OrthoRPMGR!P Hand Therapy Device

OVERVIEW

From the start, OrthoRPM’s vision was clear: develop a hand-held device to remotely test, record and report the grip strength of patients recovering from hand injuries to their therapists and doctors. Something that would replace the current method — patients squeezing a ball of putty at home, then testing grip strength on a dynamometer in the therapist’s office — and bring hand therapy into the future via a connected, SMART technology solution.

INSIGHT

A true soup-to-nuts project, Mighty Studios worked closely with OrthoRPM to first understand the challenges from both the patient and therapist perspectives and apply those learnings to the design and development of the final device. Taking a collaborative approach, Mighty worked through several phases, including conceptual and human factor design to determine the ergonomics, aesthetic, size, and shape; assessed and implemented the desired functionality while considering data collection parameters; prototyped up to 60 iterations of the final device with input from the client, and doctor testing and validation along the way; and developed the branding, packaging, and visual identity, including naming the device itself. The final product, Gr!p, is unique in that it measures individual finger strength — a data point that is not currently measured in this field — which has the potential to change the traditional approach and protocols for hand rehabilitation, all while creating a real-time connection between patient and doctor during the therapy process.