Geneva Inventions

50th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (2025) - Gold Medal

2025-04-13
Awarded Project: Mass Customisation of Breathable Lightweight Hip Protectors for the Elderly via Automatic Inverse Design and 3D Printing

The International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva is the world’s largest annual event devoted exclusively to inventions and the licensing market. 

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This project aims to develop a novel light-weight hip protective device for elderly. The hip protectors are designed based on Asian body size and pelvis shape and developed through 3D-printing at a reasonable cost. These protectors can be attached to pants for impact force attenuation. Through the optimisation of the thickness, surface area and hardness of the pads, the pads achieve greater protective value than current pads. The improved breathability and reduction in weight can also enhance comfort and willingness to wear the pads.

Falls can lead to serious consequences to the elderly, including fractures and other physical frailty. As the hip fracture is the most common fracture site, this project targets to strengthen hip protection to reduce the injuries suffered by the elderly when they fall.

Lightweight breathable hip protector