Project Description:

Clubfoot is a birth defect causing a child’s foot or feet to be turned inward and downward, affecting 1 in 1,000 births every year in the U.S. Though clubfoot can significantly affect a child’s ability to walk, it is curable if families adhere to treatment over the course of many years. The standard of care is a bracing solution that rigidly connects a child’s feet to each other, causing discomfort and distress while sleeping.

Our team’s solution, the Dynamic Sock, eliminates the need for a bar, enabling a child to move their feet independently and comfortably. Our brace takes the form of a sock filled with lightweight beads. Using an alignment mat, the proper ankle orientation is set before air is vacuumed out from the sock through a 1-way valve. The brace stiffens, maintaining its shape and the angle of the foot needed for effective treatment.

Project Photo:

Student Team Members

• Hannah Yamagata
• Jenlu Pagnotta
• Delphine Tan

Course Faculty

Project Mentors, Sponsors, and Partners

• Dr. John Herzenberg
• Dr. Philip McClure
• Alissa Burkholder Murphy
• Rena Liu