Exovite is developing custom 3D printed splints that will heal your broken bone faster

Although we’ve been seeing many recent applications for 3D printing being used effectively in the medical industry, many of the case studies have been for creating 1:1 replicas of anatomical features that are studied and ‘mock-operated’ on in an effort to let the surgeons better understand their patient’s condition before committing to the final surgical procedure. To date, this has resulted in not only more effective surgeries that have also taken considerably less time, but also less invasive surgeries that cost less.  

But for all of the advantages of using 3D printing before a surgery, what about using 3D printing as a tool for repairing an injured area or for after a surgery, too?

This is what Exovite, a new Spanish company consisting of professionals from different areas including medicine, electronics, computers, mechanics and additive manufacturing technologies are currently looking at and they just might be able to make the healing process faster thanks to 3D printing.

Currently, the company is developing a system of immobilization and rehabilitation that will create a revolution in the field of orthopedics and musculoskeletal treatments.  Among other features of the system include savings in both time costs for both the medical professionals and the patients themselves.  

Among other goals that the company hopes that users of their technology will achieve include optimized medical treatments as well as a more seamless user experience throughout the procedure due to an improved quality of the procedures themselves.

In other words, similar to how 3D printing has helped revolutionize how prosthetic devices are both made and fabricated, Exovite’s research and resulting technologies could have just as much of an impact on internal injuries including broken bones; rather than having a traditional cast on for months, users could receive the company’s unique method of therapy and be healed in a matter of weeks.  

The company’s innovative platform consists of multiple parts that make rehabilitation both more customizable as well as affordable.  

The company’s Immobilization System accurately scans a patient’s arm (in the case of a broken arm) in less than five minutes and subsequently applies a custom 3D printed ‘cast’ to the affected area.  The resulting cast or splint is not only modeled and applied directly to the user’s own body measurements, but it is also completely waterproof and weighs less than 350 grams.  Additionally, an included ‘grid system’ helps facilitate the healing process while also reducing skin irritation.

 

In order to help speed up the healing process, an electrostimulator is attached to the 3D printed cast which can be controlled via a mobile device through the company’s Exopad app.  In addition to being able to control the electrostimulation, users will even be able to share the healing progress with medical professionals online as well as receive advice based on the rate of healing.

According to the company’s CEO Juan Monzón, the company is planning on moving forward with their first clinical trials of the system and that they are close to closing a deal with a client that will lead the first round of clinical trials.  If all goes as planned - the company states that they are 90% ready to launch the product - we could be seeing this futuristic tech as early as September of this year.