Crutches Redesign

CrutchEase

CrutchEase enhances the forearm crutch experience with modern innovations. Featuring the Scott Russell Mechanism and suitcase handle mechanism, it allows for quick adjustments and compact storage. Designed for ease and safety, CrutchEase is your perfect mobility companion.

RESEARCH

DESIGN

MECHANISM

3D MODELING & PROTOTYPING

Client

HabITec

Duration

Feb 2024 - May 2024

Team

Solo Project

Project Purpose

CrutchEase is an innovative forearm crutch designed to improve mobility, enhanced vehicle entry support, and compact storage, developed through a collaboration with HabITec to address user-specific challenges.

the Struggles of Entering Vehicles

Traditional forearm crutches pose challenges for users, particularly those who drive, in transitioning between walking and entering a vehicle. The lack of easy adjustability and stable support during this transition leads to physical strain, safety risks, and overall inconvenience.

Pain Points

Difficulty in Adjustability

Lack of Stable Support During Vehicle Entry

Inconvenience in Portability

User Research

User Background:

Injury: Spinal cord injury (C3-C4), causing significant mobility impairment.

Weak grip strength (50% in the left hand, 30% in the right hand), impacting their ability to use crutches effectively.

Limited ability to feel from the shoulders down, requiring visual cues to manage objects.

Difficulty adjusting crutch height, gripping, and managing crutches without falling or causing discomfort.

Key Challenges with Crutches:

Comfort & Usability

Vehicle-Related Issues

Movement & Flexibility:

Design Intent

To provide users seamless transitions from walking to driving.

Improve Adjustability

Allows for quick height adjustments to accommodate different activities, including driving.

Enhance User Safety

Offers reliable support during vehicle entry.

Optimize Portability

Easily collapsible for storage.

Design Process

Discover

- Secondary Research: Market Analysis, Ergonomic Research

- Primary Research: User Interview, User Observation/Experience Mapping

Define

- Pain Points Identification

- Design Intent: Define Aim & Objectives, Establish Fixed & Flexible Criteria

Develop

- Brainstorming: Concept Sketching, Ideation

- Prototyping: Low-Fidelity Prototyping, Iterative Prototyping, 3D Printing

- User Testing: Usability Testing, Refinement

Deliver

- Final Model: High-Fidelity 3D Model, Detailed Technical Drawings

- Documentation: Design Process, Iterations, Final Presentation

- Reflection

the Scott Russell Mechanism & the Suitcase Handle Mechanism

The combination of the Scott Russell and Suitcase Handle mechanisms in CrutchEase brings together innovative engineering and practical design. This unique fusion allows for smooth, effortless height adjustments, achieving compact storage while providing stable support.

the Scott Russell Mechanism:

Translates motion in x-axis into straight-line motion in y-axis.

Allows smooth and precise height adjustment.

the Suitcase Handle Mechanism:

Inspired by retractable suitcase handles, allowing quick expansion and collapse with a simple push of a button.

Challenges

Overcomplicating

01. I overcomplicated the concept by trying to add too many mechanisms.

02. I overanalyzed the design, attempting to break the crutch into too many parts in pursuit of the smallest possible size.

-> Take a step back and re-think about the design.

Overfocusing on a Single Mechanism

01. I neglected some important related factors by getting too focused on combining mechanisms and overlooked how they functioned individually. When prototyping, I realized that to make the suitcase handle mechanism work effectively, I needed to design an additional feature for leverage.

-> Reassess the interplay between different mechanisms to ensure they work seamlessly together.

Final Outcome

Seamless Transition: Walk to Drive with Ease and Safety.

Other Features

the Safety Cover:

Prevents accidental activation of the adjustment button.

Ensures user safety.

the Foot Pedal:

Provides leverage support for easy expansion.

Process Documentation

Working Process Documentation

Used Tools

Research

User Interview, User Observation, User Experience Mapping, Literature Review

Design

Fusion 360, 3D Printing, Prototyping, Suitcase Handle Mechanism - taken apart from a 10 AUD suitcase

Reflection

This project was a great learning experience as it allowed me to explore mechanical and engineering aspects of design that I had less experience with. And I'm now eager to expand my knowledge and explore more on the engineering side of design.

Future Development

Material Exploration

Explore sustainable and lightweight materials.

Extensive Testing

Conduct further testing on standard crutch materials to compare functionality with the current plastic prototypes, ensuring the design meets real-world requirements.

Customization for Wider Use

Refine the adjustable height feature to make CrutchEase accessible for a diverse range of users, rather than being limited to the current client’s specifications.