Group 022-03: Human Assist- Exoskeletal Gripper: Project Overview

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Individuals suffering from hand tremors due to the symptoms from specific diseases have trouble gripping and using specific objects that require the use of their metacarpals. This prevents these individuals from being able to engage in simple daily activities by complicating very basic activities, such as holding a pencil or eating with a spoon.

DESIGN CONSTRAINTS

Cost of Designing Product - The expenses involved in this project include materials as well as assembly costs. Altogether, the costs attributed to obtaining the specific metal and wiring material and workpower required to make the gripper are restrictive on the project's aspects, since the project is bound by a budget.

Consumer Comfort - The product design must be shaped to the preferences of the consumers in order to satisfy them. Therefore, the gripper must be made of comfortable material so that the user's hand will be able to function smoothly. This constraint is essential to conform to, considering the exoskeleton must suit the customer's likes.

Technology to Build Final Design - The limited technology available for our group to use is a major constraint on the exoskeletal gripper. The final design will include mechanisms for the hand using technology to develop a physical exoskeleton for someone's hand.

PRE-EXISTING SOLUTIONS

-Symptomatic drug therapy for Parkinson's disease - levodopa, or dopamine-like drugs, anticonvulsant drugs, intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin, or beta blockers. Medication to treat tremors depends on accurate diagnosis of the cause of tremors, but there is no medication to cure tremors [1].
-Physical therapy can help control and reduce tremors, and surgical intervention such as thalamotomy and deep brain stimulation [1].
-Glove with exoskeleton layer (2003 patent)- provides more control to fingers giving power to metacarpals, does not control tremor completely [2].

Patent One

A portable, adjustable device, which provides support, tactile feedback, and mechanical advantage to individuals with weakness, tremors or poor motor control while self-feeding. Simple the device holds the arm down by strapping it to the device. The device is clamped to the table, which is the strong base, but allows the individual using it to have mobility by sliding their arm. This device is shown in the Figure 1 below [8].

Figure 1: Device that can be clamped to table [8]

Patent Two

A tunable and adjustable device for stabilizing tremors includes a rigid splint for receiving a patient’s hand, wrist, forearm, and at least one gyroscope removable and rigidly attachable to said splint and positional for counter effecting the tremors. This device is shown in Figure 2 below [9].

Figure 2: Splint that can be worn on arm [9]

DESIGN GOALS

Help control hand tremors in order to perform daily tasks. This exoskeleton is mainly designed for individuals with hand tremors caused by diseases such as Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis.

DELIVERABLES

1) Minimize shaking in hands due to hand tremors
2) Optimize ability for individuals to grasp objects
3) Help an individual with hand tremors with daily activities such as:

Open door with key
Use a pencil, pen, marker, etc.
Hold and use eating utensils
Complete kitchen related tasks (open jar, open fridge etc

4) Have a consumer friendly design
5) Effectively attach device to hand/remove device from hand

PROJECT SCHEDULE

Week 1: Blog Setup, Topic Research
Week 2: Initial Research of problem, solutions and materials
Week 3: Material Procurement, Initial Design
Week 4: Build Initial Prototype
Week 5: Build Initial Prototype, Test Prototype
Week 6: Analyze Prototype, Modify Prototype, Test Prototype
Week 7: Analyze Prototype, Modify Prototype, Test Prototype
Week 8: Analyze Prototype, Modify Prototype, Test Prototype
Week 9: Build Final Prototype, Presentation