The use of additive manufacturing in healthcare has supported young innovator Orlando Ely in developing a therapy device for individuals suffering from cognitive impairment. Entrepreneur and Innovate UK’s 2023 Young Innovators award winner, Ely is leveraging 3D printing technology to bring to market a revolutionary device aimed at enhancing rehabilitation for stroke patients and those with cognitive challenges. Named "Blossom," the tool emerged from Ely’s personal experience, as two close family members experienced strokes and required tools to regain fine motor skills in an engaging, creative way.
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Designing Blossom: A 3D Printed Therapy Tool for Stroke Recovery
Blossom was created to aid cognitive recovery by involving users in creative therapy. The hand-held tool features three buildable flowers, designed to strengthen fine motor skills and improve cognitive function. Users are encouraged to arrange the petals and stamen, with each flower increasing in complexity, engaging both hands through 16 different pinch and grasp exercises. Its nature-inspired design integrates various petal arrangements, combining the therapeutic benefits of pattern and nature. As Ely explains, the design provides positive associations with the natural world, stimulating the brain and creating a creative outlet that boosts both mood and motivation.
Support from Innovate UK and NMIS for Therapeutic Product Development
The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and Innovate UK played a crucial role in supporting Blossom’s development. With £15,000 in funding from Innovate UK and collaboration with NMIS, Ely transformed his initial concept into a viable prototype. NMIS's Design Engineering and Additive Manufacturing teams provided expert support, using detailed 3D modelling to optimise Blossom’s design and evaluate materials and manufacturing methods suitable for achieving functional and aesthetic requirements. Among the manufacturing techniques considered were injection moulding and two types of additive manufacturing processes: Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) and Material Extrusion (MEX), with PBF selected for its durability and texture quality.
User-Centric Design and Testing for Cognitive and Fine Motor Skill Therapy
Enhanced by NMIS, the 3D-printed Blossom prototype has undergone testing with dementia groups and clinical professionals. A unique dimple fastening mechanism adds to the sensory experience, while feedback from user testing helps refine the design for usability. Ely’s next step will be to approach a manufacturing partner for large-scale production, focusing on refining Blossom’s design for enhanced therapeutic applications based on user and clinical feedback.
Using Additive Manufacturing to Achieve Sustainability and Patient Engagement Goals
The application of additive manufacturing in healthcare has significant sustainability benefits, and Ely’s therapy tool exemplifies these. Rather than relying on conventional manufacturing, Blossom uses the sustainable benefits of additive manufacturing, allowing for both material efficiency and tailored modifications to enhance the user experience. By focusing on providing essential cognitive and motor skill rehabilitation, Blossom’s patterned design offers cognitive stimulation and reintroduces users to nature’s structures, activating reward-associated brain regions essential to recovery.
Innovative Therapies in Stroke Rehabilitation and Cognitive Impairment Recovery
Projects like Blossom highlight how additive manufacturing in healthcare can foster innovation in cognitive therapy, improving recovery options for individuals with cognitive impairments. "Blossom’s nature-inspired design sets it apart from other therapy tools," says Ely, emphasizing the tool’s psychological benefits and aesthetic qualities compared to traditional, clinical tools. Assistant design engineer at NMIS, Pritty Mathew, underscores the impact of Blossom’s development, noting how advanced manufacturing technologies are enabling innovators to bring new ideas to market that make a tangible difference in patient recovery.
Blossom's Next Steps: Final Testing and Preparation for Market
With the Young Innovators Award propelling his efforts, Ely is preparing Blossom for further medical professional testing to finalise the device’s functionality. “The award will make a huge difference in making Blossom a reality and expanding it to the scale I believe it can reach,” says Ely. By harnessing additive manufacturing in healthcare, Ely is positioned to create meaningful, engaging therapy tools that have the potential to significantly impact cognitive rehabilitation and patient recovery.
