CASTomize | my-journey

CASTomize

CASTomize is a personalized 3D-printed cast, replacing the uncomfortable traditional plastered cast. Those who wear the plastered cast always complain about the discomfort and the inconveniences, such as itchiness, heavy and bulky, not waterproof and so on.

Our innovative product manifests itself as a beautifully 3D-printed modular and functional cast with honeycomb structures. It has 3 main features - Minimize, Catalyze, Customize.

Minimize: To reduce the discomfort and the inconveniences
Catalyze: To accelerate the bone recovery process
Customize: Personalized your own cast

Minimize

By using Kinect scanner, 3D printer and Fusion software, we design CASTomize cast that is made of Polyactic Acid Filament which is both waterproof and biodegradable. With this the cast will still retain its rigidity to restrict movement to facilitate natural healing of the fracture and at the same time, the honeycomb structure improves ventilation. With it being waterproof, users are also able to enjoy refreshing showers and partake daily activities without much concerns

Catalyze

CASTomize does not only provide support and immobilize the arm. It also enhances the recovery of the bone. With our creativity, we introduce the idea of functional tiles which adds rehabilitative capabilities and provide post care. CASTomize can be infused with rehabilitative mechanisms, such as hot and cold packs which will be in contact and pressed onto the skin of the injured area.

Currently, we are looking into developing Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupressure (TCMA) massage tiles to accelerate the healing.

Customize

The traditional cast is a one-piece design and there is no room for modularity. The breakthrough our project will achieve is its piece-wise design. It allows flexible interchangeability of functional tiles to infuse various different healing methods to enhance a patient’s recuperation.

CASTomize honeycomb design gives stability and structure integrity while minimizing the use of materials. In addition, the honeycomb structure has ventilation feature to air the arm

User wearing comfortable and rehabilitative CASTomize cast

Functional tile design that is infused with rehabilitative mechanisms, such as hot and cold packs which will be in contact and pressed onto the skin of the injured area

CASTomize Adventures

As a team of eager young entrepreneurs, we decided to join Create4Good Challenge 2017, which is five-year social initiative by the late Mr Kwek Leng Joo. Create4Good aims to improve lives, promote sustainable development and make Singapore a caring society by providing technological and entrepreneurial solutions to the built and natural environment.

To be qualified as one out of top five finalists, we spent a lot of time meticulously brainstorming, researching, and writing our proposal. Finally, we submitted our proposal to the Create4Good and we managed to secure one of the top five positions. As one of the five finalist teams, we received $10000 proof-of-concept funds to further develop our ideas and business, preparing ourselves for the final battle in the next few months.

After developing our prototype and honing our pitching skills, we were ready for the Final. Having been given only 10 minutes for presentations, each of the teams would be hard pressed to bring forth interesting aspects of their innovation and convince the judges why they deserved to win the grand prize. My team had fought very hard with our CASTomize business idea and we clinged the second runner up, with a winning prize of $20000 that will help to bring our ideas from a prototype to a self-sustaining initiative.

Besides the Create4Good Challenge, we continuously brought our idea across the public by participating and setting up booth in Tech-in-Asia, InnovFest and some school events. We also gained some mentorships from big companies, such as NAMIC (and funded us for $5000), Aspara, and SUTD's own DmanD (Digital Manufacturing and Design) Center. Furthermore, Dr. Wilson Wang, Head of Orthopedic Surgery in NUH (National University Hospital), David Isacc Matthews, Brand Strategy Director in Brandspace, and many more influential mentors had been advising us for our business idea development.

Currently, we are planning to make our business idea into start-up. Stay tuned.

Create4Good Challenge 2017 - Secure 2nd runner up with total winning prize $30000