Both the STARscanner™ and the STARband™ therapy are closely regulated to make sure that treatment is safe and achieves a positive outcome for babies, their parents and healthcare professionals. To ensure the highest quality of care and safety, all practitioners are highly trained orthotic professionals who receive regular reviews and updates from Technology in Motion and Orthomerica on current best practice in this specialist field.

To ensure positive outcomes for all types of head shape problems, the STAR™ range of cranial remoulding orthoses have been developed to make sure that whatever the original problem, the orthosis will allow growth to a more normal head shape. Not only by gauging and improving symmetry but also by looking at the normal width-to-length proportions and ensuring that as the head shape remodels during growth, it improves to give a definite improvement in overall shape. Why is this important? As children grow and start to develop and interact with society and peers it is important that they are given every opportunity to do the things that others do. Change hairstyles, swim without feeling self conscious, wear a cycle helmet, wear a riding helmet without pain or problems, wear glasses, have regular teeth. Also, in older life, the need to wear protective headgear may be important in their chosen career in industry or socially in motor sports. The STARband is designed to improve the life chances and keep open as many opportunities as possibilities for the infants that are treated. To date, thousands of infants have been successfully treated with the STARband and benefit from the treatment that they have received.

The STARband is produced by Orthomerica Products Inc. which received its FDA clearance to market and manufacture STARband cranial remoulding orthoses in July 2000. In the USA, the STARband is CE regulated as a Class II orthotic product which regulates the manufacturing methods, materials, record keeping, caregiver information and medical professional information requirements. For the protection of the infants cared for, Technology in Motion is committed to campaign for the introduction of similar regulation for all cranial remoulding orthoses and treatment in the UK.

Types of Orthoses

In line with Orthomerica’s continuing development policies, several types of cranial remoulding orthoses have been developed to meet the requirements of the infants who are presented to the centre. As with any treatment regime, there are many variables to consider when making the decisions on which orthosis to use and the original specifications to request when the orthosis is manufactured.

All these variables are taken into account when assessing your baby and it is important to us to make sure that the very best outcome with the shortest treatment time and minimum expense is gained for each individual baby.

The STARband is the most commonly used orthosis in the range and allows for the greatest flexibility in treatment decisions, from original specification for manufacturing modifications and for allowing ongoing treatment adjustments. It is used for infants who have moderate or severe head shape deformities within all ages able to be treated.

Originally designed for infants who have a long thin head shape, this orthosis has been found to be very successful when continuing treatment with a second orthosis and for older infants who require treatment.

Within the STAR range of orthoses, there are also other types available; the Clarren Helmet, STARlight side opening and STARband bivalve. Each will be considered with a view to bringing the best outcome when assessing the infant.