Location: Cambridge, MA | 01/2023 - 05/2023

 

Designed, built, and validated an actuated elderly transfer device as part of a team-based effort in the design of a novel medical device for a targeted at home environment. The intent of this device was to address a variety of issues that were preventing widespread adoption of actuated, assistive devices in the at-home setting. How this was done was exploring a novel method of support and actuation, which instead of providing assistance through straps or underarm support as was done by existing devices, the UpRight device supported a user from the behind using a stable seat. This seat would fold out under and in front of a user, and through assistance from a caretaker, provides a more seamless usage flow, which we identified to be the limiting cause of the lack of adoption.

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A prototype of this device was designed in SolidWorks, and created using 8020 Aluminum extrusion, with a linear actuator as the main actuation device, and an Arduino Uno for computing and logic. A hand winch was also implemented, which allowed for the choice of manual or actuated lifting based on the caretaker's discretion. A load cell was also placed in line with the path of tension, allowing for the system to measure the approximate weight under load on the seat. This provided additional functionality, where the device could provide assistance up until a certain percentage of a person's body weight, and thus provide partial assistance as the user rises from a seated to standing position.