Alpha Prototype Research Articles

The evaluation of a decision support system integrating assistive technology for people with dementia at home.

With a decreasing workforce of carers and a transition from care homes to home care, people with dementia (PwD) increasingly rely on informal caregivers (ICs) and assistive technologies (ATs). There is growing evidence that ATs in the home environment can reduce workload for formal carers (FCs) and ICs, reduce care costs, and can have a positive influence on quality of life (QoL) for PwD and their caregivers. In practice, using multiple ATs still often implies using different separate point solutions and applications. However, the integral, combined use of the data generated using various applications can potentially enhance the insight into the health and wellbeing status of PwD and can provide decision support for carers. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the use of a DSS that integrated multiple ATs into one dashboard through a small-scale field study. The current study presents the formative evaluation of a Decision Support System (DSS) connected to multiple ATs. This DSS has been developed by means of co-creation during an international project. The DSS provides an insight into the physical and cognitive status of a PwD, as well as an insight into sleep activity and general wellbeing. Semi-structured interview sessions were held in three countries (Netherlands, Italy, and Taiwan) with 41 participants to gain insight into the experiences of formal and informal carers and PwD with both the ATs and the DSS Alpha prototype dashboard. The results showed that participants using the DSS were satisfied and perceived added value and a fit with certain care demands from the PwD. In general, ICs and FCs have limited insight into the status of PwD living independently at home, and in these moments, the DSS dashboard and AT bundle can provide valuable insights. Participants experienced the DSS dashboard as well-organized and easy to navigate. The accuracy of the data displayed in the dashboard is important, the context, and (perceived) privacy issues should be tackled according to all users. Furthermore, based in the insight gained during the evaluation a set of design improvements was composed which can be used to further improve the DSS for the Beta evaluation. The current paper evaluates a possible solution for excess AT usage and how the use of a DSS which integrated multiple AT into one single technology could support caregivers in providing care for PwD. The formative evaluation scrutinized the integration of the developed DSS and the composed bundle of ATs across diverse cultural contexts. Insights from multi-center observations shed light on user experiences, encompassing overall usability, navigational efficacy, and attitudes toward the system. FCs and ICs expressed positivity toward the DSS dashboard's design and functionalities, highlighting its utility in remote monitoring, tracking changes in the person's abilities, and managing urgent situations. There is a need for personalized solutions and the findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of DSS and AT integration, providing insights for future developments and research in the field of DSS for the care of PwD.

Commercialisation pathway for low energy wet/dry gyratory rolls crusher comminution technology

Comminution for mining and cement industries accounts for over 2 % of global energy consumption and an innovative Gyratory Rolls Crusher (GRolls®) technology has been developed in South Australia to reduce energy and water consumption, providing dry and wet crushing from ∼ 20 mm to 20µm fractions without media, replacing up to two stages of size reduction. The GRolls® is a compression based particle size reduction device, designed to generate fine and ultra-fine products from coarse feeds, by simultaneously applying pulsed compression and shear forces to a packed particle bed. The breakage mechanisms initiated by these forces include compression breakage, inter-particle compression, induced tensile failure and particle shear forces generated by a gyrating roll.The paper presents the commercialisation pathway of the GRolls® technology, from “proof of concept” laboratory scale Alpha prototype and concept design of an upscaled Beta prototype for a pilot plant. A systematic progression of laboratory scale testing of a wide range of feed materials through the Alpha prototype was undertaken to confirm the ‘”proof of concept” design and identify the many design variables and operational configurations that affect the GRolls® crushing and energy performance. The test results were evaluated against currently available comminution solutions such as the High Pressure Grinding Rolls (HPGR) and Vertical Rolls Mill (VRM) in which the mining section is moving towards to provide more economical dry comminution and a progression towards partial to full dry process flowsheets.The commercialisation pathway has confirmed the broad performance range and energy consumption of the GRolls® which could be modularised in the near future to support new and existing low grade mining operations in remote areas restricted by limited water and power infrastructure.

Technology Matters: Collaboratively augmenting longitudinal monitoring (C.A.L.M) in bipolar disorder - co-design, co-production and evaluation of the alpha prototype app.

