Tulane University Biomedical Engineering Department Spring Design Show March 7, 2009

1. Tulane University Biomedical Engineering Department Spring Design Show March 7, 2009 Biomedical Engineering students made made their best showing ever in the BME design show held on Saturday, March 7, on the Tulane main campus. These are students who spent their first semester as freshman off campus evacuated for Hurricane Katrina. Although the number of teams was down by half from previous years, the quality of product showed dedication and excellent engineering skill. Teams First Place Winner C.R.A.F.T.E.E. Second Place Winner Team Optimus Third Place Winner Team Green Wave Modern Innovations Scissor Venture Design

2. Team C.R.A.F.T.E.E. Automated Leg Rests for a Wheelchair First Place Winner The team designed leg rests lifts for a client who depends on a wheelchair for mobility. Leg elevation relieves discomfort from arthritis and edema. Assistance was required to adjust the original leg rests due to the location of the manual controls and physical strength required. In addition, the client's feet need to reach the floor to propel along because arthritis in her shoulders prevent maneuvering the chair with her arms. The success of the project enables the client to be more independent in day-to-day routine by allowing for autonomous control of the leg rests. The existing design utilizes manual controls which cause discomfort and limited mobility. Investigation indicates a large demand for cost-effective, actuated leg rests. The current budget is approximately half of the cost required to add this option to a powered wheelchair. Team Members: Danielle Gill, Chris Millan, Chris Rodell, Scott Vermeulen

3. Team C.R.A.F.T.E.E. Leg Lifts for a Wheelchair First Place Winner The client's requests constitute two separate problems: (1) Powered elevation of leg rests, (2) Re-design and automation of calf pad mounting. Design Goals: Minimize noise, ease of use, retain detachability of leg rests, allow for a reasonable recharging schedule for battery, proper range of motion, including correct elevation and calf-pad position. Solution: Elevation is accomplished with an integrated linear actuator system. Actuators are mounted beneath the chair and operate independently by means of a single control. Chair with powered elevation leg rests Remote control Battery

4. Team C.R.A.F.T.E.E. Leg Lifts for a Wheelchair First Place Winner Calf pad automation: Rotation of the calf pads is accomplished using a solenoid operated locking mechanism. This required re-design of the mounting bracket and connection of solenoids. Both the selenoids and actuators are controlled by an integrated control system. Power is supplied by a standard uninterruptable power supply. Elevated leg rests Team member with client Team demonstration

5. Team Optimus Wheelchair to Toilet Transfer System Second Place Winner The client is an elementary school wheelchair-dependent student who needs assistance using the restroom. Caregivers have difficulty transferring her from her wheelchair to the toilet, a physically demanding process that currently takes 15-20 minutes. Design Solution: Wall-mounted steel track spanning entire width of restroom, low-resistance trolley with magnetic brake, mechanical pulley rated at 1000 lbs., Hoyer cradle and sling designed for 400 lbs. Team Members: Brooks D. Fowler, Jacques P. Levet, Jr., Nicole C. Perez, Ashley L. Riden. Volunteer model on lift.

6. Team Optimus Wheelchair to Toilet Transfer System Second Place Winner Design Goals: Decrease physical demand on caregivers; have little impact on normal restroom usage; compact design that will fit in bathroom; allow for undressing and cleaning of client; create a comfortable, sturdy device; provide a safe, reliable, and robust device; provide adequate support at all times; require minimal support from single caregiver. Safety Features: Weakest link is the cradle at 400 lb. Capacity, but statics and mechanics calculations show system can support weight of client; cradle padding; magnetic break; rubber stops on track to keep trolley from running into the wall; easily detachable components to ensure the device is not operated without proper supervision. Cost: Similar commercial lifts start at $2500 while this one was assembled for approximately $700; can be made with off-the-shelf-parts; can be modified to wall-mounted or free- standing; can be used by a variety of clients. Toilet, wheelchair, and hoist

