Peking Union Medical College Hospital Licenses Intelligent Scoliosis Bracing Patent for RMB 500,000 to Funle Technology

Recently, Peking Union Medical College Hospital announced that it will"An Intelligent Scoliosis Correction Brace and System"Patent with5 million yuanProposed transaction price, transferred toBeijing Fule Science & Technology Development Co., LTD(hereinafter referred to as: Beijing Fule).

The person who completed this achievement isZhaoyu TeamProfessor Zhao Yu from the Department of Orthopedics at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, primarily conducts a series of research on spinal deformities and thoracic spinal stenosis. In the past five years, he has undertaken more than 10 scientific research projects, including key projects from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Natural Science Foundation, and has participated in the writing of multiple guidelines and standards. According to Patent Star data, Professor Zhao Yu's team currently holds 40 orthopedic-related patents (including utility models).

Beijing Fule is one of the earlier medical device companies in China engaged in the research, development, and production of orthopedic consumables. Currently, it has five major categories of products: spinal fixation series, limb trauma series, multifunctional external fixation frame series, sports medicine products, knee joint rehabilitation braces, and accompanying surgical instruments.Hundreds of devices approved。

This patent mainly involves the monitoring and correction of scoliosis. Currently, due to mass production, spinal orthoses are difficult to match with the "varied body data of thousands of patients," and it is also hard for orthoses to adjust synchronously with the patient's physical changes, resulting in limited corrective effects.This patent enables intelligent correction, significantly improving the correction effect while offering good adaptability, simple structure, and ease of mass production.

Scoliosis is a physical deformity caused by poor living habits or heredity and genes, commonly found in adolescents and children. According to the preliminary epidemiological data from the Scoliosis Prevention and Control Committee of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, there are already more than 5 million primary and secondary school students suffering from scoliosis in China. In recent years, due to changes in modern lifestyles, the number of adult scoliosis patients has also been increasing annually.

In patients with scoliosis, over 90% have a curvature of only 10° to 20°, which is considered mild to moderate scoliosis and can be treated with exercise rehabilitation alone. When the curvature exceeds 20°, surgical correction is required.

The most widely recognized and reliable non-surgical treatment is the use of spinal orthoses.Spinal orthoses can stabilize the spine, assist in correction, improve scoliosis, and reduce the likelihood of surgery for patients in the later stages. Currently, spinal orthoses can be further divided into three categories:Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis (CTLSO), Lumbar Sacral Orthosis (LSO), and Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis (TLSO)。

The functions of these three correctors, as well as the patient groups they target, are also different.Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral OrthosisIt is a type of orthosis with a cervical collar or upper metal structure. Primarily used to control and correct upper thoracic scoliosis deformities, its range of effect can extend to the cervical spine. The American Milwaukee brace is representative of cervico-thoraco-lumbo-sacral orthoses. It corrects the scoliotic angle by placing pads on the ribs at the convex side, but its effectiveness in correcting rotational deformities is limited. Additionally, one advantage of this brace is that it can be concealed under clothing without affecting the patient’s appearance.

Lumbosacral OrthosisCan support and fix the lumbosacral area, help reduce the load-bearing of the spine, limit the movement of the spine in certain directions, and achieve a corrective effect.Thoracolumbosacral OrthosisIt mainly acts on the armpit and lumbar vertebrae and is primarily used to control and correct lower thoracic scoliosis. Notably, the thoracolumbosacral orthosis belongs to a subcategory within the broader lumbosacral orthosis classification, but due to its high market share, it is often regarded as an independent category.

With the development of technology, spinal orthoses have emerged withDigital Medicine, Artificial IntelligenceThe trend of combined development of technologies provides patients with more precise and personalized treatment solutions.

In 2020,Rudolf Team of Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityPreviously, digital design of spinal braces was achieved through 3D printing technology. The 3D-printed scoliosis brace not only fits the human anatomy more effectively but also improves material utilization and offers a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. The team followed up with patients who had worn the device for six months. Twenty-four hours after the patients removed the brace, standing full-spine X-rays were taken, showing favorable correction results.

In 2021,Wang Jinwu's Team from the Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDeveloped an intelligent 3D-printed spinal corrector. The team installed multiple pressure sensors inside the corrector, which automatically adjust the airbags based on how well they fit the patient, ensuring the optimal corrective position at all times.

In China, spinal correctors have achieved domestic substitution, with some Chinese manufacturers emerging.Weigao, Dabo Medical, Chunli MedicalSuch as China-produced spinal consumables giants, whose product lines cover various orthoses from cervical to lumbosacral, meeting the needs of different patients. Additionally, there are alsoHuazhu Medical, Lingdong MedicalEnterprises specializing in the research, development, and production of spinal braces.

In 2019, Huazhu Medical Technology collaborated with the Meizhao Master Skills Studio and established the "Huazhi" brand, taking the lead in raising the banner for domestically produced scoliosis brace brands in China. Currently, Huazhi hasFour Approved for MarketingThe spinal correctors are all made using 3D printing technology. In addition to the correctors, Huazhi also provides insoles for foot intervention and rehabilitation training guidance around the issue of scoliosis, helping patients achieve more comprehensive rehabilitation.

Zero Dynamics MedicalNot solely focused on screening or rehabilitation alone, but rather building a complete system from screening and prevention, analysis and treatment, to health management., reduce patient dropout, and strengthen the continuity of treatment.

Currently, Zero Dynamics Medical has developed a range of products and digital management systems, including the Dr.Body-Scan Infrared 3D Spinal and Posture Analyzer, Dr. Body Posture Doctor mini-program, Dr. Body Posture Correcting Belt, Dr. Body Orthotic Insoles, and 3D Intelligent Orthotic Braces for abnormal spinal curvature, covering the entire process from scoliosis screening to conservative treatment.

Overall, the localization of spinal orthoses not only improves the accessibility of the products but also reduces costs, making high-quality treatment devices more affordable for patients. At the same time, compared with overseas enterprises, domestic companies can provide personalized correction solutions that better fit the physical characteristics and needs of Chinese people, achieving a dual improvement in both domestic technology and national health standards.