Some of humankind’s greatest inventions were discovered by accident. Penicillin, matches and smoke detectors are but three of many examples.
Lynn Simoncini, a creative director at international marketing company VML, never thought of herself as an inventor. But after undergoing a double mastectomy following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2022, she discovered an unexpected source of pain.
Despite being a self-described “car girl”, Simoncini found that driving had become somewhat agonising after the surgery due to the way the seatbelt crossed her still-healing chest.
After a lightbulb moment, Simoncini sent an idea to the experience design director at Ford, which is a marketing partner of VML, and soon an innovative new device called the SupportBelt took shape.
As the first device of its kind to be designed and validated by a car manufacturer, the SupportBelt is made from a soft and breathable foam and has a concave shape that allows it to conform to various body types.
The device, which is manufactured by Lear Corp, fastens to the seat belt to help relieve pressure and reduce discomfort on the wearer’s chest.
Ford will be offering the SupportBelt to mastectomy patients in the US at no cost.
A Ford South Africa spokesperson told IOL that the SupportBelt’s availability outside of the US is still being determined, however those who are interested in acquiring one can fill in an Interest Form by clicking here. A sample has already been sent to the country and it is currently clearing customs.
Ford also sought the expertise of Michigan breast surgeon Dr Nayana Dekhne during the development phase of the SupportBelt.
“The surgery is so much more intense than one can imagine. Residual pain and sensitivities can last for months after surgery, making exposure to everyday objects painful and uncomfortable,” Dekhne said.
“It is also likely that there is a need for additional follow-up surgeries that make the need for this product ongoing past the initial mastectomy.”
Design intern Rima Shkoukani, who spent many long hours working on the product, said she hoped that the SupportBelt would help mastectomy patients recover from their surgeries more comfortably.
"I just want somebody who is using this product to be like, ‘I'm glad that there was somebody who understood what I am going through and considered this very specific small part of my recovery process in such a thoughtful and considerate way,'" Shkoukani said.
IOL