MEMBERSHIP
ACPOC Industry Partner Spotlight
ACPOC would like to thank our Industry Partners! You are essential to achieving our mission of improving quality of care for patients. In each ACPOC News Issue, we would like to recognize a Industry Partner on their story of how your company came to be, a new product you you want to share or share or a parent/patient who has a compelling story you would like to share. These featured Industry Partners are highlighted in our ACPOC news, social media channels, and on the ACPOC website.
A New STAR is Born – the STARband 3D from Orthomerica
The STARband® 3D is the newest edition to the STAR Family of cranial remolding orthoses from Orthomerica. As the company’s latest innovation, the STARband 3D is a testament to Orthomerica’s commitment to advancing cranial care programs and achieving exceptional clinical outcomes for infants needing this treatment.
Made with the latest additive manufacturing technology, the STARband 3D is lightweight and comfortable, with increased ventilation for better airflow and cooling. Its bivalve design enhances donning and doffing while its zone padding provides adjustability over the entire treatment period.
With over 20 years of experience as the global leader in cranial products, Orthomerica understands that each infant requires a unique approach. The STAR Family of cranial remolding orthoses (CRO) features seven designs that cranial care experts customize to address the individual needs of each infant and family. STARband designs treat plagiocephaly, brachycephaly, scaphocephaly, and other head shape deformities. Over 600,000 infants have been successfully treated with a STARband – the first CRO to market in the orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) profession with FDA clearance.
“The STARband 3D is another example of Orthomerica’s commitment to this special patient population,” said Christina Hinton, Cranial Products Manager at Orthomerica. “With 3D printing, we offer different levels of design flexibility while still maintaining the structural integrity needed with reduced weight. Another plus is that the STARband 3D minimizes waste with environmentally friendly materials.”
Orthomerica is committed to supporting cranial care programs for our customers around the world. New Beginnings Orthotics and Prosthetics in Warwick, Rhode Island is one of Orthomerica’s customers that uses the STARband 3D in their clinical practice.
With decades of experience treating plagiocephaly and other head shape deformities with cranial remolding helmets, Orthomerica asked New Beginnings Orthotics and Prosthetics and their practitioners to participate in the beta testing for the new 3D-printed cranial remolding orthosis. New Beginnings’ expert cranial clinicians completed the necessary education and training to provide the STARband 3D and then provided feedback to Orthomerica throughout the beta testing period. The new CRO has since been approved by the FDA and is now an option for practitioners and their patients.
Orthomerica’s 3D-printed headband is designed to produce the same results as the traditional STARband cranial remolding orthosis by providing a hold over specific areas of an infant’s head with void spaces for new head growth. The headbands do not apply force on a baby’s head, rather they are a passive treatment that allows the baby’s natural growth to promote a more desired symmetrical and proportional head shape.
“Treatment time is affected by many factors, including the severity of the baby’s head shape, the age of the baby at the start of treatment with a CRO, and compliance with the wearing schedule,” said Brian Pelkey, CPO and CoFounder of New Beginnings Orthotics and Prosthetics. “Treatment times are often shorter when the cranial orthosis treatment begins when the baby is between the ages of 4-6 months.”
The cranial clinicians at New Beginnings Orthotics and Prosthetics are thrilled to offer the 3D printed CRO to our patients as an option because of its innovative technology and advanced cranial treatment while maintaining structural integrity. They are lighter, more ventilated, and less bulky. The bi-valve design makes it easier for parents and caregivers to don and doff the cranial headband. New Beginnings reported that treatment time was slightly reduced with the 3D-printed headband in some of their patients.
Parents have come to New Beginnings requesting the 3D-printed headband because of their independent research and desire to obtain the headband for their baby’s treatment. The office staff at New Beginnings surveyed several parents for feedback and the consensus was that the 3D-printed CROs are easy to use, lightweight, and thin. They also reported less sweating for the baby due to the added ventilation and that they are very easy to put on and take off. Several parents suggested offering the 3D design in a variety of colors.
The team at New Beginnings advises families that there are bows designed to decorate cranial headbands and they work on the surface of the 3D-printed headbands as well as all the others. New Beginnings provides this information to parents when they choose the headband for their baby, so they know either way they have options for decorating and personalizing the cranial headband.
The STARband is the most prescribed cranial remolding orthosis in the world. The STAR Family of orthotic designs includes several design variations to best meet the needs of the patient and their family. STARbands are designed to allow for the successful completion of treatment for nearly all plagiocephalic and brachycephalic head shapes in a single orthosis. Orthomerica is excited to provide the newest member of that Family – the STARband 3D – to its global clinical partners like Brian Pelkey at New Beginnings. Experience the difference of the STARband 3D in your cranial care program.