Team 8

Braction: Development of a "Smart" Knee Brace Designed for Improved Rehabilitation of ACL Injury

Team Members: Wesley Groves, Fernando Rangel, Anna Rothweil - SBHSE

Team Mentors: Dr. Sydney Schaefer - SBHSE
Denzil Mathew - Creighton University School of Medicine
Joseph Brinkman - Creighton University School of Medicine

YouTube Link: View the video link below before joining the zoom meeting

Zoom Link: https://asu.zoom.us/j/7694732791

Abstract

It is projected that up to 200,000 ACL injuries occur per year in the US with a 10% rate of reinjury. These injuries often result in surgery coupled with intensive physical therapy for up to 12 months post-operation. Knee braces are used in conjunction with physical therapy in order to compensate for physiological deficits including joint stability, protection from knee valgus, and limitation of range of motion. While there are many specialized knee braces out in the market, these knee braces do a poor job at aiding the patient’s recovery due to the fact that they are highly specialized or only provide passive stabilization. These knee braces lack key features such as proper range of motion control, adjustable weight-bearing mechanisms, or monitoring devices to track progress, all of which will guide the patient to a more efficient recovery. These specialized devices also only target a small niche of the market, reducing their overall impact. Our team has partnered with medical professionals from Creighton University School of Medicine to propose a knee brace that not only supports the knee during physical activity but also aids rehabilitation after ACL injury to prevent reinjury. We will achieve this by designing an electronic knee brace that continuously monitors knee movement and applies support according to detected risk. This design will have the capability of meeting a broader market, effectively solving a larger proportion of customer needs with a single adjustable device.

Video: