Home medical equipment (HME), orthotics and prosthetics are well represented in this year’s class of Red Dot Design Award Winners.
“The distinction ‘Red Dot’ has become established internationally as one of the most sought-after seals of quality for good design,” the Red Dot organization said in announcing the winners. The awards competition — with product design; brands and communication design; and design concept categories — is held annually.
Some Red Dot winners are already in production and available for sale; others are design concepts reminiscent of science fiction. Either way, creative designs offer new perspectives to ongoing patient needs. Here’s a selection of 2024 winners in the HME, orthotics and prosthetics segments. See mobility device and wheelchair winners in Mobility Management’s Red Dot coverage.
Click on the header of each product to see the full Red Dot entry. Images courtesy Red Dot Design Awards.
U•Bra
“A bespoke solution for post-mastectomy women unable to undergo reconstruction,” according to designers Maayan Kinsbursky and Yoav Sterman, both from Israel. Each U•Bra uses 3D-printed spacer fabric technology to achieve a custom fit that integrates the prosthesis and provides breathability, lightweight support and greater comfort while reducing asymmetries … and improving the confidence of the user.
RENASYS EDGE NPWT
This negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) system “applies sub-atmospheric pressure to aid wound healing while prioritizing patient discretion, simplifying turnaround between patients, and reducing maintenance overhead,” said the entry that was submitted by Smith and Nephew Medical Ltd. in the United Kingdom. The RENASYS EDGE NPWT system includes a graphical interface with a color display and step-by-step animations to facilitate both clinician training and patient use.
Respa Chups
The appealingly bright and friendly, lollipop-shaped inhaler designed especially for use by children diagnosed with asthma “provides intuitive use and training,” said its creator, UNIST of South Korea, in its Red Dot entry. A button on the side of the handle provides easy inhalation. “Sensors detect pressure, which is visualized with color-changing film and accompanied by haptic feedback, signaling proper inhalation” to support kids’ ability to use their Respa Chups inhaler independently … and while avoiding drawing unwanted attention from their peers.
Intelligent High Flow Respiratory Oxygen Therapy System
This hard-working system, currently in the design concept stage, proposes to log double duty as both a high-flow respiratory humidifier and a 10-liter oxygen production device “to ensure stable and optimal oxygen delivery,” said the Red Dot entry from Shenzhen Perth Industrial Design Company in China. The design concept currently “features a vertical layout with a 5.3-inch touch screen for easy control and a space-saving stacked design, making it suitable for medical and home use.”
Pulse Portable Onboard Oxygen Concentrator
Shenzhen Perth Industrial Design Company’s pulse dose portable oxygen concentrator features a cylindrical design for greater portability and ease of use. Patients can choose between a wireless remote control or wired control, while the backpack design leaves the patient’s arms free for other activities. In addition to mounting the concentrator on a user’s back — backpack style — the system can also be mounted to the back of a car headrest, “ensuring smooth nasal cannula interaction, [and] effectively solving issues with traditional in-car placements.”
LEG-UP
LEG-UP’s creator — George Philp at Massey University in New Zealand — said this design concept entry “redefines orthotics with advanced technology, offering customizable detailing and rapid digital data translation for quick fabrication. Using photogrammetry for remote scanning and semi-autonomous design ensures a perfect fit.” LEG-UP’s noteworthy features include breathable perforations, interchangeable straps, single-handed adjustment, and adjustable ratchet buckles to keep this brace loose enough to feel comfortable, but snug enough to stay securely in place. The result is a new way to maximize independence as users move through their world.
Growth Prosthetics
Designers at Dallan Minzu University in China created this design concept because adolescents grow … often rapidly. That fact of life can result in kids outgrowing their expensive prosthetics yearly, “wasting resources and incurring high costs.” Growth Prosthetics embraces the idea of technology that keeps pace with kids as they change. This design features an extendable, adjustable design and expandable foot sizing to keep up with bigger kids as they grow.
Anatomic Line Platinum 3D Back Support
Manufactured by Anatomic Line in Thessaloniki, Greece, this back support “was designed to support and stabilize the lumbar spine as well as the core muscles.” Soft, breathable, moisture-regulating fabric is comfortable for the patient even when the support is worn for longer periods, and a special knitting technique results in three varying levels of compression. A removable silicone pad supports the natural curvature of the spine. The back support is available in six different sizes so consumers can find the best possible fit.
Grab Rail
Vitility MIXED.Industries BV, in Tilburg, Netherlands, impressed judges by submitting a slim and elegant grab bar “with reliable functionality and impressive design language.” The Grab Rail can be used in the bathroom, of course, but thanks to its minimalistic, unobtrusive appearance, it will also look right at home in other areas, such as in hallways or near doors. Installation requires just two screws, but the Grab Rail supports up to 330 lbs. (150 kg) to ensure it’s right there when consumers need a little extra help.
Wireless TENS
The Red Dot jury lauded the design of the Wireless TENS for allowing “freedom of movement during use. Both the design and the high level of functionality are impressive.” Manufactured by Changsha Yuwen Technology Company in China, the device uses magnets “to seamlessly attach the miniaturized units to the electrode pads. The design makes it ideal for use on the go and in the office.”