Artificial intelligence, 3D technologies and app controls: Digitalisation is helping O&P professionals work more efficiently and flexibly. At EXPOLIFE (20-22 March 2025) in Kassel, the health tech company Ottobock will be presenting the latest digital tools and innovations at stand A03 in hall 1 and showcasing for the first time what a complete treatment process in a medical supply company can look like.

“Our new exhibition concept offers a comprehensive overview of everyday work in orthopaedic workshops. It shows how digitalisation can help improve processes, from digital documentation to patient scanning and precise digital modelling of the appropriate solution, to custom fabrication by our iFab service,” says Philipp Hoefer, Executive Board Member of Ottobock HealthCare Deutschland GmbH.

More efficiency in the workshop: digital twins and networked machines

Scan, model, produce (in-house or externally) and reproduce. Rather than time-consuming plaster work, taking measurements for prosthetic sockets or orthoses is much more efficient with Ottobock's EasyScan technology. Body parts can be measured to millimetre accuracy and the resulting data processed on a PC within minutes. Transfer from the test socket to the final socket is also quick and easy with the new digital TransferScan solution.

The devices are then fabricated in the iFab from Ottobock – sometimes using a 3D printer. Alternatively, technicians can also fabricate them in-house. The cloud-based work.hub from Ottobock connects the machines in the workshop with technicians’ smartphones. Push notifications about work progress or upcoming maintenance of the machines reduce unnecessary waiting and downtimes, leaving more time to care for patients.

Quickly proving device benefits with AI

The need for documentation is one of the biggest drains on the time of O&P professionals. In addition, even the smallest errors in the device reimbursement application could result in rejection by health insurance companies. Visitors to EXPOLIFE can try out the "smart documentation" solution themselves at the Ottobock exhibition stand. This digital innovation uses templates to simplify documentation and AI-powered gait pattern analyses to visualise the benefits of treatment, enabling consistent, high-quality documentation. A large language model also supports device reimbursement applications, with AI proposing wording based on the information provided by the O&P professionals.

Innovations in the field of prosthetics and neuro-orthotics

All aspects of the treatment process in orthopaedic workshops will be presented at Ottobock's 110 m² stand, along with its innovative medical technology devices that significantly improve the quality of life of their users: from Evanto, the latest innovation among mechanical prosthetic feet, to the next generation of the Genium X4 microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee joint, to intelligent hand prostheses that enable various gripping and twisting movements using muscle signals.

Visitors to the trade show can also find out more about the holistic treatment of neurological conditions. One highlight is the unique C-Brace stance and swing phase control orthosis. It makes walking possible again for people with partial or total paralysis of the knee extensors. People with partial or complete paralysis of the leg muscles benefit from the individual treatment options in the Nexgear orthotic joint range. Ottobock will also be presenting the next generation of the exopulse neuromodulation suit against spasticity and related pain.