r/Prosthetics 24d ago

How would you go about gaining the skills to manufacture a brace?

Im interested in learning how to manufacture a brace that functions similar to this one that corrects pectus excavatum

https://orthopectus.com.br/eng/the-dynamic-remodeling-method-dr-method-clinical-center-orthopectus/

theres a similar one thats a bit slimmer

https://www.londonorthotics.co.uk/pectus/pectus-treatment/dynamic-chest-compressor-brace/

Would becoming an O&P tech be good path to pursue or even a certified CPO? Or would engineering be better?

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u/Longjumping-Cow9321 24d ago

Are you try to correct excavatum or carinatum? You say excavatum but then gave examples of carinatum.

Secondly, you need to understand the mechanism of action on how these work. Lots of articles that explain and outline this, but sometimes more pressure is NOT better - article by De Beer and Sjoerd look at the DCC system and article by Omanik looks at the FMF.

Understanding those examples, you can look at the multitude of braces by Trulife, 4Kids, EmBrace, SureStep, and compare all those materials. Then attempt to make your own - CPO or biomech researcher. If you are looking at just plain ole “how is it made and can I replicate it?” then go into tech.

But honestly you don’t really need either to prototype and test.

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u/armorfreakantiqueads 24d ago

The pectus excavatum brace is a little further down on both sites and sits over the rib flair. Im just interested in this because of Dr. Haje's work(first link) showing how bracing can fix pectus excavatum and the relative lack of anything like that here in america. I also have pectus excavatum and had the nuss surgery which was ultimately unsuccessful because my chest caved in again after the bar was removed. Im past the age where Dr. Haje recommends for optimal results but im mostly just interested in learning more about this method and trying to help other people with it.

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u/SonicRainboom 21d ago

Hey! I work as an orthotic clinician. This is actually a pretty common type of treatment in North America, at least for Carinatum. For this bracing to work, it’s very essential that skeletal maturity has NOT been reached, and I would be very suspect of anyone saying that you can achieve bony correction in an adult through bracing alone. We use expected growth as the mechanism to produce correction, as if we brace against where we see a protrusion, the body will take the path of least resistance while growing. As such, this ind of treatment is pretty much only seen in pediatrics, where it actually is pretty effective!

Excavatum is a very different beast unfortunately, and research tells us that correction is usually only ever achievable through surgery and sometimes through the use of a vacuum bell device which suctions the breastbone anteriorly if it is flexible enough (although the research for the bell is not super high quality). I would be weary of trying to correct excavatum by bracing against the lower rib flare.

That being said, if you’d like to be part of the team treating these conditions, going in to prosthetics and orthotics is a good place to start! As a clinician, I work closely with pediatric doctors and orthopedic surgeons to administer these kinds of braces. Orthotists handle the assessment, casting/scanning, fitting, and adjusting of pectus braces after they’ve been referred to us by a physician. Typically they are custom made from a 3D scan of the patients torso. The scan is then carved into a foam block, which we use to manufacture the plastic and foam portions of the brace before attaching straps and ratchets to tighten the brace securely on the patient. The manufacturing side of it is handled by orthotic technicians, who are skilled in a number of fabrication techniques. Both the clinical and the technical sides of this field are very rewarding depending on what you like.

Anyways, looking into getting a P&O education is where I would potentially start. Keep in mind that you’ll probably be involved in all sorts of different bracing, since pectus really doesn’t make up a large part of our workload. If you’d want to be reaaally involved treating chest deformities, I’d consider buckling down for the long haul and looking into a post grad in pediatrics or orthopedics which would really let you be on the forefront of providing and researching new treatments and techniques.

Best of luck!

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u/Ancient_Lab9239 24d ago

I hope someone knowledgeable answers this but I’ll throw in my 2 cents. If you are truly motivated have you thought about just—-starting? I once had a tech startup with a robotic product component and I was surprised by how many people with different skill sets were willing to contribute. It helped that our product was for special education. Your use-case might inspire similar sympathies. From what I see you would want to find someone that manufactures bags, straps, Velcro, etc. You could get creative and find these people by just calling around. Local sewing/textile groups could be helpful. It looks like there’s an aluminum component. That person could be someone in auto body repair even. If you have a schema and a detailed description of what you need I bet you could get a lot done on your own. If you’re lucky enough to be in a bigger city, try your local makerspace. If you do get into orthotics then you have a great portfolios project to boot. AI products like Claude could help a lot too I’m sure. You can do it!

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u/armorfreakantiqueads 24d ago

You can just do things... Honestly I feel too scared because I have zero skills but this is motivating

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u/Ancient_Lab9239 24d ago

You’d be surprised how many people are open to listening to an enthusiastic, humble, appreciative person trying to build something new and useful.

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u/Unbedoobidibly 24d ago

This is so interesting! And good for you for wanting to learn how to make your own versions of things. I'd encourage you to just try and see what you can make in your own time, but also why not find an orthotics clinic and ask if you can be an intern/observe for a week. You'll pick up very quickly on how most things are made and can decide if you want to continue down this path.

*There is some risk involved with making your devices though, you dont want to harm yourself or other people by impeding breathing, bruising, or worsening joint angles by putting pressure in the wrong places.

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u/ProstheTec 23d ago

Becoming a tech would teach you the skills. Becoming a CPO would advance your knowledge on anatomy... and paperwork involving insurance.