The MECFES (Myoelectrically controlled functional electrical stimulation) technology is used to assist patients with spinal cord injury in terms of grasping objects using wrist and finger flexion, In my Thesis, the MECFES technology is converted into an open-source, customized and also a 3d printable product. The aim of making the design open source and making the part through 3d printing is, open-source designs are accessible to everyone and customizing the product size based on an individual’s forearm dimension, 3d printing is more suitable than conventional mass-production methods. The price of the product goes down by nearly a third of the original price. The basic advantage of using our MECFES device is that the device helps patients to grasp an object with wrist flexion and extension actions. We got this project from Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus in Milan, we also got details about previous experiments, case studies relating to the MECFES technology. I even went to the ASST Great Metropolitan Niguarda hospital to observe how a Tetraplegic patient uses his/her finger to perform small activities. During my thesis, I tried several materials and several mechanisms to achieve a low priced and easy to use MECFES device with advice from my Tutor. All the designs that were 3d printed were tried on my forearm as the Tetraplegic patient was not available for testing the MECFES device on her forearm. Finally with some key advice from my professor Maximiliano Romero I was able to make a completely functioning device that perfectly solved all the issues in the previous designs.
La tecnologia MECFES (stimolazione elettrica funzionale miooelettricamente controllata) viene utilizzata per aiutare i pazienti con lesioni del midollo spinale in termini di afferrare oggetti usando la flessione del polso e delle dita. Nella mia tesi, la tecnologia MECFES viene convertita in un open source, personalizzato e anche un 3d prodotto stampabile. L'obiettivo di rendere il design open source e rendere la parte tramite la stampa 3d è, i progetti open source sono accessibili a tutti e personalizzando le dimensioni del prodotto in base alla dimensione dell'avambraccio di un individuo, la stampa 3d è più adatta rispetto ai metodi di produzione di massa convenzionali. Il prezzo del prodotto scende di quasi un terzo del prezzo originale. Il vantaggio fondamentale dell'utilizzo del nostro dispositivo MECFES è che il dispositivo aiuta i pazienti a cogliere un oggetto con azioni di flessione e estensione del polso. Abbiamo ottenuto questo progetto dalla Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus di Milano, abbiamo anche ottenuto dettagli su esperimenti precedenti, casi studio relativi alla tecnologia MECFES. Sono persino andato all'ospedale ASST Great Metropolitan Niguarda per osservare come un paziente tetraplegico usa il dito per svolgere piccole attività. Durante la mia tesi, ho provato diversi materiali e diversi meccanismi per ottenere un dispositivo MECFES economico e facile da usare con i consigli del mio tutor. Tutti i disegni stampati in 3D sono stati provati sul mio avambraccio poiché la paziente Tetraplegic non era disponibile per testare il dispositivo MECFES sul suo avambraccio. Finalmente con alcuni consigli chiave del mio professore Maximiliano Romero sono stato in grado di realizzare un dispositivo completamente funzionante che risolvesse perfettamente tutti i problemi dei progetti precedenti.
Designing a neuroprosthetics for people with tetraplegia
SOUNDARARAJ, SUDHARSAN RAMAKRISHNAN
2018/2019
Abstract
The MECFES (Myoelectrically controlled functional electrical stimulation) technology is used to assist patients with spinal cord injury in terms of grasping objects using wrist and finger flexion, In my Thesis, the MECFES technology is converted into an open-source, customized and also a 3d printable product. The aim of making the design open source and making the part through 3d printing is, open-source designs are accessible to everyone and customizing the product size based on an individual’s forearm dimension, 3d printing is more suitable than conventional mass-production methods. The price of the product goes down by nearly a third of the original price. The basic advantage of using our MECFES device is that the device helps patients to grasp an object with wrist flexion and extension actions. We got this project from Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus in Milan, we also got details about previous experiments, case studies relating to the MECFES technology. I even went to the ASST Great Metropolitan Niguarda hospital to observe how a Tetraplegic patient uses his/her finger to perform small activities. During my thesis, I tried several materials and several mechanisms to achieve a low priced and easy to use MECFES device with advice from my Tutor. All the designs that were 3d printed were tried on my forearm as the Tetraplegic patient was not available for testing the MECFES device on her forearm. Finally with some key advice from my professor Maximiliano Romero I was able to make a completely functioning device that perfectly solved all the issues in the previous designs.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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2019- 12- Soundararaj.pdf
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Descrizione: Thesis text
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/151918