MANILA, SEPT 30 – Researchers from the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM)-National Institute of Health have developed an innovative and affordable medical device capable of stabilizing and supporting broken bones.
Called Project iFix, it aims to provide a cost-effective, locally produced alternative to fixers or fixator traditional metal exteriors, which are often expensive and inaccessible to many patients.
“Locally available external fixing systems can do the job, but we want to find ways to do it better. The strength of locally available builds is untested and their use is challenging. Our idea was to produce an external fixation system that would be strength tested, easy to use and affordable,” said Dr Emmanuel Estrella, orthopedic surgeon and team leader of the iFix Project.
External fixation devices are used to quickly and efficiently stabilize broken long bones, such as in the arms and legs. It consists of clamps, and metal rods, and pins that are inserted into the bone through the skin. This is then connected to the outer frame. The device can be adjusted to ensure the bone remains in an optimal position during the healing process.
Fracture treatment usually requires external fixation costing tens of thousands of pesos. Philippine Health Insurance Company only covers P14,000 to P36,000 of procedures and devices.
The team has developed and tested prototypes of the devices and orthopedic surgeons are evaluating them on cadaver bones.
“We want to make sure that end users will be able to use it effectively and easily. Biomechanical tests have been performed and the clamp design has shown great strength, comparable to local fixation systems. The application to be tested with real patients will be the second phase of our next study,” said Estrella.
The iFix Project Team consisting of Estrella, and engineer Jason Pechardo, Eduardo Magdaluyo Jr. and Miguel Aljibe from UPM’s Laboratory of Surgical Innovation and Biotechnology are in the process of obtaining a patent for the device.
They plan to work with local manufacturers to produce the iFix system in the Philippines. This initiative is expected to boost the local industry while making the device widely accessible.
According to the researchers, the advantage of the iFix Project is the combination of less complicated components and the use of existing flexible materials for faster connection to the rod. This design allows for hand tightening and maintains the same level of adjustability as the existing, widely recognized Hoffman fixator.
“Our design has fewer components, which can reduce costs but still maintain the functionality and reliability of the device. We try to balance between high-end models that are often too expensive and models that are more affordable but of poor quality,” said Pechardo. – ANN/Philippine Daily Inquirer
