Torso simulator could lead to better back brace designs

Engineers have for the first time created a simulator mimicking the mechanical behaviour of the human torso – which could lead to innovations in the design of medical back supports.

Claimed to be the first of its kind, the simulator will let researchers test different back brace designs and configurations without needing to test them on people.

The simulator was developed by a team from Lancaster University’s Engineering Department and Dr Jane Martindale of the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust and includes a male torso-shaped mechanical test rig, alongside computer simulation models. According to the university, it also includes a 3D-printed spine and rib cage, created using modified CAD models derived from CT scans of a human spine, and a torso with geometries and other properties that closely resemble and behave like human tissues.

The rig also allows for different spine configurations and deformities, such as scoliosis, to be modelled and tested with different back braces without causing discomfort to human testers.