Ataxia is a degenerative muscle disease that affects all ages, typically affecting gross motor skills, and may be diagnosed as sporadic, hereditary, or as a symptom of other pre-existing medical conditions. The primary goal of this project is to develop a device to be worn on the arm of a patient affected by ataxia. This device is designed to allow every-day activities to become less strenuous, thereby increasing the mobility of each affected individual and limit unwarranted muscle spasms. The final device consists of two adjustable metal bars attached to two separate sleeves with a gasket located at the elbow. The gasket adds an adjustable friction element, and this device incorporates the six major design requirements: adjustability, accommodation, cost, materials, weight, and forces.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Konieczny, Amanda Suzanne
• Powers, Alexander Daniel
• Pasciuto, Mikayla Marie
• Hunt, Lauren Audrey

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042816-102858

Advisor

• Cobb, Eben C.

Year

• 2016

Date created

• 2016-04-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright