AWARD YEAR
2021
CATEGORY
Body
GOALS
Good Health & Well-being
KEYWORDS
medical equipment, brace, industrial design, MEDICAL-DEVICES
COUNTRY
United Kingdom
DESIGNED BY
PDR, R&D Surgical
WEBSITE
https://ifworlddesignguide.com/entry/285468-brace
Discreet and Elegant Medical Brace
Created for teenagers, these braces reduce the stigmatization with traditional medical devices.
The condition pectus carinatum, also known as pigeon chest, where the breastbone protrudes excessively, affects about 1 in 400 children. Current treatment involves compression over time to support correct bone development. However, the design of the braces has barely changed in the last 100 years. They are uncomfortable, restrict activity, are difficult to wear and difficult to disguise, thus increasing feelings of stigmatization for patients, who are typically teenage boys. This brace is designed to fit neatly and discreetly beneath clothes. It uses contemporary materials and mechanisms to create a more comfortable, clinically effective and discrete solution.