Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Hospital Licenses 3D-Printed Thoracolumbar Orthosis Technology for RMB 1.5 Million

Recently, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, intends to reach a licensing agreement with relevant parties for the invention patent titled “Generation Method and System for Thoracolumbar Correction Devices Based on 3D Printing Technology.” The total contract amount is RMB 1.5 million, with an initial payment of RMB 150,000.

According to the public notice on cash rewards for the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements released by the university, this patent was led by Wang Huiwen, Head Nurse at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. It represents a typical outcome of innovative practices by frontline clinical personnel who directly addressed industry pain points, such as the poor comfort and low correction accuracy of traditional thoracolumbar orthotic devices.

This patent provides a comprehensive digital orthotic generation solution. According to the patent specification, its core process is divided into three steps:

First, by acquiring the user's torso scan data and information on thoracolumbar spine issues, a precise personalized torso structural model is constructed;

Secondly, the model identifies the type and severity of thoracolumbar abnormalities in users and generates personalized correction strategies (including compression range, support range, and target compression depth);

Finally, and most critically, the key innovation lies in simulating the entire execution process of the correction strategy within a torso structural model. Through iterative simulation, it predicts correction outcomes and dynamically adjusts the strategy, ultimately generating a series of parameters for corrective devices required at different stages of treatment. These final devices are then directly fabricated via 3D printing (additive manufacturing).

This technology is primarily applied to the non-surgical treatment of thoracolumbar disorders, with its target patient population significantly overlapping with those suffering from adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, adult degenerative scoliosis/postural issues, vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis, and post-spinal surgery patients. Traditional thoracolumbar orthotic devices suffer from four core pain points: cumbersome manufacturing processes, poor comfort, limited functionality, and inadequate aesthetics. Conventional fabrication relies on manual molding and trimming, resulting in lead times ranging from several days to weeks; the resulting orthoses are made from heavy, non-breathable materials, leading to low patient compliance. Furthermore, their functionality is limited to static support, lacking dynamic monitoring and management of the correction process.

According to the patent specification, the advancement of this technology is reflected in its highly personalized and forward-looking correction planning capabilities. By adopting a digital workflow (replacing traditional impression-taking with 3D scanning), it significantly shortens the production cycle, and leverages 3D printing technology to achieve lightweight and highly breathable orthoses.

Its most prominent advantage lies in the introduction of a dynamic simulation-based correction mechanism: the system can simulate the effects of applying corrective forces within a virtual model. If the correction fails to meet expectations, it automatically identifies new types and degrees of anomalies, updates the correction strategy, and re-simulates the process. This iterative cycle continues until the simulated correction is completed. This enables doctors and patients to obtain a series of orthoses designed for the entire treatment course, covering different stages, right at the beginning of therapy. It eliminates the inefficient traditional workflow of repeated follow-up visits, re-impression taking, and appliance fabrication, thereby achieving “one-time modeling for a full-course correction plan” and significantly enhancing the precision and efficiency of the correction.

In the field of 3D-printed thoracolumbar orthoses, a competitive landscape has emerged globally, with traditional giants, innovative startups, and technology providers vying for market share.

Össur, as an industry pioneer, has established a mature digital workflow through its “DIGITAL” solutions and Spinal Jacket products. DJO Global, leveraging its “3D TALY” technology platform, is driving the digital transformation of its traditional orthotics business.

In the startup sector, UNYQ focuses on enhancing the aesthetics of orthoses and patients’ psychological acceptance through its unique lattice patterns and customizable colors. Mecuris, meanwhile, has built a cloud-based digital service ecosystem that empowers clinics to carry out customized production.

It is worth noting that although Materialise, a global giant in 3D printing software, does not directly manufacture orthoses, its “Materialise OrthoInsight” software suite serves as the core technological foundation for numerous companies to build their solutions, playing a pivotal role as both an enabler and a “shovel seller.”