For starters, in December, the team unveiled a new level of fall protection in their working prototype. Fitted to a life-size mannequin, the vest proved that it was capable of sensing a backwards fall and inflating in time to protect the wearer. You can see the exciting test run below.

Runner-Up Award

The SAF-T vest also took runner up honors at the Walleye Tank, which is a start up pitch competition for local entrepreneurs. Davenport SAF-T Systems and the SAF-T vest took home runner-up honors in the mid-level reelers group. The team was among 13 groups invited to participate in the competition, which was hosted by the Mayo Clinic Office of Entrepreneurship and the University of Minnesota Venture Center. In addition to earning a Walleye Tank trophy, the runner-up honors included a cash prize of $4,000!

The SAF-T vest has also been garnering some media attention of late. Along with the recent post we made, the SAF-T vest was also discussed in pieces by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal and the Star-Tribune. Follow the links to learn more from these media sources.

So what’s up next for the SAF-T Vest? According to Ryan Davenport, the team has applied for grant money from several organizations, including the National Institutes of Health. They also expect to make a few small modifications to their existing prototype, and they plan to produce 2-3 more units in preparation for safety and evaluation studies involving adult volunteers. These assessments are on schedule to take place in early 2025.

We’ll continue to pass along updates as we learn about them, but for more information, please check out the Davenport SAF-T Systems website.

*Dr. Silverman sits on the advisory board for Davenport SAF-T Systems

The post An Update On The SAF-T Vest Progress appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.