygiene in mind. Made from polylactic acid (PLA) mixed with copper particles, the material ensures antimicrobial properties. The splint utilizes results from 3D scans and digital modeling to create a personalized fit that maintains the correct treatment position for the baby’s hip. Using additive manufacturing optimizes sustainability and production efficiency while allowing for easy application compared to traditional casting methods. Hipcare minimizes the need for general anesthesia and enhances hygiene, promoting breathability while reducing skin irritation and facilitating diaper changes. Additionally, babies can bathe, which supports better hygiene practices and eases care routines. Overall, Hipcare offers a patient-centered, sustainable approach that modernizes hip dysplasia treatment, providing an innovative and adaptable solution that improves the well-being of babies and their families.
What do you think makes your project innovative compared to the existing efforts and ideas in the field it addresses?
Hipcare differentiates itself from traditional treatments like plaster casts by employing 3D-printing technology, producing customized and lightweight splints tailored for each infant. This ensures superior comfort and effectiveness, as the PLA’s glass transition temperature and malleability at high temperatures allow for precise adaptation to the baby’s body. The modular design incorporates breathable lattice structures, optimizing material usage while enhancing flexibility. Our clip-based locking system prevents unauthorized adjustments while simplifying medical application, ensuring effective hip stabilization. Unlike alternatives such as the Pavlik harness or Milgram Brown splint, Hipcare provides exceptional rigidity for stabilization while reducing the need for frequent anesthesia, replacements, and extensive hospital resources. This results in a cost-effective and sustainable orthopedic solution, revolutionizing hip dysplasia treatment and providing substantial benefits for infants, families, and healthcare providers.
Does it impact or reflect young people need(s) and how?
Hipcare profoundly affects babies diagnosed with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH), a condition that can lead to long-term mobility challenges if not properly addressed. Traditional plaster casts often create discomfort and hygiene issues, which can distress both infants and caregivers. Hipcare enhancements focus on comfort—allowing regular bathing and reducing skin complications—while minimizing exposure to general anesthesia, thus lowering medical risks for young patients. By improving the overall treatment experience, Hipcare significantly enhances well-being for infants and their families, promoting awareness of advanced orthopedic solutions and encouraging a new standard in pediatric healthcare. For young parents, caregivers, or medical professionals, Hipcare simplifies the treatment process while ensuring greater efficiency and sustainability, making it an essential advancement in modern pediatric care.
