1 Tulane University Biomedical Engineering Senior Team Design Show February 26, 2011 Change slide by clicking on background.

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Tulane UniversityBiomedical Engineering

Senior Team Design ShowFebruary 26, 2011

Change slide by clicking on background.

Tulane University Department of Biomedical Engineering

SeniorTeam Design ShowFebruary 26, 2011

On Saturday, February 26, the Tulane Department of Biomedical Engineering held its annual Senior Team Design Show in the Lindy Claiborne Boggs Center for Energy and Biotechnology. Four teams presented their assistive technology designs for their clients with disabilities.

By Betsy Kirkland, Photographer and Editor

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Sound Bytes Assistive Musical Technologies First Place Winner

The team is developing a prosthesis to assist a client, a transradial, congenital amputee, in playing the violin. While her current myoelectric prosthesis allows her to easily grip objects and perform everyday tasks, it presents a challenge when executing the mechanics necessary for playing the violin.

Current problems: The client's current myoelectric prosthesis inhibits comfortable and efficient bowing because of excessive weight (2.2 lbs), excessive length (16 in.), loose, unsecure grip of the violin bow, and limited range of bowing motion.

Team members: Hudson Chien, Joan Lien, John Pitre, Jr.

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The design: The bow consists of two pieces of ABS plastic designed to fit securely around the frog of the violin bow. The pieces are held together by a velcro hinge. This reduces the number of mechanical parts, thus increasing reliability. In addition, the velcro provides a simple, easy-to-use locking mechanism that holds the two clamp halves together while playing.

1. A comfortable, biocompatible socket was produced by Lambert's Prosthetics using Duraplex plastic. This custom fitted socket ensures that the prosthesis remains securely in place during playing. 2. A tight-fit connection provides a modular interface between the socket and connecting rod. This allows the client to separate or adjust the orientation of components.3. A lightweight connecting rod minimizes the weight of the prosthesis and allows for an appropriate bowing length. 4. A custom bow clamp provides a steady, firm grip on the violin bow. This clamp is fabricated from ABS plastic and features a velcro hinge and closing mechanism allowing for easy one-handed operation.

Demonstration Close up of device

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Design Criteria: The prosthetic bowing arm for the violin is designed to assist the client by maintaining a steady, firm grip on the violin; minimize weight to allow the client to practice comfortably for extended periods of time; assist the client in controlling bowing motions by optimizing extremity length; feature a comfortable, biocompatible socket to secure the device to the client's terminal limb; and provide easy one-handed operation for any clamping mechanism.

Bowing techniques to obtain good tonal quality and proper resonance include: keeping the bow parallel to the bridge (perpendicular to strings), greater bowing length for longer and louder notes, and proper pressure and speed of bowing. Discussion of prosthetic bowing arm

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TEAMOCiL The Gyro- Rider A Horseback Riding Stimulator Runner Up

Team Members: Seth Figueros, Tyler Humphrey, Lindsey Shepard, Christina Yee

The Client attends an autistic class in which each student takes weekly horseback riding lessons. The students ride once around an arena with a front walker guiding the horse. Many students are either disinterested in grasping the reins, hold the reins incorrectly, or do not understand that pulling the reins will turn the horse. The client needs a device that will improve the students' control of the horse during the riding session.

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The device is a fun horseback riding simulator which teaches students proper steering technique. The stimulator encourages students to pull the reins and teaches them the concept of turning by rotating to the left or right when the reins are pulled. The device is appropriate and adaptable to students of all skill levels. In order to increase the probability of skills being transferred between the simulator and actual horseback riding, the simulator is transportable between the school and stables. This feature allows students to transfer the steering skills learned in the classroom to the horse stable environment. In order to assist with the familiarity of steering between the simulator and horse, students will use the same reins in both scenarios. Color-coded reins will promote proper hand positioning and simplify the riding instructor's turning commands.

