People with reduced mobility often face numerous challenges in their daily lives, dealing with a long journey filled with medical appointments, setbacks, hope, and disappointment. Leg&airy – Orthopedic Wonders, based in Baar, Switzerland, aims to support these patients, particularly children, by helping them regain mobility. Through the use of individually adapted orthoses, Leg&airy provides personalized follow-up care, utilizing modern services, intelligent technology, and tailored design to enhance the patient experience. The company integrates 3D printing and artificial intelligence (AI) into its solutions, striving to empower its customers to become resilient, transforming them into "legends" within their own journeys.
Faizan Mohammad, the CEO and co-founder of Leg&airy, shared his personal story of how the company came to be. After his son was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease in 2018, Faizan witnessed the long and challenging process of procuring orthopedic devices. This experience revealed a significant lack of innovation in the field and drove him to seek improvement for patients and their families. Starting in 2018 with orthotics for dogs, Leg&airy has since expanded to offer a full range of orthopedic solutions for humans, utilizing advanced 3D scanning technologies to ensure each product is lightweight, breathable, and tailored for optimal comfort.
3D printing is central to Leg&airy’s approach, allowing the creation of customized solutions for each patient. Previously, orthotic devices were tailored by hand, leading to potential inaccuracies depending on the technician’s expertise. With 3D printing, every product is designed to fit exactly to the patient’s body, setting a new standard for comfort and fit in orthotic devices.
For manufacturing, Leg&airy employs Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technologies, using materials like TPU and PA12 to achieve high precision and a minimal wall thickness. This choice not only enhances durability and skin compatibility but also emphasizes environmental sustainability, achieving significant material savings compared to traditional methods.
The integration of AI into the manufacturing process involves creating a digital twin for each orthosis, which allows for precise customization. Through collaborative research, Leg&airy is developing machine learning algorithms to automate the product fitting process, aiming to reduce wait times for patients while increasing scalability and access to their products.
When reflecting on their projects, Mohammad mentions the early prototypes as "learning opportunities" that paved the way for current innovations. He emphasizes the importance of continuous feedback from patients and doctors in refining their products and ensuring therapeutic success.
Looking to the future, Mohammad sees immense potential for 3D printing in the medical sector, emphasizing the uniqueness of each patient and their needs. He believes that the capabilities of 3D printing will revolutionize orthopedic care, ensuring that everyone has access to optimal treatment regardless of their physical appearance or conditions.
In closing, Leg&airy is committed to redefining the experience of wearing orthotics and prosthetics for children, ensuring that they can lead fulfilling lives and manage their daily activities with ease. For more information about their work, visit Leg&airy.