Cor-Esc-25: A Low-Cost Prototype for Monitoring Brace Adherence and Pressure in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

The treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) requires the use of orthopedic braces. However, few current designs provide real-time monitoring or inform clinicians about the precise adjustment of therapeutic pressure. The objective of this study is to develop a low-cost open-system prototype capable of providing future researchers with objective information regarding brace adherence and adjustment. For adherence evaluation, a market study was conducted to identify temperature-measuring devices and a custom system was developed to measure adjustment. Cor-Esc-25 was developed to monitor brace adherence using a non-invasive temperature sensor which connects via Bluetooth to the parents' smartphone, which runs an app that uploads the data to an online platform accessible to clinicians. In addition, a custom-designed pressure sensing device was created. This system uses three patches connected to an acquisition board and are installed on the brace each time the patient visits the clinic. It connects to a customized application where clinicians can view all the information. Cor-Esc-25 represents a first step toward the creation of personalized consultations, where AIS treatment monitoring is based on objective criteria that consider both adherence and brace adjustment. Its design allows for easy integration into clinical settings, thereby improving the ability of researchers and clinicians to assess the effectiveness of brace treatment.