TOAST

TOAST stands for Testing of Orthopedic and ASsistive Technology. Mobilab & Care has built several self-developed test setups throughout our existence, and purchased the equipment for them. With these test setups, devices such as orthoses and prostheses are tested according to our own experimental evidence based protocols.

The TOAST project provides an expansion of our research infrastructure. This allows us to test orthopedic devices with a more standardized and normative methodology. TOAST shows what a thorough digital orthopedic workflow will look like in the future. This allows us to respond even better to the needs of companies and deepen and broaden our unique research.

The new test setups are unique within the Benelux and complement what is available at research groups from KU Leuven, UGent and VUB. The emergence of new production methods allows for a deeper personalization in the development of orthopedic devices, but they also need to undergo a correct and normative testing. This infrastructure expansion contributes to this.

New possibilities for testing

• The purchase of a commercially available test setup that allows mechanical tests to be performed on prosthetic feet, prosthetic components and orthoses according to the relevant new ISO standards: (ISO 10328: 2016, ISO 22675:2016, (+ISO 22523:2006)
• An upgrade of the existing robotic motion simulator & AFO test stands with load cells that allow the forces and moments acting on the tested device to be measured in different directions: specifically for leg prostheses and orthoses
• An upgrade with adapted robot tools and grippers for attachment of test objects, load cell and safety mechanisms) and installation of the already present faster KUKA kr16 robot. This new test setup is suitable for cyclic testing of orthopedic devices that are not subject to very large forces (e.g. hand and arm prostheses & orthoses, corsets).
• A BRUCE test setup, with which we can measure the characteristics of ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs).
• A computing cluster to process large amounts of 3D scan data. We can train AI algorithms with it, to design person-specific orthoses, prostheses or assistive technology.

Our role

Mobilab & Care is a research group that has always actively focused on testing devices. The test infrastructure can be used in research ranging from the development of new prostheses (both feet and sockets) and orthoses (AFO, active AFO, knee brace, wrist brace, insoles, exoskeletons), to the use of new production and design techniques such as 3D printing (prosthetic sockets, small devices) to AI-based design. In every phase of research, prototyping to end product, testing is crucial. These tests are typically used to determine the influences of design choices and material choices on the final strength, characteristics and safety of the end product.

Goal

The orthopedic sector is in a period of rapid innovation in the design and manufacture of orthoses, prostheses and exoskeletons. Digitization of design (from scan to print), new AI-driven designs, 3D-printed devices and associated new design possibilities, new materials, new control mechanisms and the embedding of sensors are the main examples of this. Mobilab & Care leads several projects that aim to help the field in various areas with these new innovations: researching and comparing design methods, testing, disseminating, designing prototypes, designing control mechanisms, determining influences of design choices etc. In all these phases of the research, testing is a crucial step.

In addition, historically, the orthopedic sector has worked very much “experience based”. An “evidence based” approach is now required, in which measuring characteristics becomes important.

In both the phases of research, development, and market readiness of the new processes and devices, there is a need for solid, evidence based and certified test setups to test and guarantee the strength, safety and characteristics of the new developments.