A data-driven solution that optimizes ankle-foot-orthopedic braces for children (OrthoSense)

OrthoSense by Leg&airy revolutionizes ankle-foot orthotics by turning subjective brace fitting into data- driven care. Embedded sensors capture pressure data, enabling AI driven biomechanical algorithms to tailor each brace’s shape and fit to the individual patient while enabling patients tracking.

Description

About 40 million people require orthotics and prosthetics, yet only 15% have access. Manual device fitting lacks precision, causing pressure injuries in 12% of patients. Children struggle to communicate discomfort, making adjustments even harder. Long wait times (12 weeks) and multiple follow-up visits force patients to endure pain and mobility challenges. Worse still, children can outgrow devices before they even receive them, rendering the design outdated or even dangerous. Inadequate braces can leave children with life-long malformations.

The science-based OrthoSense system brings a paradigm shift, introducing quantitative data into the qualitative and subjective ancle-foot-orthotic (AFO) care. OrthoSense incorporate advanced sensors to record 3D pressure profiles (plantar + circumferential), which is used by the AI-driven biomechanical simulation to design highly personalized devices. OrthoSense platform monitors patients in real-time and enables timely and cost-effective intervention.

Key data

Projectlead

Dr. Ricardo Chavarriaga

Co-Projectlead

Prof. Dr. Barbara Röhrnbauer, Corina Schaer (Leg&airy AG)

Project team

Dr. Frank-Peter Schilling, Dr. Marc André Stadelmann, Dr. Michaela Nusser, Faizan Mohammad (Leg&airy AG), Morgan Sangeux (Universitäts-Kinderspital beider Basel), Prof. Dr. Thomas Dreher (Kinderspital Zürich - Eleonorenstiftung)

Project partners

Leg&airy AG; Kinderspital Zürich - Eleonorenstiftung; Universitäts-Kinderspital beider Basel

Project status

Start imminent, 01/2026

Institute/Centre

Centre for Artificial Intelligence (CAI); Institute of Mechanical Systems (IMES)

Funding partner

Innosuisse Innovationsprojekt

Project budget

936'791 CHF

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