Biomimetics in Orthotics

Biomimetics and Orthotics Derek Jones PhD., MBA A Bridge To New Insight And Inspiration

Bio-inspired engineering Be-inspired engineering

Its Fashionable..but is it just hype

Wananga “School of life” ✤

the Sky is the Roof

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the Earth is the Floor

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all Life Forms are Teachers

A pattern to encircle, envelop and crush..

A Metaphor to Solve a Problem Encircle it.

Look at it from different directions.

View from different perspectives.

Upside down - Back to front.

Zoom in - Zoom out.

Watch a Solution Grow!

What are you trying to achieve?

Keep focused on the goal

Orthosis - added to the body Start with the fundamentals - What is the problem?

Static Structures Progress through new materials and methods

New Horizons Technologies that behave like muscle, control methodologies that exploit principles of biological movement - device structures like the skeleton

Dynamic Structure Actuated AFO

1) Thermoplastic AFO 2) Series-elastic actuator 3) Angle sensor 4) Capacitive force sensors

From Herr, Whitely And Childress “Cyborg Technology - Biomimetic Orthotic And Prosthetic Technology�

Some process steps ✤

Identify the limitations of current functionality

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Formulate the gaps as biological questions - How in the World?

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Search for nature’s solution - Taxonomy

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Generate some product ideas ✤

unique?

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cost-effective?

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sustainable?

Orthoses are added and yet .. involve a cost •Control Motion at a Joint or Joints -

Allowing, Resisting, Blocking •Control Positions of Body Segments Correcting and Aligning •Redirect Forces from Body Tissue Relieving, Sharing Load Cost - Cosmesis, Comfort, Encumbrance, Weight, Ease of Use

How nature meets challenges Control Motion at a joint?

Control Positions of body segments ?

Redirect Forces from body tissue?

www.asknature.org

Animal Quills

Prevent Buckling Axial and bending loads?

Can we control joint positions under load without overt constraint?

Pea Stems

Western Pacific hexactinellid sponge

Exploring Strategy

Thin walled, dense outer shell Low density, cellular core

Grasping tendrils

Laminated Skeletal elements

Now you have your great concept!

But you still have a long way to go..

The pioneer’s problem Those who go first just might get opposition from the natives

Lead with Business Strategy Support with Design As businesses adapt to meet new market needs and opportunities, strategy must lead, design must contribute.

Designers must think like business people and create like artists