Development of orthotic devices may soon receive a boost with a Kerala based scientific institution collaborating with a Mohali based private manufacturer for co-development of such devices catering to clinical conditions such as osteoarthritis and diabetic foot ulcer.
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, Kerala (SCTIMST), an Institute of National Importance under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has signed an MoU with Tynor Orthotics Private Limited (Tynor), Mohali, to set up an Orthotics and Rehabilitation R&D vertical to promote indigenous device development in this sector towards the goal of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, a high priority target of the Govt of India.
Tynor, a manufacturer and exporter of high quality and affordable orthopedic appliances and fracture aids in India, will collaborate with SCTIMST for the co-development of Orthotic devices and to promote joint research programs in Orthotics and Rehab. Tynor has funded SCTIMST for Research and Development of two off-loading devices in diabetic foot ulcers and osteoarthritis patients. The project is planned for one year with Tynor contributing Rs 27 lakhs to the program.
This Institute-Industry collaboration’s main objective is to develop a cluster of orthoses for clinical conditions such as osteoarthritis and diabetic foot ulcer. The Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness a lucrative growth in the global diabetic foot ulcer therapeutics market owing to the increasing geriatric population, which is more prone to diabetes. The global Diabetic Foot ulcers and Pressure ulcer Market is expected to reach US$ 5265 million by 2025 with a compound annual growth rate(CAGR) of 6.6% from 2019-2025, which is quite alarming.
Similarly, the global knee braces market is growing due to the rising prevalence of osteoarthritis, an increasing number of orthopedic knee surgeries, and many sports injuries in athletics. The global knee braces market size was estimated at US$ 1.5 billion in 2018 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 4.3%. The growing burden of osteoarthritis, the increase in the target population, and the cost-effective and easy to wear braces are the major growth propellers for the market.
SCTIMST has done a considerable amount of R&D work in biomedical devices over the last 30 or more years and has established itself as a pioneer in this field. This collaboration with an industry leader for the co-development of ortho-rehab devices is a commendable step.
Tynor has planned to set up India’s first R&D center in orthopedic appliances, fracture aids, walking aids, compression garments, and footcare products. This center has been named TORNADO (Tynor Ortho Research N Appliance Development Organization) and aims to bring about technology and innovation-based disruption at a tornado scale. According to the press statement, this will be a novel center in which a cross-functional team consisting of experts from engineering, orthopedics, biomedical sciences, design shall be brought together to brainstorm and develop products as per the Indian patient’s requirements. Industry-academia collaboration is the key to achieve this feat.
