TIDAL: Feasibility Research

One of TIDAL’s core aims was to co-ordinate, inspire and support underpinning research leading to the development of new technologies, and to services that harness advances in digital design, manufacturing and data analysis techniques. We awarded around £60k to each of 9 interdisciplinary teams who have an excellent research hypothesis for solving a clear unmet need relating to one of our research themes.

The aim was for each project to create a proof-of-concept that would enable the collaborators behind it to secure follow-on funding to develop their ideas further, and ultimately to create marketable solutions that address real, unmet AT-user needs.

Responsible Engineering projects

• 16 Expressions of Interest

• 8 full applications

• Ideas ranging from understanding and assessing abandonment, to improving the performance of prosthetics so that users actually want to use them.

• Two projects selected for funding:

An affordable and flexible prosthetic socket

Led by Dr Michael Berthaume of London SouthBank University

A project using co-design approaches and a team with expertise in design, sustainable economy, anthropology, mechanical engineering, and P&O (prosthetics and orthotics), to design a flexible, breathable prosthetic socket for use in low-resource settings. A flexible socket made from locally available, reusable resources would reduce waste, carbon emissions, and aid in prosthetic use.

Video: An affordable and flexible prosthetic socket

A Person Based Approach to the Development of Upper Limb Prostheses

Led by Dr Benjamin Metcalfe from Bath University

A project to address the high abandonment rates for upper limb prosthesis due to the mismatch between user needs and device performance, by using an approach to technology development and evaluation that integrates the user as a key stakeholder into the research process, not just as a passive voice but as a true co-creator.

Video: A person based approach to the development of upper limb prostheses

DMS and Physical Devices projects

• 14 Expressions of Interest

• 7 full applications

• Ideas ranging from automatic interpretation of full colour scans to reduce costs in the digital design of prostheses, to a methodology for embedding patient psychology and needs into a digital design and manufacturing process.  

• Four projects were selected for funding.

Remote capture of patient data for bespoke socket design

Led by Elena Seminati (Bath University) and Dr Nicola Bailey (Kings College London).

A project to develop methodology to remotely capture patient data for a custom socket design. This will alleviate the burden of travel, reduce costs and minimise time scales, whilst providing maximum effective care and removing many barriers to improve prosthetic access.

Video: Remote capture of patient data for bespoke socket design

Algorithmic design of functionally graded prosthetic liners

Led by Dr Ben Oldfrey of UCL

A project to develop new repairability or life-prolonging strategies for composite material structures enabled by additive manufacturing, which can replicate many advantageous structures found in biological tissues, but don’t facilitate material recovery and standard sustainability strategies.

Video: Algorithmic design of functionally graded prosthetic liners

Bespoke entry-level Wheelchair Rugby chairs through Advanced Distributed Manufacturing

Led by Timothy Whitehead, Aston University.

Wheelchair rugby is a critical sport for people with disabilities to develop a sense of community, rehabilitate, and maintain an active lifestyle. However, in low-income countries, wheelchairs, especially sports chairs, are very expensive, and lack the bespoke customisation required for increased comfort and performance. This project will test a concept for a bespoke wheelchair which could be made using Additive Manufacturing, to overcome these issues.

Video: Bespoke entry-level wheelchair rugby chairs through advanced distributed manufacturing

Improving the efficiency of co-designing personalised assistive technology through utilising digital design and manufacturing systems

Led by Jonathan Howard, Swansea Bay University Health Board.

The goal of this project is to develop a blueprint for a digital design and manufacturing (DDM) clinical service. DDM will make the co-design process more time, cost and resource-efficient and support the sharing of designs with other clinicians and service users, helping to overcome associated barriers to AT use. This will increase the uptake of personalised AT production by clinicians, leading to improved AT designs and greater levels of patient empowerment.

Video: Improving the efficiency of co-designing personalised AT

Feasibility of a novel non-pneumatic wheelchair tyre with adaptive spoke technology

Led by Otis Wyatt, Staffordshire University.

Manual wheelchairs are essential for many individuals with reduced mobility but users can experience problems such as musculoskeletal injuries, back pain, and pressure sores, which may arise from current designs. Yet there is very little research into optimising wheelchair design. This feasibility study investigated whether the adoption of flexible-spoke, non-pneumatic tyres (NPTs) can enhance the quality of life for wheelchair users by significantly improving comfort, propulsion efficiency, braking performance, and manoeuvrability while reducing the risk of injuries.

Video: Can a completely different kind of wheel improve quality of life for wheelchair users?

Sensors, Data and Communication Aids projects

• 19 Expressions of Interest

• 11 full applications

• Ideas ranging from smart prosthetic design to using AI in cochlea implants

• 2 projects were selected for funding.

Physiological validation of a novel photonic biosensor

Led by Matthew Dyson, Newcastle University.

In this project, an engineer will collaborate with a clinical musculoskeletal specialist to test the characteristics of a low cost photonic sensor with potential applications in a variety of AT. This will include testing the performance of the sensor with different skin tones, which is very timely following the revelation during the Covid pandemic that pulse oximetry sensors often don’t work with darker skin tones and may give false readings.

Video: Physiological validation of a novel photonic biosensor

Towards improved communication of music via hearing aids and consumer devices exploiting wearable sensors

Led by Duncan Williams, Salford University

A project to address the poor performance of hearing aids for music. Speech dominates the development and fitting of hearing aids, yet music is a vital part of being human, bringing people together and improving health and wellbeing in many ways.  The project will use feedback from wearable sensors to improve and individualise the reproduction of music.

Video: How can we improve the experience of listening to music through hearing aids?