AÑO
2019
CATEGORÍA
Cuerpo
OBJETIVOS
Salud y bienestar
PAL. CLAVE
biomimicry, medical device, industrial design
PAÍS
United States of America
CRÉDITOS
Dipali Aphale
Global Innovation Design
Royal College of Art, MA
Imperial College London, MSc
LINK
http://www.dipaliaphale.com/aroulim
Arolium Cast
A cast that adapts to a broken limb and promotes patient compliance.
How can a cast adapt to a broken limb?
Normal casts don’t have a good balance between immobilization of the limb and the appropriate circulation of blood. Arolium uses sensors to track the user’s movement in order to effectively add pressure by inflating and deflating its inner lining. It maintains good form of the limb by having a rigid outer shell.
The full-limb cast is biomimetic in that its function is inspired by is the biological structure of an ant’s foot. The inner section of the foot has an inflatable pad that puffs up and assists the ant in climbing more effectively by forming around irregular surfaces. Similarly Arolium's features alleviate the issue of pressure sores, accurate blood flow, and moreover, patient compliance.