Rating only — no written review
Bauerfeind x Thetis Medical

One partner to manufacture and distribute the Achilles night splint.
Bauerfeind already sells the OrthoPrax Air Walker Pro into Achilles recovery. Thetis has the proven night splint. Together they complete the day/night pathway.
Achilles rupture · Bauerfeind
OrthoPrax for the day. Thetis for the night.
Bauerfeind already sells walker boots into Achilles rupture recovery. The OrthoPrax Air Walker Pro handles daytime immobilisation. Thetis adds the missing night-time product — and we are looking for one partner to manufacture and distribute it.

Day · immobilisation
OrthoPrax Air Walker Pro
Shell pneumatic walker boot with a dual-chamber air bladder, individually adjustable medial and lateral support, and a non-skid rocker bottom — already indicated for ankle sprains, stable fractures, and post-op foot and ankle care.
View product
Night · rest & sleep
Thetis Achilles Splint
A patented ~200 g ATR-specific splint that maintains plantarflexion when the walking boot comes off at night, at rest, or during hygiene.
The night problem
Patients struggle at night
In Achilles clinics, the same pattern appears repeatedly: patients are protected in a walking boot by day but struggle to sleep in it at night.
We surveyed Achilles rupture patients. 77% said the boot was:
Online launch
Live sales prove demand
Launched in 2022. Over 5,000 sold. Refined through 400+ prototypes into a left/right top-of-leg shell built for ATR sleep protection.
The Only Splint for Achilles Tendon Rupture
Finally, a comfortable solution for sleep. Designed alongside surgeons to protect your healing Achilles tendon while you get the rest you need.
Choose your Options
Recommended Size:
303 Global Ratings
Showing 5 of 171 reviews from Patients
Relief
Great product to use about five or six weeks into a ruptured Achilles injury instead of the heavy large clumsy dirty boot they pit you in. Keeps the foot in a great healing position and you get a good nights rest.
Excellent service and delivery
Excellent service and delivery. Loved the recovery tips. Love how this company has attention to detail, and looks after you.
gute Alternative zur Orthese
Eine gute und leichte Alternative wenn man die schwere Orthese nicht im Bett tragen möchte. Leider drückt das Teil ziemlich auf den Vorderfuss, dadurch behält man zwangsläufig die richtige Fußstellung ( was wohl so gedacht ist). War sehr zufrieden.
Comfortable and fit great
Perfect for sleeping!! I have a very injured Achilles tendon and this makes sleeping much better. It’s comfortable and fit perfectly. Also stayed in place while sleeping. I felt like my ankle was supported better in this than the boot I have.
Proof
Surgeons say yes
Leading foot and ankle surgeons recommend the splint for night-time use - the problem the walking boot cannot solve.
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“A game-changer in my practice. The splint's design prioritizes both comfort and functionality, enabling controlled, progressive recovery.”
Dr Robbie Ray
Foot and Ankle Surgeon
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“When I tore my own Achilles tendon, the hardest part was wearing the hospital boot in bed. This splint is certain to improve the recovery experience for patients.”
Mr James Davis
Past President of the British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
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“Makes complete sense to use something like this and I highly recommend this product. Comfort and usability all round.”
Mr Andy Roche
Foot and Ankle Surgeon
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“Worth every penny as it stops the misery of trying to get good nights sleep in an uncomfortable boot!”
Mr Ian Gill
Foot and Ankle Surgeon
Safety evidence
Clinically proven safety
Over 5,000 splints in use - zero reported re-ruptures. Post-market surveillance confirms night-time injury risk below 0.1% (95% CI).
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5,000+
Splints sold & tracked
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0
Reported re-ruptures
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<0.1%
Night injury risk upper bound (95% CI)
Recovery-period safety assessment recorded comparable protection to a walking boot with substantially better comfort for sleep (Sleeping safe and sound, BOFAS 2024).
EU MDR post-market surveillance (2022–2025) on 5,000+ splints sold shows the same safety profile: zero reported re-ruptures, with a 95% confidence interval upper bound for night-time injury below 0.1%.
- BOFAS 2024 - Sleeping safe and sound
- BOFAS 2023 - Mother Knows Best
- Post-market surveillance - EU MDR vigilance (2022–2025)
IP portfolio
Intellectual property
Thetis Medical owns a growing patent and design portfolio covering the Achilles rupture night splint - relevant for distribution, white-label, and in-region manufacturing under licence. UK and US design protection is in place; US and European utility patents are in late-stage examination.
