Design Review Summary

May 9, 2024

Introduction

During the design review discussion, our team presented a brief introduction to our task, which revolves around the uneven weight distribution of halo traction equipment used at Shriners Childrens’ Hospital in Chicago, as well as our initial mockup and finalized idea for our preliminary design. We analyzed the issues that arose from our mockup during mockup testing and feedback, which included the possible instability of the metal rod in maintaining the weight of the wheelchair plus the additional halo traction equipment with very thin pieces of materials between each of the adjustable holes; thus, we presented stability as one of our main concerns in the formation of our finalized design. 

We presented our finalized idea as shown below in Figure 1. This design, which currently includes a 3D printed clamp, bolts, nuts, and a caster wheel, allows for accurate positioning of the additional wheel to be in line with the existing large back wheels of the wheelchair. The nuts and bolts ensure that the clamp and wheel remain in place in order to stabilize the wheelchair and prevent possibly dangerous tipping. In order to fit the variety of wheelchairs that Shriners Childrens’ uses, the clamp has an adjustable ovular design as shown below in Figure 2. 

Questions were opened to the audience and valuable feedback was received, which is described in the next section of this document. 

Figure 1: Finalized design

Figure 2: Ovular clamp