PhysiPal
SafeFlex: Rehabilitation Device
2021
Research, Concept + Development
SafeFlex by PhysiPal
Empowering patients to play an active role in their rehabilitation
Product Design + Development: Industrial Design and Mechanical Engineering
SafeFlex is an innovative device designed to provide safe, effective, and clinician-grade home therapy for knee movement rehabilitation post-surgery. Developed with the user's comfort and recovery in mind, SafeFlex features an ergonomic handle and a patented hinge design. This design mimics natural knee movement, enhancing both the therapy's effectiveness and user comfort. Its stylish, user-friendly design encourages consistent exercise, crucial for effective rehabilitation at home. Addressing the problem of knee rehabilitation, which is often a challenging and painful process, SafeFlex was created with the needs of 1 in 6 Australians who undergo knee replacement in mind, particularly considering that about 20% report dissatisfaction with their recovery. SafeFlex aims to bridge the gap between clinical appointments by providing patients with an affordable and a user-friendly design — empowering patients to play an active role in their rehabilitation journey.
Evidence Based + Easy to Use
SafeFlex by PhysiPal: Clinical-grade home rehabilitation Therapy
SafeFlex distinguishes itself by focusing on accessibility and clinical efficacy, contrasting with other devices that often incorporate complex technologies. This product is designed to be easy to use, lightweight, and requires minimal strength or coordination, making it ideal for the elderly or those in pain. SafeFlex includes built-in safeguards to prevent overexertion, ensuring safe usage. Its unique design, centred around analogue mechanisms, makes the product affordable and fulfils the evidence-based requirements for effective therapy. D+I collaborated with PhysiPal to develop a friendly brand aesthetic for SafeFlex, combined with a proprietary mechanism that manually manipulates the flexion movement and force resistance in the knee, along with an integrated 'Knee Movement Visual Indicator' to display the knee’s bend angle. The result is a truly unique design that is affordable and accessible, with IP developed in the hinge and unique use of gear reduction mechanisms to create clinician-grade therapy in a natural knee biomechanic.
