The MBrace project at the exhibition "Dr. Future - Medical technology from Dresden science"at the COSMO Science Forum.
Enter the fascinating world of research The COSMO Science Forum at the Kulturpalast in Dresden is once again opening its doors for an exciting exhibition that brings the latest developments in medical technology within your reach. Under the title "Dr. Future", scientists from Dresden's research institutions will present their current projects - and the MBrace project will also participate!
Interactive exhibits for the Curious and Explorers Visitors can expect an interactive journey through the medical technology of the present and the future. The MBrace section focuses on the current status of our research project for the treatment of scoliosis. In addition to a first prototype of the brace, important information about scoliosis itself, design approaches, materials and therapy evaluation is provided. You will gain an insight into fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP) as the basis for innovative, lighter and individually adapted scoliosis braces. You will have the opportunity to get to know and test fibre-reinforced plastics, learn more about scoliosis and even design your own brace - because a scoliosis brace can be designed as individually as those affected themselves.
When? 1 October 2024 to 28 February 2025 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1 pm to 6 pm
Where? COSMO Science Forum at the Kulturpalast Dresden Schloßstraße 2 01067 Dresden, Germany Who is it for? The exhibition is for everyone over the age of 12, but younger visitors are also very welcome! Free entry
The 2024 MBrace summit in Poland
The 2024 MBrace summit took all Belgian, Polish and German MBrace partners to Kielce, Poland, from June 3rd to 5th. Collegium Medicum of the Jan Kochanowski University is an important academic center for training our doctors, nurses and physiotherapists of the future. In a modern experimental setting, students learn what the medical environment is like and they train in emulated scenarios. On a tour through Collegium Medicum of the Jan Kochanowski University, insight into the latest posture and gait analysis systems for patients with scoliosis was gained. Intense on-site workshops made it possible to test the first prototypes of our innovative braces. The advantages and disadvantages of these were discussed and compared with conventional braces. We tested the prototypes for compatibility with objective measurement systems for movement analysis. We discussed first interim results of the study, comparing the gait of children while they are wearing their brace and while there are not. Furthermore, this meeting took an important step towards deciding on a final brace design.
Project meeting in Belgium (May 2023)
In May 2023, the project partners of the MBrace project were on site in Belgium to gain insight into the manufacturing and processing of basalt-based fibers (Isomatex) and versatile processing technologies including the molding of thermoplastic fiber composites (Sirris). As part of the meeting, all project partners presented their current results and discussed joint next steps. A detailed discussion of the effects and treatment options for scoliosis was accompanied by a guest talk from JumpIn, a Dresden-based company active in rehabilitation sports, and a workshop by the UJK project partners with explanations and demonstrations on the effective functioning of scoliosis braces.
Up to this point, the project has created various brace designs while optimization methods and materials are being investigated. Currently, a study is comparing the gait of children while they are wearing their brace and while they are not.
Design Process Insights (April 2023)
The first months of the design process were characterized by extensive research about scoliosis, its treatment options and, above all, user research. For this purpose, we visited our partners in Kielce (Poland) and interviewed three patients. The first formal brace designs were then developed. However, the focus here was less on actual feasibility than on creating a variety of forms and opening up the horizon of possibilities. In joint discussions with our partners, the designs are reviewed and further revised.
Kick-off meeting for the MBrace project (August 2022)
This year saw the launch of the MBrace project, which is being carried out in European cooperation and aims to make scoliosis brace therapy more comfortable for children. New materials, new fitting methods based on AI and new manufacturing processes are expected to fundamentally change the image of the corset. Not only that, the corset is set to become fashionable and will receive a complete visual overhaul. For this, a design team from the HTW's Professorship of Design is on board. Research is being carried out in Belgium, Poland and Germany and the project is being funded with a sum of over 1.9 million euros. On Tuesday, August 30, all project partners came together for the first time for the "kick-off".
