The Knightingale

The Knightingale ATDF Project (A resolution to Bedsores)

Team Members Anthony Spencer • Senior at BMHS Antonia Gruning • Senior at TMHS Ali Welch • Junior at CHS http://www.cs.uml.edu/teams-academy/index.php/Student/ClamHome

Requirements/Constraints • Safety (Must have NO sharp edges) • Construction time (3 months) • Battery that can be rechargeable and long lasting (approx 12 hours). • Cost (only have $150) • Durability and Efficiency. • Clean-looking and presentable • Must be easy to control • Size • Weight • Must keep the spine strait at all times

Client • Our client’s name is Mrs. Gibbs. • Mrs. Gibbs awhile back went into a surgery to get her stomach stapled. When she came out, she was paralyzed from the waist down. • The main problem Mrs. Gibbs faces and has faced is bedsores. • Statement of Need: Our client needs her wheelchair to prevent bedsores instead of causing them.

Pressure Sores • Areas of dead tissue • caused by the irritation of pressure on concentrated points of the skin. • The tissue dies because of a lack of circulation. • Bedsores develop quickly and are hard to remedy once they begin. • In the case of wheelchairs, they are most likely to develop anywhere that comes in frequent contact with the chair such as the tailbone, buttocks, shoulder blades, spine, or the backs of arms or legs.

On the Market • The closest product to preventing pressure sores caused by wheelchairs are the type of products made for massage chairs. None specifically for curing pressure sores. • None have been made readily for the wheelchair, and it is hard to find one that can fit. • Many do not have batteries, thus eliminating the movement done by a wheelchair. • Another product that could be used, is a gel pad seat made for wheelchairs.

The Magnetic Ball Plan • The idea behind this design is to increase blood circulation in our client as she is sitting in her wheelchair. • There would be metal balls under the gel pad, with electromagnetic walls on either side. • We are going to shift the North and South poles, causing the metal balls to move back and forth underneath the gel pad. • This will then stimulate blood circulation, and stop the blood veins from being blocked up.

Magnetic Ball Plan Pros and Cons Pros Cons • Will increase circulation. • Would be quite. • Electro magnets needed to move the balls under a person would need to run on AC power. Thus we can’t use batteries. • Strong magnets are expensive. • Size, each magnet is 3 in. wide.

Gel Pad • This design is essentially a massage pad for a chair covered by a gel pad layer to relieve pressure. • The movement of the massage pad would stimulate circulation, preventing the sores from forming. • Would need a linear actuator strong enough to adjust the weight of our client.

Gel Pad Pros and Cons • Pros • Cons

Popcorn Machine • Another method was based off the idea of a popcorn machine. • The purpose of this method, was to alleviate different pressure points, in a random order. • The randomness would eliminate the problem of consistent pressure.

Popcorn Machine (cont.) • Two magnetic fields would be used, one on top and one on the bottom of the device. • Metal balls would be pulled to opposing fields at random. Thus, creating a popcorn like effect.

Pros and Cons • PROS • Gel Pad creates comfort, and spine secure placement • Popcorn machine creates random pressure relief • Magnetic balls increase blood flow and circulation • CONS • Gel Pad’s thickness, as well as already on the market • Popcorn machine requires a high voltage • Magnetic Balls is extremely costly as well as a high power necessity for magnetic field to function

Final Design • An electro-mechanical actuator is the least expensive linear actuator that can be controlled be electronics. • We are going to use the popcorn machine idea.

Parts List • Lithium Battery • Gel Pad (bike) • Massage Seat • Resistors • Transformers • Relays • Touch Sensors • Wheelchair • Linear Actuators • Order Form: • Touch Sensors (switches) 3 • Massage Pad • Timer

The Knightingale