End-User Observation Summary

April 17th, 2024

Section 15, Group 3

Overview

The purpose of this research is to further clarify the client’s need, to specify measurements and design challenges, as well as to understand the user experience of the halo traction mobility devices first-hand. Prior to the research, the team members gained a solid understanding of the halo traction devices in terms of their installation, design, and effects through secondary research and client interviews. The team was able to outline the structure and main objectives of the halo traction device at Shriners through secondary research, and the team used the information gained in the secondary research to compile a list of questions to clarify with the client.

Through an in-person visit the team gained a more comprehensive understanding of the issues that the users face when using walkers and wheelchairs on a daily basis. The team kept in close contact with the client and the other project team in the same section so that maximum attendance was ensured. 

Methodology

The team conducted the primary research with an hour-long in-person interview at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Chicago with three of the four team members present, along with students from other teams. The interview was conducted on Thursday, April 11th at 2 pm. There were no users present, but the client explained the major issues with their existing halo traction device well to the team. 

The team utilized the following methodologies to observe, document, and clarify the scope and requirements of our projects. 

1. Video & Picture Recordings

2. Measurements

3. Follow-up Questions

Results

After the primary research session at the Shriners Children’s Hospital, the team was able to gather information and ultimately pinpoint the client’s major concerns about the halo traction system into three main categories, and this summary will present the findings in parts:

Ease of Installation & Adjustment

The team noticed that the design includes clamps that are difficult to adjust, requiring removal for height adjustments, and they tend to slide over time, leading to insecurity in the structure. Adjusting the handle is cumbersome, involving the removal of clamp bars and the use of a wrench, which is not user-friendly. The figures below show all adjustable parts’ locations and directions of movement. The first issue is that changing the height of the walker will always involve a re-clamping of the two horizontal bars that Shriner’s attached on the walker for the halo traction device. As reflected in Figure 1, the red arrows, showing the horizontal direction of the clamps, conflict with the blue arrows, the vertical adjustments designed for the original walker structure.

Figure 1: horizontal clamps & adjustments

Figure 2: vertical adjustments 

The second issue is the lack of stability in the horizontal adjustments. This is a direct result of the clamping structure as reflected in Figure 2 in the red circle. Along with the blue arrows showing the vertical adjustability of the structure, Shriner’s actually decided to secure such a structure with a single screw directly to the side of this metal bar. Without any support or structure that allows the screw to latch onto, the bar is unstable and prone to wear and tear.

Balance of Weight

The wheelchair lacks proper weight distribution to the added counterweights for the halo traction pulley, necessitating the use of counterbalance weights to prevent tipping, which is especially important for children. The team noted that the existing structure consisted of a sandbag wrapped around the tubings on the wheelchair, which, as the client stated, interfered with the front wheel movement.

Figure 3: weight balance on wheelchair

Durability of Parts

As indicated by the figure to the left, the walker’s tubing is prone to rusting due to exposure to water, indicating a need for better materials or coating. Additionally, the client also stated that many parts are prone to constant wear and tear, and finding replacement parts for these make-shift structures could be difficult due to the lack of cataloging. 

Figure 4: Rusting on the Walker’s Tubings

Discussion

Analysis of Key Findings

On the walker, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the direction of movement of the walker structures and the added halo traction structures interfere with each other, causing wear and tear, difficulties in adjustments, and decreased stability. The team believes that fully addressing these issues would require a complete overhaul of the pulley system that the halo traction device relies on. On the wheelchair, the balancing of weight issue is mainly a result of a lack of proper installation setup, which could be relatively easy to improve by adding a structure under the wheelchair seat. After an in-class discussion in the following week and with the approval of the professors, the team agreed to tackle the latter issue. 

Limitations

The lack of users is notably one of the biggest limitations present during the testing, as there was no demonstration of how the user is actually interacting with the device. However, the team felt comfortable with that fact, since a lot of the issues are observable by simply moving the halo traction structures around.