Competitor analysis of high-temperature and low-temperature thermoplastic, 3d-filament and polyvinyl chloride wrist orthoses | Biomedgrid

Physical therapy makes use of several types of devices in the rehabilitation process, such as the use of orthoses or prostheses, considered Assistive Technology (AT). The use of this type of device is old, being the first one dated in 2,300 B.C., and various materials have been used in its manufacture throughout history. There is a range of AT artifacts that help treat patients with reduced mobility, such as devices applied to any part of the body, especially on upper limbs, to increase range of motion. The State, which should guarantee its concession through the Unified Health System, is limited by the high cost and delay in the supply of products. Therefore, this work presents analysis based on the technical procedures of a descriptive study on the difference of orthosis materials of the high temperature, low temperature, 3D filament, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) thermoforming market. The analysis is performed according to weight variation, supported force for material deformation, local temperature before and after the use of the orthosis, device temperature, fabrication time, and values. After analysis, it was found that the high temperature orthosis is the heaviest and responds better under the applied load, besides supporting greater daily strength and less oscillation over temperature. The low temperature orthosis is lighter compared to the high temperature one, responds minimally to the load cell, and provides low temperature oscillation. The literature reports that 3D orthosis is the lightest of all evaluated, the third most resistant under the load cell, and exhibits low temperature rise. And the PVC orthosis has a similar weight to a low temperature orthosis and occupies a second placement in the load cell holder and temperature oscillation after use