KATHERINE CALLAHAN, THOMAS HAYES, AND

MATT WOLFORD

MARCH 11 , 2016

Writing Aid for Individuals with Parkinson’s

Background Information

Parkinson’s Disease: - nervous system disorder - progressive disease

CDS Expert: - Laura Taylor - Her mother has Parkinson’s Disease

Problem Statement

“My mother has Parkinson’s. One of the things that bothers her most with the progression of the disease is her loss of the ability to write clearly (or at all on some days). She has a weighted pen and a wrist weight that help to a small degree but not always.”

Current Products

Meetings with CDS Contact No specific design wants or needs Appearance of device is of zero importance Tremors:

Only affect hand Non-dominant hand triggers dominant; only start when thought about Cause circling motion

● No problem with grip at present● Current products don’t work

Writing example

Objectives

Functions

Device is convenient (P)-Device is comfortable on the hand (S)

-Device is easy to wash & clean (S)

-Device fits easily in a purse or bag (S)

-Device is lightweight (S)

Device allows the user to write easily through a tremor (P)

Device is adaptable (P)-The device is adjustable to different sized hands/arms (S)

-The device can be used in either hand (S)

-The device can be used indoors/outdoors (S)

Device is safe (P)

-Device provides protection from electronic risks (S)-Device allows user to write without damaging the user(S)

-Device secures the hand through tremors (S)

Device provides resistance against daily wear (P)

-Device functions properly after repeated use (S)

Device is sensitive to tremor-like movement (P)

Device is easy to operate (P)-Device provides a user friendly grip (S)-Device is easy to take on/off (S)-Device allows the user to grip the writing utensil (S)

Functions

Functions

Specifications Metric Units Marginal Ideal Type

Device is easy to wash & clean Ability to wash subjectivehand washable

machine washable subjective

Device fits easily in a purse or bag Size (volume) inches^3 <100 <80 numerical

Device is lightweight Weight lbs. <1.0 lbs <0.5 lbs numerical

Device is easy to take on/offTime to take on/off seconds <30 <20 numerical

If electronic, device is easy to recharge Time to recharge minutes <45 <30 numerical

Writing is easily legibleLegibility of writing

% of words legible >95% >98% objective

The device is adjustable to different sized hands/arms Compatibility

% compatibility >95% >99% objective

The device can be used in either hand Dexterity subjective

Dominant-handed use

Ambidextrous use subjective

Device can be used indoors/outdoorsMulti-environment use subjective

Indoor use only

Indoor & outdoor use subjective

Specifications

Patents & Peer reviewed Papers

Patents & Peer reviewed Papers cont.

Concepts Criteria

- Tremor detection (Y/N)

- Tremor negating mechanism

- Attachment-to-user mechanism

Concept Selection

Reference (Weighted Pen)

Soft Cast Glove

Hard Cast Glove

Weighted Glove Gyroscope glove

Selection Criteria

Weight (%) Rating

Weighted score Rating

Weighted score Rating

Weighted score Rating

Weighted score Rating

Weighted score

Portability 0.2 3 0.6 3 0.6 2 0.4 2 0.4 2 0.4Negation

Effectiveness 0.2 3 0.6 4 0.8 4 0.8 4 0.8 4 0.8

Comfortable 0.15 3 0.45 4 0.6 3 0.45 3 0.45 3 0.45Legibility 0.1 3 0.3 4 0.4 5 0.5 4 0.4 4 0.4Ease of

Attachment 0.2 3 0.6 3 0.6 3 0.6 3 0.6 2 0.4Ease of

Manufacturing 0.15 3 0.45 3 0.45 3 0.45 3 0.45 1 0.15

Net Score 3 3.45 3.2 3.1 2.6Rank 0 1 2 3 X

Concept Selection

Reference (Weighted Pen)

Soft Cast Glove

Hard Cast Glove

Weighted Glove Gyroscope glove

Selection Criteria

Weight (%) Rating

Weighted score Rating

Weighted score Rating

Weighted score Rating

Weighted score Rating

Weighted score

Portability 0.2 3 0.6 3 0.6 2 0.4 2 0.4 2 0.4Negation

Effectiveness 0.2 3 0.6 4 0.8 4 0.8 4 0.8 4 0.8

Comfortable 0.15 3 0.45 4 0.6 3 0.45 3 0.45 3 0.45Legibility 0.1 3 0.3 4 0.4 5 0.5 4 0.4 4 0.4Ease of

Attachment 0.2 3 0.6 3 0.6 3 0.6 3 0.6 2 0.4Ease of

Manufacturing 0.15 3 0.45 3 0.45 3 0.45 3 0.45 1 0.15

Net Score 3 3.45 3.2 3.1 2.6Rank 0 1 2 3 X

Final Design

Resources

http://www.handicappedequipment.org/hand-weights-for-disabilities/ http://www.caregiverproducts.com/weighted-pencil-with-the-grip.html http://www.thewright-stuff.com/parkinsons-writing-aids/ http://www.eldermedicalsupplygroup.com/Arthrits-RinG-Pen-adaptive-writing-instrume

nt.aspx#.VrphlPkrK1s Kotovsky, J., & Rosen, M. J. (1998). A wearable tremor-suppression orthosis. Journal of

rehabilitation research and development, 35, 373-387. Patents no. 5,383,737; 4,917,517; 4,111,566; and 6,793,427 CAD design of glove downloaded from https://

grabcad.com/library/hand-tremor-stabilization-glove-va-innovation-creation-series-1 and used for educational fair use, not for commercialization

Any Questions?