1. Ambulatory Brace for Child with Spinabifida
Advised by:
Kevin Robinson, MS, PT, OCS
Grace Gaylord
Ben Schnitz

2. Characteristics of Spinabifida
Congenital disease of the nervous system
“Cleft Spine” -- Incomplete closure in the spinal column
Three types of spinabifida
Typically involves loss of sensation and motion below the waist

3. Implications of Spinabifida
Most sufferers die shortly after birth
Survivors must endure operations throughout childhood
Learning disabilities are often associated
All sufferers must learn mobility skills with the aid of braces or wheelchairs
Problems with bone-loading deficiency

4. Current Brace Technology
Reciprocating Gait Orthoses (RGO) are currently in use
Dual cable design replaced by isocentric pivot
Most children (2-6) must also use a walker
Braces are hand-made by specialists
Design must take into account specific disease requirements

5. Problems with Current Brace
Subject is too uncoordinated to operate
Subject does not have strength to lift legs from the hip
Result: Subject prefers spending majority of time in wheelchair
Recall problems with bone-loading, circulation, organ function

6. Group Objective
The goal of this project is to design, build, and implement a brace which can be used to assist in motion for children suffering from Spinabifida.
The ultimate objective is increasing the subject’s ease of motility and time spent in the upright position

7. Work Completed Meetings with the subject and his family
Meetings with both the orthopedist and the brace specialist
Research on disease specifics and brace design
Brainstorming on possible brace design considering what we have learned

8. Current Work Meeting with advisor and pediatrician
Meeting with subject’s physical therapist
Selection of a single design
Drafting the design on paper

9. Future Work Building the selected design Testing the design
Developing new therapeutic techniques