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User Overview
User Overview
A network of non-profit medical facilities across North America
Orthopedic, neuromuscular, colorectal and GI conditions, burn injuries, craniofacial conditions and spinal cord injuries
16 locations with Halo Traction Care
Figure 6: Shriner's Children's Hospital Logo
Iterative Process
Iterative Process
Client Interview
In a virtual interview detailed in Appendix: Project Partner Interview Summary on April 3, 2024, the project team learned from our project partner, Michelle Urban, about the issues with their halo traction equipment.
The main problems involve a discontinued clamp that doesn't fit properly and wears out, uneven weight distribution causing safety issues, limited adjustability for different patient sizes, and design flaws in the wheelchair boon. Understanding these issues involved learning about the daily use and mobility needs of the equipment, the critical importance of weight distribution for patient safety, and the necessity for durable and universally adjustable devices.
The team highlighted the need for in-person user observations and testing to develop effective solutions.
Figure 7: Halo Traction System in Shriners
Figure 8: Shriner's Children's Hospital Address
User Observation
User Observation
User Observation / Interview with the project client took place on April 11, 2024, Thursday at Shriners Children's Hospital Chicago. Observations and interviews detailed in the User Observation Plan and the End-User Interview & Observation Summary identified key issues: difficult clamp adjustments, unstable structure, poor weight distribution, and rusting parts.
Height adjustments were cumbersome due to reclamping, and clamping mechanisms often slipped, reducing stability. Improper weight distribution, managed by makeshift counterweights, hindered wheelchair mobility. Additionally, device materials rusted easily, requiring better coatings or materials. These insights guided our design improvements, enhancing the safety, usability, and durability of the halo traction devices, ensuring they meet practical user needs effectively.
See linked documents for more details on the interview process.
Design Requirements
Design Requirements
After the user observation with Shriners, the team concluded that these two case studies exemplify the theme of design flaws with our clients' halo traction devices. The team later decided to pursue the weight distribution issue outlined in case 1.
Figure 9: Shriner's Solution #1
Case 1: Weight Distribution
Case 1: Weight Distribution
The boon and pulley system of the halo traction system causes an uneven weight distribution. Shriner Children's attaches weights to the front of the device with velcro, coflex tape, or clamps.
Figure 10: Shriner's Solution #2
Case 2: Adjustability
Case 2: Adjustability
The clamping structures for all Shriners' add-ons require reassembling when adjusting. Over time, the screws become stripped of their material and do not always fit properly on the rods they are attached to.
Current solutions at Shriner Children’s Hospital face issues in:
Adjustability to different users
Compatibility with different devices
Durability in different environments
Therefore, our design should be:
Adjustable in height
Not permanently attached to a wheelchair
Able to be used on different wheelchairs
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