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May 19, 2017 | By Tess

3D printed prosthetics company UNYQ will soon have its 3D printed Align scoliosis brace on permanent display at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, where it will stand alongside other innovative and historic pieces of architecture, sculpture, painting, costume, and design.

UNYQ’s 3D printed back brace, which was created in collaboration with Studio Bitonti, a New York City generative design firm, was first unveiled in September 2016 at the White House, and has since become an exemplar of sorts, showing how 3D printing can be used make orthotics accessible but also fashionable.

"With UNYQ Align, we removed what used to be a cumbersome hand-molding fabrication process and replaced it with topographic anatomical analysis and 3D printing capabilities,” explained Francis Bitonti, CEO of Bitonti Studios. “This significantly changes the brace fit, function, and wearability. It is wonderful to have the minimal UNYQ Align brace on display to showcase such an important integration of fashion, technology, and design.”

Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum

(Image: Alexisrael)

In the United States alone, an estimated seven million people live with some sort of spine curvature. And as those people will know, this condition can range from causing slight discomfort to serious, debilitating pain.

According to UNYQ, one of the challenges of treating such conditions as scoliosis is that they often require bulky and impractical back braces to be worn for 18 hours or more a day. By creating customized, lightweight, and fashionable 3D printed braces, UNYQ is aiming to facilitate scoliosis treatment.

In addition to being recognized by the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in Manhattan, UNYQ has announced the launch of its latest UNYQ Align offering: a digital modeling software that allows users to 3D scan, model, and 3D print customized back braces with relative ease.

As of June (which is incidentally also National Scoliosis Awareness Month), UNYQ will be making its Align digital modeling platform available through a number of pilot centers throughout the United States.

UNYQ CEO Eythor Bender commented on the news, saying: "We believe fashion is the platform that all wearers understand and look to for a sense of self and individuality. We are honored that our work with Studio Bitonti is being recognized at the Smithsonian and are equally excited to announce the digital modeling platform, which represents an evolution in scoliosis care."

Founded in 2014, UNYQ specializes in the development and production of customized 3D printed prosthetics and orthotics. Readers might be familiar with the company’s work, as it has turned out some stylish 3D printed prosthetic covers (including some military-inspired ones) over the years.

In line with its success, the company has also continued to grow substantially, and it now has offices in Seville, Spain; San Francisco, CA; and Charlotte, NC, where it recently opened up shop.

 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Application

 

 

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