The MiracleFeet Brace: Medical Device for Clubfoot Treatment

A lot of work goes into successful clubfoot treatment, from identification, to casting, to the tenotomy. However, the stage of treatment most likely to determine long-term success is bracing. A key part of the Ponseti Method, children wear an abduction brace consisting of shoes and a bar which maintain the feet in the proper position as they grow. The brace phase of treatment is multifaceted so let’s break it down.

Bracing Challenges

Half of children in treatment do not wear their brace as prescribed, which often results in relapse. In addition, most braces are either high-quality but unaffordable ($200 – $1,000) or inexpensive ($8 – $40) but hard to use, uncomfortable for the child, and not easily scalable.

MiracleFeet partners reported the lack of an easy-to-use affordable brace was the single biggest impediment to scaling Ponseti treatment in their countries. Since braces are worn for up to four years after the completion of active treatment, and they are critical to long-term patient outcomes, MiracleFeet knew that scaling clubfoot treatment in low- and middle-income countries required a high-quality, low-cost solution.

MiracleFeet’s Brace Solution

MiracleFeet recognized that there was a need to fill when it came to clubfoot braces. In 2013 we set out to design a brace that would be affordable, easy to use, and durable.

The MiracleFeet Brace

The Collaborators

MiracleFeet then partnered with the Stanford d.school’s Extreme Affordability course to work on executing the design we had envisioned. Through this two-year process, and with support from corporate partners Suncast and Clarks Shoes, the Stanford team produced a sleek, high-quality, award-winning device.

Impact of the MiracleFeet Brace

Costing less than $20 to produce, the MiracleFeet Brace comes with all the functionality of the $350-$1,000 braces used in the U.S. It features a wider, more stable base, allowing kids to stand while wearing it; detachable shoes, making it easier for parents to put on a moving toddler; and sturdy, colorful plastic – making the brace look more like a toy than a medical device.

The end product achieved our initial vision: ease of use for the parent, comfort for the child, and improved treatment outcomes for clinicians. Providers and families alike are extremely satisfied with the MiracleFeet brace and early reports from clinical studies show that it is at least as effective as currently-available models.

In 2015, we sent our first major shipment out into the clubfoot world. To date, we have distributed over 18,047 pairs of shoes and 7,540 bars to 16 program partners and 13 technical assistance partners across 26 countries. Over the next year, MiracleFeet anticipates sending another 12,000 pairs of shoes and 8,000 bars around the world.

Recognition

The MiracleFeet Brace is FDA-registered, patented, and a recipient of numerous awards and media recognition.

Prototype for MiracleFeet Brace Sensor Wins Acclaimed Red Dot Design Award
Laureate at The Tech Awards in the Katherine M. Swanson Young Innovator category
The Global Health and Innovation Conference (GHIC) Prize at the Unite for Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference at Yale University
USAID DIV award for rollout and testing
Silver Award in the category of Health and Wellness at the Edison Awards
Fast Company Innovation by Design finalist
Jeff Yang and Ian Connolly win at Switchpoint Student Silo Busters Contest with the MiracleFeet brace
Brace featured on Wired.com
Brace featured in The New York Times
Brace featured on “The Big Idea” on MSNBC

Note: At this time, MiracleFeet focuses exclusively on bringing clubfoot treatment to low- and middle-income countries where access to proper treatment is difficult. The MiracleFeet brace was developed to fulfill an urgent need in select countries and is not currently available for purchase in the US.