Goals are to improve the students' steering of the horse, encourage them to grasp the reins, promote correct hand positioning on the reins, and create an active learning environment through a kinesthetic means.

Demonstration

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The most unique feature of the device is the gyroscopic turning mechanism, which enhances the simulator's portability and ease for repair. The simulator increases students' practice time due to its availability during school hours. It also requires only one instructor to be present during lessons. Lastly, the variety of reins can appeal to a wide range of skills and personal preferences.

Design criteria in an importance-based ranking that has guided the product development:1. Goal fulfillment: Accomplishes all goals2. Safety: Safe for use at the school and stables3. Transferability: Skills learned on the Gyro-Rider will transfer to on-horse riding.4. Portable: Device can be transported between the school and stables.5. Weight limit: Supports up to 200 pounds6. Repairable: Easy to fix

Closeup of the Gyro-Rider Color coded reins

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Team Pudding Iterative Approach to Behavioral Modification in Self-Abusive Autism

The Client: A thirteen year old autistic boy with self-abusive tendencies has a fixation on harming himself with either hands on either side of his neck. Abusive tendencies stem from anxiety, discomfort, and inability to communicate because he is nonverbal. Psychiatric therapy, physical restraints, educational redirection have proven ineffective in reducing his manic behavior.

Team members: Lydia Barret, Renee Huval, Nathan Pham, Theodore Brown

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The Conventional Approach Included* Restriction* Medication* Psychological therapy

Our iterative devices* Expose the client to stimuli, vibration, audio, etc.* Provide opportunity to gauge response through observation * Modify behavior through gradual redirection

Stimulatory Neck Device

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Benefits of the Approach

* Non-restrictive: dexterity and functional degrees of freedom are maintained* Safe: No harm to client* Drug free therapy to alleviate anxiety

Acclimation to the restrictive collar prevents skin irritation. The wedge on the device prevents neck slapping and a compression sleeve underneath prevents slipping. However, the abuse is redirected to other parts of the body. The button activated neck vibrator alleviates the client's stress, reducing slapping.

This device can cause a change in behavior which will allow the student to proceed from a restrictive behavioral setting to a behavioral modification program.

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Victorious Secret The Rockaway A Rocking Chair Platform for Wheelchair Users

The design was developed for St. Margaret's Health Care Community. Residents are elderly who are no longer able to effectively care for themselves due to physical and/or mental disabilities. St. Mary's staff wanted to expand the types of activities available to the residents with a specific focus on inter-generational activities. Chief among these is allowing residents the opportunity to hold and rock young children.

The team's objective was to design a rocking chair platform for wheelchair users. The goal was a low profile, low-maintenance device to be used independently by the residents.

Team members: Martin Sosa, Amaris Genemaras, James Barrios, Miko Altenberg, client (center in platform) and judge (far left)

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Functional requirements: Tier 1: Motion and Ease-of-Access include comfortable rocking motion, nominal falling sensation, no transfer required, usable independently, little or no physical effort to move.

Tier 2: Safety requires user to be secured while in motion, sturdy device that can bear heavy loads, movement will not injure users or others.

Tier 3: Client standards include aesthetically matches destination decor, durable, easy to maintain, easy to manufacture

Back View of Rockaway Demonstration of entering Rockaway

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Key features required that the platform be low to the ground, easy to rock, parallel motion, and easy maintenance.

The Rockaway design consists of a suspended platform that swings back and forth while maintaining a parallel relationship with the floor. This platform will be less than an inch from the ground drastically simplifying the entrance and exit components of the design. Since the platform is always stable, the falling sensation experiences by users has been reduced.

Backview of Entrance to Rockaway Foot pedals

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Interesting Snapshots

Best in Class

1 Tulane University Biomedical Engineering Senior Team Design Show February 26, 2011 Change slide by clicking on background.

Documents

violin bow

efficient bowing

speed of bowing

bowing motions

greater bowing length

appropriate bowing length

place winnerthe team

custom bow clamp