MDNews - Minnesota

Thomas Tillges THOM A S TILLGE S joined TCOP as Operations Manager in 2015. He holds a Bachelor of Administration in operations and supply chain management from the University of St. Thomas. Before joining TCOP, Thomas was a production controller at Pentair Inc., where he gained exten- sive knowledge in lean manufactur- ing initiatives and business automa- tion processes. robotic carvers in general have found applications in the orthotics and prosthetics space, it's rare to find a robotic carver with this many axes at a central fabrication facility like Tillges Technologies. "If a facility isn't creating orthotic and prosthetic devices by hand, then it's using some type of carver," Michael Tillges says. "Our 7-axis robotic carver is one of only three in the country that are being used in the orthotic and prosthetic field." A robotic carver is essentially a robotic arm with a carving tool, and every axis it has allows it to move in a different direction. Additional axes mean additional degrees of freedom and a wider range of motion, allowing for more efficiency and complexity during manufacture of prosthetic and orthotic devices. For example, a robotic carver with one axis would only be able to move along one directional plane, such as left and right along the x-axis. A 2-axis robotic carver can move up and down along the y-axis in addition to left and right along the x-axis, while a 3-axis robotic carver can move backward and forward along the z-axis in addition to utilizing the x- and y-axes. The 7-a xis robotic carver is able to speed pro- duction times due to its large number of axes and integration with computer-aided design/computer- aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) software. "CAD/CAM allows us to scan a patient's limb or torso instead of using a plaster cast," Thomas Tillges says. " We can modify the scan on the computer, which improves our manufacturing efficiency by upward of 60 percent." In addition, the CAD/CAM integration allows TCOP and Tillges Technologies to automate and standardize a large part of the production process, which improves quality control and further decreases the time it takes to make a device. "CAD/CAM offers us a level of standardization that helps separate us from other orthotic and prosthetic manufacturers," Thomas Tillges says. "We are always looking for ways to streamline production, improve quality and reduce turnaround time." MORE THAN TECHNOLOGY A long with having access to literal cutting-edge technology at Tillges Technologies, TCOP does more than simply fit patients for orthotic and prosthetic devices. TCOP's team of certified clinicians, assis- tants, fitters and other staff members collaborates closely with physicians and therapists to meet the needs of patients comprehensively. "We try to identify other needs that the patient might have in addition to the deficiency that the device will address," Michael Tillges says. "We also refer patients back to physicians if we see something that could be treated without a device." In some cases, TCOP helps educate patients and physicians to address misconceptions or concerns about orthotic and prosthetic devices. "Some patients don't necessarily need to wear a brace all day long," Steve Tillges says. "They might start the day without wearing the brace, but around lunchtime, they may need an AFO to get them through the afternoon and evening." TCOP a lso remains part of patients' care teams after they have received their orthosis or prosthesis. By following up with patients reg ula rly, TCOP is able to refer them back to physicians or physi- ca l and occupationa l therapists for treatment or rehabilitation when necessary. To learn more about how TCOP uses modern tech- nology to fabricate advanced orthotic and prosthetic devices, visit tcopinc.com. n M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S M I N N E S O TA ■ 2 019 1 7

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