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Coloplast
 
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Project details


Year: 2004


The Corsinel support garment
is the first standardised medical device of its kind offering people with hernia problems a customised solution.



Press Release
Design with user involvement
27–01–2005


Coloplast has developed a support garment for people with hernia problems in an untraditional cooperation with two fashion and textile designers and a handful
of users who have experienced bodily what hernia problems are like The Corsinel support garment is the first standardised medical device of its kind offering people with hernia problems a customised solution. A hernia is a bulge
on the abdomen – and user problems vary from a feeling of
a gravitational pull to deformity and pain.

Design and user involvement

John Thesmer, R&D director in Coloplast’s Ostomy Products Division, says, ”Our cooperation with fashion and textile designers Annette Meyer and Astrid Krogh ensures that the design and functionality makes Corsinel look like ordinary underwear of good, durable quality. We know from
our dialogue with users that they do not like being reminded of
their medical condition. The functionality and appearance
of Corsinel meet their needs
in this respect.”

”Good design in most cases improves the quality of life of
the users. Our cooperation with the users provided valuable information about the needs
of people with hernia problems. Without this cooperation we
would never have developed as innovative a garment as Corsinel.”

The Corsinel support garment is an alternative to existing products like hernia bandages and belts.
It provides support, being made from an elastic, round-knitted textile, which is strong enough
to keep the hernia in place and
so flexible that the user’s free movement is unimpeded,” says R&D director John Thesmer.

Original and colourful clothes made by fashion designer Annette Meyer from disposable packaging have been on show in Tokyo, New York and Paris. One of the works of textile designer Astrid Krogh is a neon light wall called ”Polytics” in the Danish Parliament.

Functionality and quality of life

Group director Lars Rasmussen, Coloplast, says, ”It is quite common for design to be synonymous with functionality
and quality of life. Design plays
a vital role for Coloplast in the innovative process. Our business is driven by innovation. Nearly DKK 2bn of Coloplast’s DKK 6bn revenue is generated by products we did not know four years ago. And every new product is based on thorough insight into user needs. The development of the Corsinel support garment, for
one, is the result of an

Innovative dialogue with users

The Corsinel support garment
will be exhibited at the Danish Design Centre’s booth at the World Exposition 2005 to
be held in Japan this spring.

For further information:
The media are welcome to contact:


John Thesmer
Tel. (direct) +45 4911 1331
or mobile +45 3085 1331


Lars Rasmussen
Tel. (direct) +45 4911 1149
or mobile +45 3085 1149


Caroline Broge, tel. (direct)
Tel. (direct) +45 4911 1922
or mobile +45 3085 1922


Investors are welcome to contact:

Jørgen Fischer Ravn,
Tel. (direct) +45 4911 1308
or mobile +45 4911 1308


About Coloplast:

Coloplast is a growth business.
We develop, manufacture and market medical devices and services to an increasing number of users around the world. Our business areas include ostomy products, continence care products and products for wound care,
skin care and breast care. We work closely with nurses and product users in creating new
and improved products. Each
year at least 20% of our revenue is generated by new products,
with 97% of sales being generated outside Denmark. Our head-quarters are located in Humlebæk, Denmark. We manufacture in
the USA, Germany, Hungary, China, Costa Rica and Denmark and we employ more than
6,000 people.