Portfolio at a glance
UK registered designs
3 registrations — granted 2023
US design patents
3 patents — granted 2025
US utility patent
Application filed 2024 · examination ongoing
European patent (EP)
Pan-European utility application filed 2024 · examination ongoing
Design and utility protection supports distribution, white-label, and in-region manufacturing under licence - without starting from a blank IP slate.
Full portfolio schedule and filing status available to qualified partners under NDA.
Regulatory & quality
Regulatory & quality
Class I device - cleared, documented, and registered across OPED's core markets.
Documentation & quality
Technical documentation
Technical file, Declaration of Conformity, IFU, and risk management summary
Post-market surveillance
Vigilance and complaint handling processes in place
Manufacturing
Designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom
EU & UK
UKCA & CE marking
Class I medical device under EU/UK MDR
EUDAMED
Registered in the EU medical devices database
EC-REP
EU Authorised Representative appointed
MHRA
UK manufacturer registered with MHRA
UDI (GS1)
Unique Device Identifier assigned - traceable per unit
Global markets
FDA (United States)
510(k) exempt · establishment 3022381831 · listing D470976
MDEL (Canada)
Health Canada Medical Device Establishment Licence registered
TGA (Australia)
Included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)
Läkemedelsverket (Sweden)
Registered with Sweden's Medical Products Agency
INFARMED (Portugal)
Registered with Portugal's national medicines and health products authority
Full technical file and registration certificates available to qualified partners under NDA.
Partnership context
Why now
Thetis is profitable and growing without outside funding. We now have enough sales evidence, surgeon support, clinical evidence, and patient demand to scale through a manufacturer-distributor partner.
Steady unit growth
350 -> 2,600 units (2022-2026), before manufacturer distribution
90% direct to patient
~90% sold direct to patients today — clear demand before partner-led manufacturing and wholesale scaling
Proven pull-through
Patients search online when clinics do not stock it: 1.6m annual impressions, 24k clicks, and traffic growing ~2x per year
Splints sold per year
Growth achieved with ~90% of sales direct to patients, before partner-led manufacturing and distribution.
Dotted line = projected volume with Bauerfeind distribution
Why Bauerfeind fits
One partner to manufacture and distribute the splint.
Thetis is not looking to split manufacturing and distribution across different companies. Bauerfeind can make the splint, sell it through existing channels, and pair it with the OrthoPrax walker boot pathway you already own.
🇩🇪 Bauerfeind · manufacture + distribute
Your OrthoPrax Air Walker Pro already sits in the ATR recovery pathway. Thetis turns that boot-led offer into a complete day/night stack — manufacture d under Bauerfeind quality standards and distribute d through your existing medical and retail footprint.
Why the fit is strong
- 🏭
Manufacturing
Made in Germany
Bauerfeind already manufacture s medical-grade orthopaedic products to premium standards. Thetis needs a partner that can take the splint into production — not just resell it.
- 🥾
OrthoPrax walker boot
Existing ATR pathway
The OrthoPrax Air Walker Pro is already prescribed for ankle sprains, stable fractures, and post-op foot and ankle care. Thetis is the natural night-time companion to that boot.
- 🌐
Distribution
Medical + DTC reach
Bauerfeind already reaches clinicians, medical professionals, and patients directly. One partner can manufacture the splint and put it into those same channels alongside OrthoPrax.
The ask
Partnership with Bauerfeind
Thetis Medical is looking for one partner to both manufacture and distribute the Achilles night splint. Bauerfeind is a strong fit because you already make and sell walker boots — including the OrthoPrax Air Walker Pro — and can turn that pathway into a complete day/night recovery offer.
Manufacture the splint. Distribute it with OrthoPrax.
Proposal
- Review clinical evidence, IP, regulatory files, and manufacturing under NDA
- Manufacture the splint under Bauerfeind quality and production standards
- Distribute through existing medical-professional, orthopaedic, and DTC channels
- Launch an Achilles recovery offer pairing OrthoPrax Air Walker Pro with the night splint
Option 1
Licence
Bauerfeind licences Thetis IP and regulatory assets, then manufactures and distributes the splint under Bauerfeind branding alongside OrthoPrax.
- Royalty or per-unit licence fee
- Know-how transfer and clinical support
- Fastest route to a boot + night splint bundle
Option 2
Acquire
Bauerfeind acquires the splint business as a strategic portfolio extension — IP, regulatory files, customer base, and manufacturing know-how.
- Full ownership of category and margin
- Single integration across manufacture and distribution
- Founder support through handover, redesign, and launch