State 01 : - Interview with Need Knowers

About the Need Knower
  • Name : Thesath Randira 
  • Age : 6 years
  • Language : Sinhala
  • Studies : Currently studies in grade 2 _ main stream education

Interest / Strengths

  • Can Independently use his wheelchair.
  • He actively participates in classroom activities.
  • Additionally , he enjoys spending time with his mother.

Physical Characteristics

  • Self propel wheel chair -  indoor / outdoor
  • Lateral balance is limited in right side of body.
  • Transferring from wheel chair is dependent
  • Has sitting balance with back rest and arm rest.
  • Actively participate in school activities using wheel chair.

Mental Characteristics

  • Actively engaging
  • Easily understand the instructions.

Key person Involved

Need knower, Mother, Class teacher,Health professionals

Desired Need

  • Thesath is unable to use his wheelchair due to transportation difficulties and lack of adjustability.
  • Type of need: A portable armrest adoption for any chair.

State 02 - Problem Identification

Design a portable, adjustable, and ergonomic right-hand side lateral support system that can be universally attached to single seated chair , providing stability and comfort to the user while seated.

State 03 - Ideation

Creating a portable right-hand side lateral support which can be implemented with any chair or seating arrangement the need knower is seated on.

State 04 :- Concept Development and Refinement


Target Activity

Creating a portable right hand side lateral support which can be implemented with any chair or seating arrangement the need knowers is seated on.

How it accomplish

Designing and fabricating the lateral support so it can easily attach to any chair and slide smoothly for the perfect fit and comfort..

When & Where

When 
All the time that not using current wheelchair this assistive device can be used for need knower's work.

Where
Any place where there's a single seat that is appropriate for Thesath's body size.

State 05 : - Sketches


Sketch

In designing a portable right-hand side lateral support, our objective is to develop a versatile attachment that seamlessly adapts to various seating arrangements, ensuring consistent stability across different environments and image showcases the sketch of our innovative concept for identification.

State 06 :- Prototyping 01


CAD Model Design

Final integrated CAD model

Lateral Support

Supports Master Thesath to stay upright without limiting the mobility of his right hand 

Clamps and Spacers

Grips the chair regardless the surface texture or the inclination of the seating arrangement (Uses TPU bumpers for better gripping)

Finite Element Analysis

The first image displays the stress analysis of the lateral support design, while the second and third images show the deformations of the bumpers.

State 07 :- Prototyping 02


CAD Model

Final integrated CAD model design for the prototype 02

Lateral Support

Improved ergonomic design provides right-hand lateral support for Master Thesath, helping him maintain an upright posture without restricting the mobility of his right hand.


Lateral Support - PLA
Lateral Support STEP file

Finite Element Analysis

Finite element analysis of the later support of the second prototype

Clamps and Spacers

We improved the clamps for easy attachment to any single-seated chair, ensuring secure and versatile installation. This makes the thigh support adaptable to various seating setups.


Free Clamp - PLA
Spacer - TPU
Spacer STEP File
Free Clamp STEP File

State 08 - An additional design based on observations

A medical thigh support to keep Thesath’s legs apart when seated.

Version 01

As an additional attachment for the single-seated chair, we designed a thigh support specifically tailored for Master Thesath. This support enhances comfort and stability, ensuring a better seating experience while addressing his unique needs.

Version 02

Optimized the version 01 of the leg separate to reduce the material usage and time consuming in the printing

Version 03

Addressing the limitations of Prototypes 1 and 2, we designed this model to provide enhanced comfort for Thesath’s thighs while reducing material usage and printing time. This improved model includes a belt to securely attach the thigh supporter to the chair, ensuring both stability and ease of use.

Result(s)

 The final integrated output , showcasing the design and functionality of the thigh support. This video provides a comprehensive overview, ensuring that understand the features and benefits of the solution.

Final Output YouTube Video

Result Video

Future Prospect(s)

Flexible TPU Clamp Design – New fully flexible TPU clamp design improves the adaptability to the surface or the inclination of the seating arrangement.

  • Address the limitations of prototype 02
  • Reduce the material usage.
  • Improve flexibility.
  • Implemented a more flexible and ergonomic design

Day 01 and Day 02 Overview

Day 01 and Day 02 overview through video

Day 01
Day 02