7. Team Optimus Wheelchair to Toilet Transfer System Second Place Winner Operating Procedure: (1) Position client and wheelchair next to the toilet and below the hoist. (2) Lower cradle to allow the caregiver to position the client in the harness. (3) Raise the client to clear any obstacles. (4) Roll the trolley along the beam to position the client above the toilet. (5) Lower the client onto the toilet. (6) Raise the client and return her to the wheelchair. Constraints: Ease of use, cost, hygiene, size of bathroom, future user adaptability, transfer time Client assists in hoisting self Client in harness Large pulley system Client positioned over toilet Client positioned on toilet

8. Team Green Wave Challenge Course Third Place Winner The clients are students at Banneker Elementary School who use walkers and wheelchairs. They need to practice the necessary skills associated with using a wheelchair or walker, but are limited in utilizing typical playgrounds in a number of ways. Our challenge course will provide the students with a play area that will help to develop these skills while at the same time allowing them to enjoy success. Goals: Develop a safe challenge course specifically designed for the children's needs; create an atmosphere of recreation and competition among the students; incorporate therapeutic components for the children to develop necessary muscles and skills; add a recursive element to encourage repetitive use. Team Members: Christine Dozier, Spencer Hay, Kristin Lynch, David Martin

9. Team Green Wave Challenge Course Third Place Winner Side view of challenge course Front view The design is composed of a ramp and a set of platform stairs leading up to a landing. A basketball system was modified to return the balls to a return ramp on the platform. The dimensions of the structure were chosen based on ADA regulations. The basketball game acts as the motivational component of the course. It encourages the students to go back up the ramp/stairs in order to release the next set of balls.

10. Team Green Wave Challenge Course Third Place Winner Ball travels through extended net system Ball is thrown into hoop Typical playgrounds are not geared for children in wheelchairs and walkers. This structure is a cost-effective design that can be installed on any playground, and enjoyed by all children, whether or not they utilize wheelchairs or walkers. Safety Concerns: Handrails are designed to withstand significant lateral, withdrawal and bearing forces; non-slip grips are installed along the flooring to prevent accidents; railings are sanded to prevent splinters; to prevent children climbing up the net, it will be rolled up while not in use and a warning sign will be posted on the course. Ball drops out of extended net into return ramp.

11. Modern Innovations Desk/chair System for Children with Arthrogryposis The client is a third grade student suffering from arthogryposis, a congenital disorder characterized by multiple joint contractures, muscle weakness and fibrosis causing limited flexion and extension. This has affected the client's performance in academic tasks, mainly writing at the speed of other students due to the lack of resources to accommodate her specific needs. The goal is an ergonomic desk/chair system that would improve the client's writing abilities while providing the physical comfort needed to complete daily work without becoming fatigued. The device will also decrease dependency on teachers and classmates. Design Criteria: A writing surface that is ergonomic, conducive to writing, and prevents damage to hand; lumbar/thoracic support; side bolstering to provide support as the client angles her body to write; adjustable height to accommodate for growth; swivel and lock mechanism at base of chair to maneuver to a different place; chair compatibility with other desks/tables available at school; cost effectiveness. Team Members: Majdouline Asher, Joseph Berenblit , Timothy Hrinak, Joseph Shadduck

12. Modern Innovations Desk/chair System for Children with Arthrogryposis Solutions: Use of a commercially available office chair that is compatible for the design and reasonable in price. Adjustments and additions that were made include: Desk surface, customized arm rests, thorax and lumbar support, chair adjustability Pivot joint Desk surface is attached to one side of the chair and can easily fold away to the side for transport. When fully folded out, it is positioned over the user's lap. The height of the desk will provide easy access in and out of the chair by easily pushing the desk in/out via a pivot joint. This also addresses the issue of the client slamming hands onto the desk. Setting up the design

13. Modern Innovations Desk/chair System for Children with Arthrogryposis Customized arm rests match the level of the desk surface and provides the comfort and support required. The thorax and lumbar support are custom made to fit the client's body. It will provide bolstering on the client's right side to prevent exhaustion while writing as well as insuring adequate back support. Chair adjustability allows the chair bottom to swivel for transport and lock in place via casters when not in use. The chair's height is adjustable to accommodate for the client's growth to provide compatibility when using other desks/tables than the oneattached. Writing tray in down position Tray in writing position Tray moved aside

