Therapy device blossoms with 3D printing and NMIS

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Entrepreneur Orlando Ely is using 3D printing and assistance from NMIS (National Manufacturing Institute Scotland) to develop Blossom, a therapy tool aimed at improving cognitive impairment and recovery from stroke.

Ely first created this device using an at-home 3D printer
Ely first created this device using an at-home 3D printer - Orlando Ely

Ely, winner of Innovate UK's 2023 Young Innovators award, designed Blossom after two close family members suffered strokes and whose rehabilitation process required a tool to improve and practice their fine motor skills. To date, the device has been tested in clinical consultation and by users from dementia groups.

He is now developing a 3D-printed prototype of the nature-inspired product in collaboration with NMIS, which is operated by the University of Strathclyde and is part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult. The project was also supported with £15,000 of funding from Innovate UK.

Blossom is a hand-held therapy device featuring three buildable flowers designed to challenge fine motor skills and enhance cognitive function.

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Users can practice arranging the petals and stamen, with each flower increasing in difficulty. Its design, incorporating various petal layouts, encourages users to engage hands and utilise 16 different pinch and grasp exercises.

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