In short
Designing a custom spinal brace traditionally relies on tape measurements or a plaster cast of the torso. MyFit mobile 3D scanning replaces this step with digital capture via smartphone, completed in just a few minutes with a healthcare professional. The resulting data — a 3D model and digital measurements — is then sent to the manufacturer, who designs the brace or recommends a standard size. This approach supports remote follow-up, requires no specialized equipment, and remains complementary to a medical prescription.
What is a custom spinal brace?
An orthopedic spinal brace is a medical device designed to stabilize or improve spinal disorders. Worn against the body, it immobilizes the spine in a specific position and provides external support to maintain proper alignment.
There are several types of medical spinal braces:
- lumbar support braces;
- oval braces;
- thoracolumbar support braces;
- cervical collars (commonly known as neck braces).
They’re prescribed by a general practitioner or an orthotist, notably to treat conditions such as scoliosis, a herniated disc, lumbar arthrosis, or kyphosis.
What criteria determine the design of a custom spinal brace?
Several criteria come into play: the patient’s age, their morphology, mobility level, the condition involved — for example scoliosis monitoring — and anatomical factors specific to each person. Based on this data, the healthcare professional determines the brace’s characteristics.
A reliable measurement is essential to define the size and shape of the device: the brace needs to be closely fitted to the patient’s morphology to fulfill its support function, while staying comfortable over the wearing period — which can extend over several months.
Why does 3D scanning change how a custom spinal brace is designed?
Designing a custom spinal brace traditionally involves three steps: taking measurements (tape measure or plaster cast), processing those measurements to define the right type of brace, and manufacturing the device.
MyFit mobile 3D scanning transforms the first step. Rather than a plaster cast or manual measurement, torso capture is done via a mobile app, with no specialized hardware or extra equipment. This approach relies on MyFit mobile photogrammetry: several photos of the torso, taken with a smartphone, make it possible to reconstruct a 3D model and extract usable digital measurements from it.
How does a 3D scan work for designing a custom spinal brace?
Step 1: digital torso capture
Capture is done via a mobile app, relying on a tool already in the pocket of both patients and healthcare professionals: the smartphone. On-screen augmented reality guides support the capture to make the process easier.
Scanning the torso requires assistance: the patient can’t do it alone. Two profiles can be involved:
- a referring physician, who performs the scan at the clinic or hospital and sends the data directly to the manufacturer;
- an orthotist, for whom the scan replaces manual measurement or casting, with measurements obtained in a simple, reproducible way.
Step 2: 3D reconstruction and digital measurements
Once the photos are captured, they’re processed to reconstruct a 3D model faithful to the patient’s morphology, with color and texture rendering. The healthcare professional can view this model on a dedicated web platform, access the associated digital measurements, and reuse them in other business tools.
This step can also be performed remotely: the scan can be done at the patient’s home or with a professional nearby, before the results are sent to the referring practitioner.
Step 3: sending the data to the manufacturer for brace design
The 3D model and digital measurements are then sent to the medical device company in charge of manufacturing, which can:
- design a fully custom spinal brace based on the patient’s morphological data — the same way as other custom orthoses and prostheses, such as a custom rigid brace;
- or recommend a standard brace size, when that option suits the condition.
3D scanning vs. traditional measurement: what’s the difference for spinal brace design?
| Criteria | Traditional measurement | MyFit mobile 3D scanning |
| Method | Tape measure or plaster cast | Digital capture via smartphone |
| Required equipment | Plaster, bandages, tape measure | None, just the smartphone camera |
| Measurement time | Variable, often longer | A few minutes |
| Repeatability | Depends on the operator | Guided by the app, more reproducible |
| Patient comfort | Prolonged physical contact (casting) | No casting |
| Remote capability | No | Possible, with an assistant |
| Usable data | Manual measurements | 3D model + digital measurements, reusable in business tools |
What are the benefits of mobile 3D scanning for spinal brace design?
For healthcare professionals, this approach offers a solution that’s:
- simple: capture is done via a mobile app, with no heavy training or dedicated hardware;
- reliable: the digital measurements obtained are directly usable for brace design;
- guided: the app supports the capture to make the professional’s job easier;
- reproducible: a high repeatability rate limits the need to redo a measurement.
For patients, taking measurements becomes:
- free of prolonged physical casting: eventually, no more systematic trips for a torso cast;
- fast: the scan takes just a few minutes, including remotely, with no need to wait for an in-person appointment.
For manufacturers, this approach can help reduce product return rates and improve customer satisfaction, by relying on more reliable morphological data than manual measurements.
FAQ
A general practitioner or an orthotist, depending on the patient’s condition and how it’s evolving.
Wearing time varies by prescription: it can start at 20-25 minutes a day and gradually increase over several weeks, for a treatment that can last several months.
It provides usable, reproducible digital measurements, directly reusable by the manufacturer for brace design or standard size recommendation.
Yes. The patient can’t perform a full torso scan alone; a healthcare professional or an assistant is needed to carry out the capture.
