Arthritis Assistive Technology
by ManeGuzh in Circuits > Assistive Tech
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Arthritis Assistive Technology

The objective of this project is to search for innovation in everyday objects to facilitate their use for people with disabilities.
Much of what we know as disability is due to the lack of facilities provided by the environment in which people with disabilities develop. The use of assistive technology is a great support for those users who, due to some physiological deficiency, cannot adapt to the environment to which most of the population is used to.
In this project we demonstrate the design and manufacturing process of five different products that work as assitance technology for people with arthritis.
Supplies




BambuLab X1 Carbon CF printer
ABS Filament
TPU 85A Filament
Creality Ender 3S1 printer
Design in SolidWorks



Using SolidWorks 2024 and based on measures from a series of objects related to each of our products (cutlery, cooking utensils and soda cans), we created a set of 5 assistive technology products to facilitate tasks at the kitchen for a specific user:
-The grasp of common cutlery (knives, forks, spoons).
-The grasp of cooking utensils (turners, spoons, ladles).
-Rotational can opener for models 200SOT y 202SOT (beverage cans).
-Glass with an adapted and enhanced holder.
-Adapted grasp for a fruit peeler.
For the cutlery and cooking utensils grabbing device, first, we measured a series of different utensils so that we could get average standard measures for the length and width for the later addition of the cavity in which they are inserted. Then, we added half spheres inside the cavity to maintain the utensils fixed in a position. Finally, we added a mechanism in the opposite end to be able to open the device in case of needing to reach the other end. The diameter of the device is adjusted specifically for our user.
For the can opener, first, we measured the standard shape of a 200SOT can so that the device can be perfectly adjusted to the lid. Then we created the outer circumference with a diameter that makes it easy for our final user to grab it and rotate it. For the inner thread of the device, we measured the clip of the can so it can easily slide through the thread in our device. Finally, we added the star-like shape so that our final user can have a better grasp of our device using their fingers.
For the glass, we adapted the same shape of the cutlery grasper to facilitate the holding while drinking.
For the fruit peeler, we used the same grabbing structure from the can opener and added a razor from a commercial peeler to facilitate the task.
3D Print
The device designed to open soda cans with a thread and a rotational movement is 3D printed using BambuLab ABS in a BambuLab X1 Carbon CF printer.
The devices designed for a better and more comfortable grasp of cutlery end kitchen utensils are 3D printed using TPU 85A in a Creality Ender 3S1 printer.
The glass and the fruit peeler are 3D printed using ABS using BambuLab ABS in a BambuLab X1 Carbon CF printer.