A smart textile as an alternative to plaster molding

To start the design of an orthosis or of a prosthesis, orthopedists commonly use plaster casting to acquire the patient’s limb shape. The rest of the design workflow is so far already digital. However, the limb shape acquisition is still analog, wet, inaccurate and time consuming. The Swiss startup BellwaldTec (https://bellwaldtec.ch/) is currently developing in collaboration with FHNW-HLS-IM2 a clean, precise, versatile and digital textile capable of replacing plaster casting in orthopedics. This novel and patented technique avoids material distortion and shrinkage of molding material. It opens the way to a seamless fully digital workflow for orthoses and prostheses design.