WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 3
Rich Hill company secures patent for innovative splint design
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
A patent has been secured for a new innovative
splint from Alphapointe, one of
the nation’s largest rehabilitation service
providers, with a manufacturing facility
in Richmond Hill.
Alphapointe has been working on designing
the Rigid Immobilization System
for Extremities (RISE) for four years in
conjunction with the U.S. Army. What
makes this splint diff erent is its ability
to fold, as it’s been designed ideally for
soldiers in the army to carry around in
their individual fi rst aid kits.
Alphapointe has been around for over
100 years and has primarily hired and
empowered people with vision loss. The
company is one of the largest employers
of people who are blind in the U.S., with
nearly 400 employees, more than half
of whom are blind or visually impaired.
The offi ce in Richmond Hill has about
200 workers.
“While we do offer rehabilitation
services, the focus of what we do is to
create meaningful jobs and employment
opportunities for people who are blind,”
Alphapointe COO Ryan Williams said.
“Alphapointe creating products for the
tactical and medical space allows us to
continue to create meaningful jobs for
people with vision loss and especially in
the Queens and New York area.”
The RISE splint has been tested by
military personnel at both Fort Hood,
Texas and Schofi eld Barracks in Oahu,
Hawaii. The splints are also available to
the general public, oft en used by hikers
and mountain climbers.
“The RISE Splint is one of the most
unique tactical/medical devices on the
market,” Williams said.
Alphapointe President and CEO Reinhard
Mabry said that the splint was in
high demand before the company even
secured the patent.
“The formal recognition of the patent
is the latest step in Alphapointe becoming
one of the premier tactical/medical
manufacturers in the country,” Mabry
said. “Prior to receiving this status, we
had already received orders for tens of
thousands of splints, which tells us that
we are meeting a critical demand for an
innovative product. And, we are thrilled
that in creating a unique and essential
product that we’re able to provide more
great jobs to people who are blind.”
The RISE splint is valuable in triage
situations due to its lightweight and
compact design, allowing non-medical
personnel to carry the item and treat
soldiers on the battlefi eld. The splint also
has the ability to be used for both limbs
and pelvic stabilization.
According to Alphapointe, the company
has produced nearly 500,000
lifesaving tactical and medical devices
to date.
The Alphapointe RISE splint is foldable and compact, making it ideal for
the Army. Photo courtesy of Alphapointe