What do we make?

Orthotic devices tend to be a little more complex, in that each patient who presents has a different diagnosis and hence different requirement from the device. This is distinct from prostheses: each below knee amputee receives basically the same thing, custom-made and adjusted to their way of walking. But if two people come in with weak leg muscles, they will not necessarily both receive the same kind of leg brace!

Orthoses are made in pretty much the same way as prostheses, by taking a cast of the affected body part, be it arm, neck, back, leg or foot and then rectifying the cast to get a good fit or correction of a deformity as required.

Orthoses, however, are made in pretty much the same way as prostheses, by taking a cast of the affected body part, be it arm, neck, back, leg or foot and then rectifying the cast to get a good fit or correction of a deformity as required.

We also make custom insoles to accommodate deformed feet or to spread the body weight over the whole of the sole of the foot to avoid high pressure areas.

People who have been affected by leprosy, are often left without feeling in their feet which is particularly dangerous if, for example, they get a stone in their shoe. They will not know and will keep walking until they have worn a hole in their skin, and this can lead to an infection which will take a long time to heal. If the wound is not allowed to heal - difficult when you have to plant your rice and you feel no pain in the foot - the infection can spread and end up requiring amputation. For this reason education is also very important for these patients.

 

What other devices does COPE make?

We make other equipment like standing frames and walking aids.

Standing frame	Walking frame	Walking Frame

We are developing other items to improve independence; the picture in the above right is our new model of chair for children with cerebral palsy developed by our technicians in Luang Prabang.

We manufacture wheelchairs as well....

The wheelchair project is currently run by AAR, but is part of COPE. Our local staff have been trained in assessment and prescription skills and we have an onsite production facility as a part of our rehabilitation center in Vientiane where AAR (Japan) are working to design and build suitable wheelchsirs and tricycles.

All the manufacturing resources are bought locally where available and the workshop employees learn valuable skills while receiving a working wage. In common with the rest of COPE people with disabilities are especially iinvited to apply for work and training opportunities. Currently 400 devices a year are produced and distributed through the provincial rehabilitation centers.