Redesign of a NEADS Dog Harness Handle

Sponsor: NEADS

Advisor: Professor Allen H. Hoffman

Background: In the spring of 2002, a project was presented to students in the Rehabilitation Engineering class regarding the redesign of a NEADS dog harness handle. The client was a woman with multiple sclerosis. Although the harness was an excellent design for the dog, she found problems with the human interface. The handle forced the user to put her hand in a pronated position in order to grip it, which becomes uncomfortable and does not allow the arm to provide the fullest support it does when the wrist and elbow are straight. The handle was also thin which also made it uncomfortable to grip after extended periods of use. The handle was collapsible by a pin lock mechanism on each side which was time consuming and difficult for the user to manage since she needed one hand for balance and two to use the pin locks.

Designs/Solutions: Students worked in teams for 2-3 weeks developing solutions to this design challenge and built prototypes to present to the client. All of the teams decided to increase the diameter of the handle to allow for maximum grip strength. The teams also changed the design so that the user had the option of having her had with a straight or twisted wrist. To do this, one group added an attachment to the middle of the handle, while another made the handle cantilevered so it could move. By the suggestion of the client, the handle was made collapsible by pulling a bar under the handle to release the locks simultaneously.

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Last modified: Mar 05, 2004, 09:26 EST