KINGSTON, R.I., Nov. 2, 2016\u2014Braces for people with scoliosis can be awkward, cumbersome and even painful. A good fit is crucial, especially since the brace is often worn day and night.<\/p>\n
Mechanical engineering students at the 溏心vlog免费B站 are collaborating with a local doctor and a Rhode Island company to create a brace that, well, fits like a glove\u2014and is just as comfortable.<\/p>\n
Gabriella Devine of East Greenwich<\/strong>, Thomas Brey of Manorville, N.Y.,<\/strong> Dan Cross of Northborough, Mass.,<\/strong> and Christopher Viveiros of Attleboro, Mass<\/strong>., are working on the project with a doctor from Rhode Island Hospital and SIMULIA, the Rhode Island branch of an international computer software company called Dassault Syst\u00e8mes.<\/p>\n The students are creating the brace for their senior design capstone class in mechanical engineering, which requires students to solve real-world problems with viable products. The students expect to have a prototype in April, after months of research.<\/p>\n \u201cThis project will have an impact on patients\u2019 lives so it\u2019s very rewarding for all of us,\u2019\u2019 says Devine. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting to combine engineering skills and new technology.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n The project involves three fields: mechanical engineering; computer simulation; and medicine. To be competitive in today\u2019s workforce, the students say it is crucial to get hands-on experience in fields outside their concentration and keep pace with cutting-edge technology.<\/p>\n Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that usually occurs during puberty. There is no cure; however, it is treatable with a brace and, in extreme cases, surgery. Without treatment, the condition worsens and can be disabling.<\/p>\n There are two commonly used scoliosis braces: the Boston brace and the Providence brace, both of which could be improved, say the students.<\/p>\n The Boston brace, also called the underarm brace, is usually prescribed for curves in the lumbar or thoraco-lumbar part of the spine. It is typically worn most of the day under clothing and removed for gym class or sports. The Providence brace, also called a nighttime brace, is worn while sleeping.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause they’re bulky, sweaty and restrictive, kids\u2014young girls especially\u2014don\u2019t want to wear them,\u2019\u2019 says Viveiros. \u201cThey feel self-conscious in public. We’re trying to make something a little more discreet\u2014and breathable.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n Now, most doctors use padding to customize a standard brace for each patient. That technique has flaws, say the students. The process is time consuming for the patient and requires many medical visits to make sure the brace is fitting properly.<\/p>\n \u201cThis can be an inconvenience for teenagers,\u2019\u2019 says Viveiros. \u201cAnd the brace itself can prevent kids from participating in activities that their classmates are doing.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n The 溏心vlog免费B站 students\u2019 project involves the latest technology. The students will use a 3D scanner to get the patient\u2019s precise body shape\u2014\u201cand that, we hope, will result in a brace that is completely personalized and form-fitting, yet still effective,\u2019\u2019 says Viveiros. Patients will also be required to get X-rays to determine the extent of the curve.<\/p>\n The students will use a 3D printer to make the brace, and the prototype will be made with plastic. \u201cThe plastic could come in different colors, so patients can chose their own color\u2014sort of like braces for teeth,\u2019\u2019 says Viveiros. \u201cWe\u2019re adding a little bit of fun to an otherwise difficult situation.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n In addition to SIMULIA, the students are also receiving guidance from Dr. Craig Eberson, chief of the division of pediatric orthopedics at Hasbro Children\u2019s Hospital in Providence. They met with him not long ago to learn how scoliosis braces are fitted and what can be done to improve them.<\/p>\n At SIMULIA, the students are learning how to use engineering design software that makes the brace as effective as possible with the least amount of material. The new brace will have a lattice-like structure instead of a solid-shell, which requires more material.<\/p>\n \u201cThe software is smarter than a human,\u2019\u2019 says Cross. \u201cIt\u2019s doing thousands of calculations in an instant, recognizing where the pressure needs to be on the brace to correct the curvature. This is the wave of the future in medical care\u2014using software to solve health problems.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n The new brace could also be less expensive. Brey says that 3D printing is cheaper because less material and labor are involved. \u201cRight now, 3D printing is pretty much used just to make prototypes. We\u2019re trying to bring 3D printing into the mainstream to produce an actual product that meets industry standards.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n The students say they are thrilled to be working on a project that will improve lives.<\/p>\n \u201cOur professors are devoted to us and want us to succeed,\u2019\u2019 says Viveiros. \u201cThis project is a great start to our professional careers.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cEverything we\u2019ve learned in the College of Engineering is being put to use,\u2019\u2019 says Brey. \u201cThe college is preparing us for an actual job. When we graduate we can be helpful to a company\u2014and society.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n On Nov. 8, voters in Rhode Island will be asked to approve Question 4 on the ballot. If passed, the investment will pave the way to attract businesses and create the high-paying, high-skilled jobs Rhode Island needs by authorizing $45.5 million in bonds to expand 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s highly successful College of Engineering ($25.5 million) and create a 溏心vlog免费B站-affiliated innovation campus program ($20 million) that will pair cutting edge research with private sector investments to create the jobs of the future.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" KINGSTON, R.I., Nov. 2, 2016\u2014Braces for people with scoliosis can be awkward, cumbersome and even painful. A good fit is crucial, especially since the brace is often worn day and night. Mechanical engineering students at the 溏心vlog免费B站 are collaborating with a local doctor and a Rhode Island company to create a brace […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-archives"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72535","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72535"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72535\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}