Increasing the Independence of Children with Spina Bifida Through the Designing and Building of a Mechanical Aide

In order to assist Silas Hopper, a child with spina bifida, with getting into his wheelchair independently when being on the ground, the senior project team set out to construct a device that would fulfill that purpose. They did this through coming up with a strict definition of the problem to be solved, designing a number of potential solutions for the problem, prototyping to determine the feasibility of the solutions, making design modifications after testing the prototype, and building the final device. The end product was a device that was able to operate mechanically, with a design that considered safety and ergonomic standards. The estimated material cost of the device was $265, not counting labor or machinery. Testing yielded that Silas was able to use the device independently and successfully to move from the ground to his wheelchair seat. This had great implications for the lives of both Silas and his parents. After completing further modifications like adding a motor, dual button system to control the motor, and safety coverings to the device, it will be given to Silas permanently. The team hoped that awareness would be brought to spina bifida through the completion of this project, so future senior project groups or companies could use some of the lessons learned during this project and apply them to further improving the lives of those affected with spina bifida

Product design and development of a movable and removable plate

This project was performed in collaboration with ArjoHuntleigh’s Innovation Centre in Malmö, Sweden, from January 2014 to June 2014. The objective of the thesis was to design and develop a movable or removable plate/shelf. The Project has been carried out by using the methodology described in the book “Product development and Design” by Ulrich and Eppinger. The methodology has been modified to fit the project and the time frame. The boundaries and objectives have been set together with ArjoHuntleigh. Throughout the whole project Donald A. Norman’s book “The design of everyday things” was used as a source of inspiration. Research about similar products, products with useful functions and inspirational search and visits was carried out and was very helpful during the project. The result from the research showed that there are many different ways of developing good solutions. With all the information gathered, brainstorming was used to produce concepts. The concepts were evaluated and ranked based both on ArjoHuntleigh’s needs and the authors’ opinions. A final concept was chosen and further developed. During the further development tests were executed and results adapted to the solution. During the course of the project the objectives had to be narrowed to ease the development process. Therefore a new assignment directive was produced together with ArjoHuntleigh. The final solution consists of a footplate, for ArjoHuntleigh’s standing and raising aids, that is both movable and removable. A work flow of the footplate’s movements was developed. Because of the uniqueness of the solution a patent application was developed in the later stages of the project. The final solution shows that it is possible to develop a solution that fulfils both possibilities of the objectives; movable and removable. The solution also fulfils all the important demands set from the beginning of the project

CheckUp

https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/checkup/1407/thumbnail.jp

Suggested approach for establishing a rehabilitation engineering information service for the state of California

An ever expanding body of rehabilitation engineering technology is developing in this country, but it rarely reaches the people for whom it is intended. The increasing concern of state and federal departments of rehabilitation for this technology lag was the stimulus for a series of problem-solving workshops held in California during 1977. As a result of the workshops, the recommendation emerged that the California Department of Rehabilitation take the lead in the development of a coordinated delivery system that would eventually serve the entire state and be a model for similar systems across the nation