PolySpine

A collaboration between UTS Rapido and Australian start-up PolySpine is transforming the lives of people with moderate to severe physical disability, opening the door to beach trips, aeroplane flights, canoeing excursions and more.

For people with conditions like cerebral palsy, quadriplegia, muscular dystrophy and motor neuron disease, recreational activities can be a challenging proposition. Sitting on the floor, in an airline seat or even at the dinner table is often impossible without adequate head and torso support. 

So, when Australian company PolySpine emerged on the start-up scene in 2020, the disability community took notice. Its product, PolySpine, is a lightweight exoskeleton that offers a unique opportunity for people with moderate to severe physical disabilities to experience more of the world outside their wheelchairs.

PolySpine is comprised of an injection-moulded ‘spine’ constructed using the highest quality materials and a durable cover made from medical-grade custom fabrics that are Bio-C tested. It also includes a chest harness and lap belt. 

The device is used in conjunction with a series of seating and recreational attachments that provide physical support, allowing users to participate in activities, like paddle boarding, bike riding or using a beach wheelchair, that would otherwise be out of reach.

The PolySpine team knew they were onto a winning idea. All they had to do now was get their device to market. With a little help from our applied R&D innovation hub, UTS Rapido, that’s what they did.

Establishing the partnership

The supply of medical devices in Australia is regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Medical devices must be included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), a public database of therapeutic goods, before they can be supplied in Australia.

For the PolySpine team, led by father and son creators Clint and Riley Saban, inclusion on the ARTG was the final hurdle before they could start manufacturing the PolySpine exoskeleton. Through an Innovation Connections Grant, the team was matched with UTS Rapido, an applied R&D innovation hub providing engineering and technology expertise.