14. Team Venture Design Augmentative Communication Board The Chartwell Center is a non-profit organization serving children with autism and autism spectrum disorders. It offers best-practice training and support to teachers and professionals in the Greater New Orleans community. The Center directly serves children from ages three to eighteen on an Uptown New Orleans campus. The team designed a device for the preschool class. Autism frequently causes sensory processing and integration problems as well as communication difficulties. One common assistive technology solution is a communicator board which typically has 8 to 64 buttons, each playing a prerecorded message when pressed. Chartwell requested a communicator that could be used in the classroom's play area to allow the students to communicate their choice of toy. Team Members: Daniel Haber, Lucas Marsh, Kate Schimmer, Ali Thariani

15. Team Venture Design Augmentative Communication Board The client requested a communicator with 6 buttons, each at a minimum size of 5” by 5”, an interface that would catch and hold the student's attention for the length of interaction with the board, minimal required activation force with tolerance for larger forces, a system to prevent repeated playback of the same message, the ability to record and store multiple levels of messages for limited reprogramming, and the ability to easily replace picture on button. Communicator boards are available from companies specializing in assistive technology. However, these devices generally have buttons with a maximum size of 2.5” by 2.5”, does not allow replacement of a single picture-- all must be replaced at once, have no mechanism to prevent multiple activation of same button. Solution: The design board uses existing device, the Tech/Talk 6 x 8 BG from AMDi. A custom built case allows for 5” by 5” buttons as well as vertical wall mounting. A layer of logic between team-built buttons and the AMDi board will allow for the additional features requested. AMDi communicator Custom built case with 5” by 5” buttons

16. Team Venture Design Augmentative Communication Board Logic circuit Team design attached to AMDi The design includes a 24” x 16” case housing six 5” by 5” buttons, the AMDi communicator and the team's logic circuit. Each button will be surrounded by 4 bright LEDs indicating the state of the buttons. The buttons rest on springs and slide along guides made of PVC which also function as a stop. PVC stops limit play in button to 1/4” with minimum of force transmitted to pushbutton switch. Makrolon sleeves on button faces allow individual pictures to be replaced quickly. Corner brackets will allow for horizontal wall mounting of communicator. Controls will be located on the top surface of the communicator. Device Functionality: When turned on, all buttons will be in the “on” state with LEDs turned on. When a button is activated, the logic will turn off the LEDs and play back the corresponding message on the AMDi board. Once a button's LEDs go dark, additional presses will have no effect. A master reset button will reset the device turning all buttons back to the “on” state.

17. Team Scissor Exercise System for Special Needs Client The client has osteogenesis imperfecta which causes brittle bones and stunted growth. She cannot support her full weight and desires a device to help exercise her lower body. Design criteria include an exercise device that is safely operable, afford variable resistance, easily transported, durable, operate quietly, afford comfort, provide feedback on resistance level. Team Members: Mario Aragon, Alexander Cigan, Daniel Pardo, Jonathan Garrett (absent)‏

18. Team Scissor Exercise System for Special Needs Client Side view of exercise device Front View Model features include 10 levels of resistance, collapsible, wheels for easy transport, lightweight (less than 25 lbs.), durable wooden frame, designed with custom ergonomics for client, indexed load settings. Back view

19. Team Scissor Exercise System for Special Needs Client Future Directions: An additional feature of the device is a set of interchangeable lengths of surgical tubing that serve as a displacement-dependent load. The client can lay the device horizontally and work against various strengths of tubing, set the device to a desired incline for a constant load, or some combination thereof. In the coming months, a workout plan will be devised. In addition to the Operation & Safety Manual, placards enveloped in plastic will be devised to help walk the client through various workouts and detail which muscle groups are being worked. Inspection of device Collapsible device

20. People Page Professor with client Future college professor The end until next year! Discussion Project viewing