Spinovo : Electronic garment for your back pain relief

Spinovo, an electronic pain relief garment designed by student designer Justine Smith of the University of New South Wales can prove to be tremendously helpful in alleviating chronic lower back pain. Unlike other acute back pain relievers available in the market, Spinovo, the ‘new spine’, offers more effective approach to relieve back pain by providing three most useful therapies - heating, cooling and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). The electronic piece of clothing also helps prevent acute back pain through postural feedback.

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Nowadays, lower back pain has become the most common as well as complicated health hazard. This long-term and often re-occurring problem is irrespective of gender, age and culture. However, the all new Spinovo has detachable circuit packs, clipped into it for providing an effectual and comprehensive solution with the sufferer. It also has a remote control interface to provide perfect biofeedback.

Spinovo can track both the motion and the position of the spinal cord with an integrated sensing element. The sensor, formed by combining a flexible film bend sensor and six electromyography sensors, also helps evaluate the functioning of the back muscles. The flexible film bend sensor, named 'Flexpoint' is awfully thin, stretchy, delicate, robust, and most importantly cost-effective. It can determine even minute changes in electrical resistance caused by the bend of the polyester film, with the single layer of carbon and polymer present within it.

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The sensor is so efficient that for a small movement of twenty-five millimeters, it can sense more than two hundred thousand changes in resistance. These variations in resistance are analyzed by the circuit packs, clipped into the garment. Moreover, the user can receive both the visual and aural feedback through backlit LEDs and a little speaker incorporated within the remote control system. There are also six additional electromyography sensors to sense muscle exhaustion through electrical signal processing. The smart piece of clothing can remain heated for around two and half hours with the help of two rechargeable Polymer lithium ion batteries of triple cell packs. The batteries, placed in the front pockets, are pivoted together for highest movement and flexibility.

Spinovo garments, with dimensions of 855 x 415 x 10mm, are made of various materials, such as Polyester knit, Ethylene-vinyl acetate foam, Silicone, and Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Different manufacturing methods can be used to produce this awesome pain reliever. Some of these include: Patternmaking, Thermoforming, Machine Sewing, and Injection Moulding.

Via: DesignAward/Gizmag