Celebrating Our Innovations
WingSling®
WingSling®
Innovators:
Dr. Mark Elzik, hand and wrist orthopedic surgeon, Providence St. Joseph’s Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo, CA
WingSling®
Innovators:
Dr. Mark Elzik, hand and wrist orthopedic surgeon, Providence St. Joseph’s Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo, CA
Inspiration: Lack of products to help patients easily, effectively, and comfortably elevate their hand and wrist after injury or surgery. Elevation is critical to reduce swelling, relieve pain, improve circulation, and speed healing. No product met patients’ needs for post-operative recovery and rehabilitation, and available slings only caused more problems and did not help patients with recovery.
Solution: WingSling® easily and securely elevates the hand above the heart with an ergonomically sound design and custom fit that can be worn comfortably for long periods of time while minimizing neck strain and performing all functions of a traditional sling.
Impact: More than 3 million U.S. patients experience hand and wrist injuries and surgeries each year. Increased elevation compliance improves pain management and speeds healing for patients. Elevation compliance also reduces preventable and unreimbursed staff time spent addressing post-surgical pain and other related issues.
Collaboration: Together Dr. Elzik and Innovation Lab created a concept rendering, then evolved the idea through several rounds of prototyping, feedback gathering, and iteration. We applied for a U.S. patent covering key elements of the product and were awarded a U.S. trademark for the name. To date, two versions have been developed: WingSling® for consumer use, and WingSling® LUX, a reimbursable version for healthcare use. WingSling® is available for direct purchase through a major U.S. pharmacy chain and through our distribution partner ii Lab+Co.
In Use At:
