Blog #5

    For the work period of September 10th-23rd, Team 8 has successfully acquired the required materials for the connecting parts. The materials have been delivered to the UH machinist where the fabrication process has been scheduled for October 1st-October13. Additionally, the team has made slight design decisions to the intermediate connecting part, due to budget constraints. Instead of utilizing a 1.10inch thick aluminum plate to construct the intermediate connecting part, the team has instead opted for an aftermarket "hat channel" composed of fiberglass. The fiberglass component can be seen in Figure 1 below. Its dimensions are similar to those of our initially designed aluminum component, with a width reduction of 2 inches, length reduction of 3 inches, and thickness reduction of  1/4''. 

Figure 1: Fiberglass Intermediate Connecting Part

Furthermore, the team has also made progression with the validation plan of the project. To further analyze the performance of the Wheelchair Lifting Aid, Team 8 will conduct a survey across a variety of caregivers and patients and pose questions which are intended to gauge the success of the Wheelchair Lifting Aid, and highlight any shortcomings. During this survey, Team 8 will also be required to analyze the caregiver's lumbar force exerted during the lifting process using the Wheelchair Lifting Aid, which requires the tracking of their vertical angle of inclination. To save time and increase accuracy of the teams experimentation, the team has opted to use a data logging inclinometer, as opposed to a digital angle protractor. Such inclinometer can be seen in Figure 2 below. This device will allow the team to digitally record the vertical angle of inclination of the caregiver for every second during the lifting process. 

Figure 2: Data Logging Inclinometer 

    For the work period of September 24 - October 3, Team 8 plans to continue improving the validation plan of the project in the mean time that the connecting parts are being fabricated. The team has begun developing the questionnaire component of the proposed survey. Below are some of the planned questions the team has developed, which are intended to analyze the satisfaction of the caregiver while using the Wheelchair Lifting Aid: 

On a scale of 0-10, please state the level of discomfort experienced in the lower back region whilst using the Wheelchair Lifting Aid. 0-3 indicates no/low discomfort experienced, 4-7 indicates mild discomfort, and 8-10 indicates moderate discomfort. 

How was the experience of operating the Wheelchair Lifting Aid? 

a.) very easy

b.) easy

c.)  somewhat easy

d.) difficult

e.) somewhat difficult

f.) very difficult

How likely are you to use the Wheelchair Lifting Aid as opposed to traditional patient lifting? 

a.) always 

b.) very likely

c.) occasionally

d.) unlikely 

e.) never 

How do you believe the Wheelchair Lifting Aid has changed the patient lifting process? 

a.) increased comfort

b.) slightly increased comfort

c.) slightly decreased comfort 

d.) decreased comfort 

Continuing this working period, the team plans to continue developing the questionnaire of the survey and seeking feedback on the quality of questions proposed. 

    Over the next two weeks, the team is expecting the fabrication process to introduce new obstacles. For instance, the larger thickness aluminum square tubing is expected to add a moderate amount of weight to the structure of the wheelchair. To ensure the structural integrity of the system is satisfactory, a new Finite Element Analysis is to performed to assure that the structural integrity of the wheelchair frame is within the safety boundaries. Furthermore, four (4) caster wheels are planned to be introduced onto the bottom of the H support to alleviate some of the newly imposed weight, in case the wheelchair structure does not suffice. 

Furthermore, whenever the wheelchair seat is being lifted, the team has identified a large potential crushing point underneath the handrails of the wheelchair. This gap can be seen in Figure 3. To eliminate this crushing point, the team plans to fix a thin wooden sheet that extends up to the handrails on both sides, to prevent access to the gap. Leather cushioning and wrapping is expected to be stapled onto the thin wooden sheet to prevent any abrasion and increase comfort in case of contact. Such wooden sheet can be seen in Figure 4 below. 

Figure 3: Potential Crushing Part During Seat Elevation

Figure 4: Proposed Wooden Sheet

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