Plenty of stamina in four years of development and testing. Now the finished product is coming onto the market. The interdisciplinary start-up “STEETS”, made up of three students from Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts and Paderborn University of Applied Sciences and Arts, launches the final version of its storage aid for walking aids at OTWorld, the leading trade fair for orthopaedic and rehabilitation technology.
“Done,” says Phil Janßen. He is holding a surprisingly small cardboard box in his hand. In it: the technical solution that will make life easier for millions of people who rely on walking aids. The module with four small legs prevents crutches from falling over. They can be set down in the open space with a simple hand movement. “As soon as the crutch is loaded with the body weight again, the system closes fully automatically thanks to the intelligent mechanism,” explains Phil Janßen. European crutches can be easily retrofitted with the “STEETS” module.
“The past few years have really been a ride,” reports Phil Janßen. Until recently, he studied for a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Design at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Most recently, his cinema spot against sexism in public spaces with sports presenter Frank Buschmann caused a stir in Dortmund. But his biggest project is “STEETS”. After seeing his family’s walking aids fall over several times, making everyday life more difficult, he was seized by the spirit of an inventor. Together with industrial engineer and biomedical technician Thorben Engel, an old school friend, and business economist Philipp Battisti, he developed the idea for the crutch support. In 2022, they had the first prototype ready. Now – on May 14, 2024 – the STEETS module will be officially presented at OTWorld in Leipzig, the leading trade fair for orthopaedic and rehabilitation technology.
“In recent years, we have worked intensively with doctors, therapists and people who use walking aids,” says STEETS Development Manager Thorben Engel. An important partner was the Dr. Becker Rhein-Sieg-Klinik in NRW, which specializes in rehabilitation. Head physician Prof. Dr. med. Klaus M. Peters has accompanied the young start-up and praises the idea, especially with regard to fall prevention. “The carefree placement of the crutch in an open space not only helps to make everyday life easier for those affected, but also enables users to grasp the crutch safely and quickly if they lose their balance thanks to the STEETS placement aid,” says Prof. Peters.
“The STEETS module fits on almost any crutch and can be easily installed using the mounting kit supplied,” explains Philipp Battisti. The shut-off module is activated via a small lever below the handle. The crutch stands securely. “In Germany alone, around 3.5 million people rely on walking aids every year,” he adds. Demand was already high before the official product launch. The team has already made a name for itself in many competitions in recent years. STEETS was a winner at greenhouse.ruhr, the start-up competition organized by Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the business development agency. Most recently, the start-up received an OWL Innovation Award from OstWestfalenLippe GmbH in April.
