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Marking Malleoli for Richie Brace

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The Importance of Marking the Malleoli for Richie Braces

Ensuring a precise fit for orthotic devices like the Richie Brace is crucial for both comfort and functionality. A key step in achieving this perfect fit is marking the apex of the medial and lateral malleoli. This simple yet effective practice can make a significant difference in the outcome for patients.

Why Marking Matters

Marking the malleoli helps eliminate guesswork during the fabrication process. When the apex of these bony prominences is indicated, it guides Firefly’s design team in accurately aligning the brace to your patient’s anatomy. This ensures the brace provides the intended support and correction, reducing the likelihood of discomfort or the need for adjustments.

How to Mark the Malleoli

Whether you’re using traditional casting methods or digital scanning technology, marking the malleoli is straightforward. For traditional casting, a felt-tip marker or dark pen can be used to highlight these areas on the cast. This visible mark guides the lab technicians in their work, ensuring they have precise reference points.

For podiatrists using Firefly’s scanning app FUSION, the malleoli should be identified before scanning by placing a material such as felt on the medial and lateral malleoli. These two exaggerated locations are then easily identified in the final scan file. This digital precision translates to a better-fitting orthotic device.

Prone or Supine Position?

When it comes to positioning the patient for marking the malleoli, both prone and supine positions can be effective. The choice depends on the practitioner/patient’s preference and the specific requirements of the scan or cast. The key is to ensure the malleoli are clearly marked and easily visible in the chosen position.

Support and Resources

At Firefly, we are dedicated to supporting practitioners in delivering the best care to their patients. Whether you need assistance with casting, scanning, or selecting the right Richie Brace solution, we are here to help. Our comprehensive range of resources includes detailed guides, expert consultations, and access to the latest advancements in orthotic technology.

Explore our full range of orthotic solutions, including Richie Braces, and discover how precise marking and expert craftsmanship can enhance patient outcomes.

EARTH DAY 2021

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Earth Day 2021 makes us think about the decision we make and how they impact our environment. At Firefly, we too have given thought to how our actions have an impact. Find out how we can help you make smarter podiatric related environmental decisions.

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Sustainable 3D Printed Range of Orthotics // Webinar

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Watch our sustainable 3D printed custom foot orthoses launch webinar. Our new range of 3D printed orthoses are manufactured from a plant based PA11 material.

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Win an iPad & Structure Sensor combo at Firefly stand

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It’s annual conference week and we’re packing out bags to fly out to Glasgow.  Included in our luggage are an iPad Mini and Structure Sensor which we will be giving away on Saturday evening of the conference.

Firefly will give away iPad & Structure Sensor at this weeks conference

Firefly will give away iPad & Structure Sensor at this weeks conference

Visit the Firefly stand to win an iPad & Structure Sensor

Make sure to visit the Firefly Stand [stand number 131-133] in the exhibition space, where you can enter the draw for these amazing pieces of equipment.  The world of Podiatry is no different to any other industry and technology is positively effecting how we as podiatrists interact and treat our patients.

In Firefly’s Podiatry clinics across Ireland, our Podiatrists have embraced technology such as the iPad and Structure Sensor to capture 3D images of patient’s feet.  In essence, this technology is replacing traditional casting techniques such as plater of Paris and foam boxes casting.

ipad-give-away2

These technologies bring a number of distinct advantages when introduced to your clinic. The most obvious advantage when using the iPad/Structure Sensor is the speed at which you can capture patient foot image data.  You don’t have to prepare gloves, plaster and water basin. You don’t have to remove the plaster cast and wait for it to dry. With the iPad, you simply sync the iPad and Structure Sensor point the camera at the patient’s foot and rotate the device around the foot to capture the foot in 3D format.

castingFoot

Plaster of Paris casting technique

Firefly’s Digital Order Forms

At Firefly we also recommend using our digital fillable order forms when submitting 3D scans to our laboratory. Once the 3D scan is captured, our digital order forms can be filled out on an iPad and sent to Firefly by email. This significantly reduces the lead time for your patient.  You are no longer reliant on Royal Mail when submitting the cast or foam impression. Instead Royal Mail is used only to distribute your Firefly custom made orthoses.

If you are attending this year’s COP Conference in Glasgow and wish to see the iPad and Structure Sensor being demonstrated, make sure to attend one of the two workshops Firefly will be hosting during the conference. The first takes place on Thursday 17th, from 6pm to 6.15pm and the second is on Friday 18th from 3.30pm to 3.45pm.

Wiivv, NSOLS and Mobisit

Find out more about what Firefly will be exhibiting at this year’s conference by visiting our conference overview here. Read about Wiivv Wearable 3D printed custom insoles, and Firefly’s new over the counter orthotics, NSOLS. Finally, we’ll be exhibiting a new lower limb joint mobility application, the Mobisit- read all about this and more here.

SOLS RX: The Firefly Opinion

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After concluding our SOLS RX trial programme, Firefly bring you an overview of the feedback collected regarding the prescription 3D printed custom made orthoses.

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Firefly Orthoses launch new website

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Firefly Orthoses wish to present our new, innovative website. We’re delighted to bring you a digital resource designed to offer greater insight in to our product range. Central to the design of the new website is the quick and easy access to the resources of most value to Podiatrists.

Functionality

The new website is designed with the Podiatrist in mind, presenting Firefly’s range of custom made orthoses in an innovative format. By clicking on any image of our custom orthoses on the Products page, the Podiatrist is presented with a photographic image of the selected orthosis accompanied by a highly descriptive, exploded style illustration of the orthosis. To the right of the visual representations of each orthoses is found the Lab Standard Description of each product. This details the various materials that feature in the device, suitable device application, optional shell materials and the level of control the device offers.

Product display example

Product display

At Firefly we pride ourselves on how we provide support to our customers. Our Technical Support Department interact with Podiatrists across the UK and Ireland, on a daily basis, via phone and email. The website now offers Podiatrists direct access to our Technical Support staff through the contact form on the Technical Support page.

Education

Knowledge is power and at Firefly we want to empower visitors to our website with a wealth of Podiatric knowledge by accessing our Education section. Our new website presents all three of Firefly’s Podiatric Biomechanic Symposia alongside access to the A-Footprint Project newsletters and an extensive list of academic articles relevant to custom made orthoses and the wider field of Podiatry. We hope you enjoy browsing the new website and that it becomes a resource your turn to regularly.