Advancing Scoliosis Treatment: Development and Evaluation of Anisotropic Textile Brace (ATB) for Enhanced Patient Compliance

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) presents significant challenges in treatment adherence, particularly with traditional full-time hard braces, which are often uncomfortable and psychologically burdensome for patients. This study focuses on the development and evaluation of a new generation of Anisotropic Textile Brace (ATB) designed to enhance patient compliance by improving comfort and flexibility while maintaining the efficacy of traditional braces in reducing spinal curvature. Our research addresses the limitations of existing rigid braces. The ATB incorporates intelligent padding and an exoskeleton with hinged vertebrae. These innovations aim to provide corrective forces and optimize treatment outcomes. The study involves a systematic clinical wear trial with 30 subjects aged 10 to 16, diagnosed with AIS. Throughout the trial, we assessed the effectiveness of the ATB using full-spine coronal and sagittal X-ray imaging with an EOS system, measuring parameters such as Cobb angle, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, and lumbar lordosis. Preliminary results suggest that the ATB maintains or reduces spinal curvature without increasing patient discomfort. Continuous feedback from participants regarding wear comfort and flexibility informed iterative design improvements. This study demonstrates the potential of the ATB to revolutionize scoliosis treatment by balancing functionality with enhanced patient compliance, ultimately improving long-term outcomes for AIS patients.