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Prototype 2 sketch.png

Sketch of on the initial prototype I helped fabricate and test 

Foamcore cutting

Infant Car Seat Attachment for Wheelchair Users

BACKGROUND

During the Fall 2021 semester, I started my bioengineering capstone design project. The goal of the two-semester course sequence is to find an unmet need in a clinical setting and design a solution for it.

ETHNOGRAPHY

To help determine which unmet need we wanted to focus on, I was responsible for the following: 

  • Lead a meeting with Dr. Bradley Nindl, Director of the Neuromuscular Research Lab 

  • Distribute a survey to seven Facebook groups to get input from wheelchair users 

  • Lead a phone call with wheelchair user Veronica Martin​, as well as write the corresponding ethnography protocol and report

BRAINSTORMING SOLUTIONS

Once we had determined that we wanted to focus on building a device that would help wheelchair users who are parents bring their infant with them, one of my team members sketched the ideas we wanted to explore. It was important to get input from clinicians and others in the healthcare field. As such, I took the lead on:

  • Meeting with Dr. Michael Boninger, a physician and researcher in physical medicine and rehabilitation 

  • Meeting with Ben Gebrosky, the lead testing engineer at the Human Research Engineering Laboratories (HERL)​​​

Prototyping involved cutting foam core 

Prototype 2.jpg

Finished version of the initial prototype I helped fabricate

Testing around chair.jpg

PROTOTYPING

After sketching, we needed to create several prototypes and perform "killer" experiments to determine which design was the most feasible. I contributed to the following: 

  • Fabricate one of three first round prototypes - cut foam core and PVC, hot glue foam core components, assembly​

  • Perform killer experiments on prototypes - going around a cone, going up/down an incline, going through a door, adding a weight to the attachment, going over uneven ground 

  • Fabricate one of two second round prototypes 

WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS

Throughout the semester, we had weekly group assignments. I was a main contributor on the following:

  • Orthopedics Ethnography Plan

  • Product Design Specifications

  • Risk Summary

  • Failure Modes and Effects Analysis

  • Validation Test Plan​

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks to my team members:

  • Lynn Chau (Bioengineering)

  • Jenna Eckerling (Bioengineering)

  • Henry Ing (Bioengineering)

  • Gianna Morelli (Bioengineering)

  • Ryan Roseweir (Bioengineering)

  • Nick Saba (Bioengineering)

  • Jason Weger (Bioengineering)

And others who helped with this project:

  • Dr. Mark Gartner

Testing involved performing basic tasks, such as maneuvering around an obstacle, with the attachment connected to the wheelchair

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