Ergonomic Designs in SCBA's and Backpacks

 Unprecedented Concepts LLC is a company dedicated to creating innovative designs that enhance safety and improve performance. Our flagship product, the Advanced Spinal Mobility Frame (ASMF), was conceived by President Thomas Saggio, a retired Phoenix Fire Captain with 35 years of service in a large metropolitan city. With crucial technical input from retired Phoenix Fire Department SCBA Technician Steve Shuksta, we are confident and excited about the ASMF's potential to significantly reduce injuries and generate substantial cost savings on industrial claims.

While initially designed for firefighters, the ASMF's benefits quickly became evident for military personnel and outdoor enthusiasts who carry heavy loads. This revolutionary ergonomic design was born from Captain Saggio's personal experience with severe back injuries among his fire service colleagues, and it uniquely complements the natural mobility of the spine.

Traditional backpacks and load-bearing frames often feature a rigid, solid design that effectively splints and restricts the natural movement of the spine, much like a cast. This rigidity, particularly in the thoracic and upper lumbar regions, prevents the vertebrae and discs from moving as they should. Consequently, the lower lumbar area (L4-L5 and L5-S1), which is forced to compensate for the restricted upper spine, bears a disproportionate amount of stress. While normal walking and movement typically distribute stress evenly across the entire spine, traditional rigid frames concentrate this burden on the lower back. This increased stress is further compounded during activities like tripping, stumbling, or falling, leading to common and often severe injuries in the lower lumbar area. As a firefighter, I personally underwent multiple surgeries for injuries to these specific discs, directly attributable to my work.

Our innovative ASMF design fundamentally rethinks load carriage. It features a series of horizontal plates, positioned perpendicular to the spine, each connected by flexible metal cables. This unique construction allows for increased, natural movement throughout the entire spine, effectively distributing the workload and preventing the isolation and overstressing of the lumbar region. The ASMF is designed to ergonomically complement the body's natural mechanics, allowing vertebrae to function as intended with minimal restriction. This ensures axial stressors and loading are distributed evenly along the spine, rather than being centered on the vulnerable lower back.

We offer two primary models:

• ASMF-SB: Designed      with adapter plates for use with traditional Self-Contained Breathing      Apparatus (SCBA) bottles.
• ASMF-MB: Optimized      for multiple bottles, military applications, and general backpacking.

You might wonder what a retired Fire Captain knows about designing advanced SCBA frames. As well as my 35 years as a firefighter and Fire Captain, I concurrently dedicated 30 years to serving as a Paramedic and instructor. This extensive background provided me with a deep understanding of human physiology and the mechanisms of injury, often leading me to testify as an expert witness in court.

My motivation for the ASMF stemmed from a pervasive issue I observed: a pattern of severe low back injuries among firefighters across the country. These injuries, predominantly affecting the L3 to S1 discs, resulted in immense pain, ended careers prematurely, and cost billions annually in medical procedures. Often back injuries are the result of the accumulation of years of biomechanic stress, by minimizing signific biomechanical stressors we minimize high or repetitive stress beyond the tissue's capacity to overuse injuries like stress fractures, tendinitis, or degeneration. I recognized that while traditional SCBAs were indispensable tools, their rigid design inadvertently contributed to these debilitating injuries. Applying my knowledge of injury mechanics, I envisioned a revolutionary ergonomic solution that would complement, rather than restrict, spinal mobility.

To bring this vision to fruition, I collaborated with Steve Shuksta, a retired Phoenix Fire Department SCBA Technician with over 20 years of invaluable experience in SCBA maintenance and service. His technical expertise was instrumental in refining and perfecting the ASMF's design.