Portfolio
NeMO Neck Support
By collaborating with the NeMO Clinical Center in Milan and with the Institute for Polymers, Composites, and Biomaterials (IPCB) of the National Research Council (CNR) it was possible to start a product development path whose output was the NeMO Neck Support, a customizable neck orthosis.
The structured interviews with the medical staff of the Milano NeMO Clinical Center led to an in-depth study of the characteristics of an incapacitating physical condition called "dropped head syndrome": the atrophy of muscles of the cervical spine, typical of various neuromuscular diseases, prevents the person from keeping the head in an upright position. This physical condition is not only associated with pain and fatigue but causes speech, swallowing, and interpersonal communication disorders. Despite the fair market offer, the braces currently on the market are unable to adequately meet the growing needs of patients and their doctors. Its aim is the possibility of giving greater independence to the person who wears it.
Many commercial solutions force the person to maintain the same visual trajectory throughout use with consequent psychological repercussions. The components of the NeMO Neck Support are designed to be made largely through 3D printing and to allow customization in shape, material, and color. Most of the orthoses are not welcomed by patients because they underline the defect and concretize the situation of disability. However, taking part in the creation process predisposes the patient more positively to brace adoption. The goal is to offer patients a light, comfortable, adaptable, and breathable solution that is able to support and accompany them during daily activities as a natural extension of their upper body area.
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Designer
Benedetta Beltrami
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