Apps developed for bipolar disorder (BD) allow a sense of autonomy and self-regulation whilst monitoring for early warning signs indicative of a relapse. C.A.L.M BD was specifically co-designed and co-produced with young people (16-25 years) living with BD, their family members, clinicians, researchers in human-computer interaction and an app development company to address the current lack of such technology for this age range. The prototype app tracked mood, and provided young people with the instant ability to monitor mood trends and use lifeline functionality when in crisis. The evaluation of the app demonstrated that it successfully engaged participants and provided insight to an effective way of iteratively designing an app. The future development of this app could improve outcomes for young people living with BD, however, needs to be evaluated rigorously.

Small, slim, sleek, and familiar: user experiences with an ION wearable research alpha prototype transdermal alcohol monitor

Introduction Transdermal alcohol monitors can help overcome issues with self-reporting in alcohol research and offer improvements over other biometric monitors as they provide passive and continuous measurement. The ION Wearable has recently entered the market by Milo Sensors; however, user acceptability has yet to be tested. This paper explores user experiences of an ION Wearable Research Alpha Prototype (ION RAP) monitor to determine if it is a feasible device for participant use in research studies. Methods and materials We undertook a qualitative study to explore user experiences of wearing an ION RAP monitor. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 23 participants after they wore an ION RAP for a 24-hour period. Participants were asked about first impressions of the device, physical comfortability, perceptions of the device, social experiences and drinking experiences. We used a deductive framework analysis. Results Overall, participants compared the ION RAP to a fitness watch, describing it as small, sleek, and familiar. Participants mostly reported positive physical and social experiences when wearing the ION RAP. Most participants did not feel that wearing the ION RAP impacted their drinking practices. Participants suggested that it would have greater utility if it were waterproof, and if issues with short battery life were resolved. Conclusions The ION RAP appears to be an acceptable alternative to traditional transdermal alcohol monitors. Future studies should examine acceptability in more diverse populations, including older adults. While user experience data is important, it is also vital that future studies examine its performance in measuring alcohol consumption.

Computer Simulation to Optimize the VFA Alpha Prototype with a Hydraulic Piston Compressor and an Integrated Booster

Abstract Natural gas, including biomethane, is a sustainable alternative fuel. Widening compressed natural gas applications by now is restricted by weakly developed infrastructure. Hygen Ltd. works on “hydraulic piston” technology for natural gas and biomethane compressing, storing, delivering and discharging the storage cylinders by means of an innovative hydraulic boosting technology. Designing of the Vehicle Fuelling Appliance (VFA) demands to take into account thermodynamics and gas dynamics properties at fluid compression and motion. The present paper deals with theoretical characteristics and their link to test measurements regarding a particular VFA HYGEN+ Alpha prototype manufactured by Hygen Ltd.

Development of a Web-Based Resource for Parents of Young Children Newly Diagnosed With Autism: Participatory Research Design.

BackgroundThe internet provides an ideal avenue to share information, advice, and support regarding autism. However, many websites lack quality control and rarely provide a one-stop resource for families to access necessary, evidence-based information.ObjectiveThis study aims to use participatory action research (PAR) with end users (ie, parents) and clinicians to develop a web-based resource (Pathways Beyond Diagnosis) to improve timely access to quality, evidence-based information, and support for families after their child is diagnosed with autism.MethodsThe PAR approach involves 4 phases: (1) cooperative researcher-stakeholder planning, (2) cooperative researcher-stakeholder–based action, (3) stakeholder observation, and (4) cooperative researcher-stakeholder reflection. A total of 15 participants (parents, n=3; clinicians, n=9; and researchers, n=3) attended individual or group participatory design workshops. This was followed by the translation of knowledge and ideas generated during the workshops to produce mockups of webpages and content, rapid prototyping, and one-on-one consultations with end users to assess the usability of the website developed.ResultsA total of 3 participatory design workshops were held with the participants, each followed by a knowledge translation session. At the end of the PAR cycle, an alpha prototype of the website was built and a series of one-on-one end user consultation sessions were conducted. The PAR cycle revealed the importance of 6 key topic areas (understanding autism, accessing services, support, gaining funding, putting it all together, and looking into the future) associated with the time of diagnosis, which were incorporated into the beta version of the website.ConclusionsThe development of the Pathways Beyond Diagnosis website using PAR ensures that families have ready access to practical and evidence-based information following a young child’s diagnosis. The website guides families to access relevant, reputable, and evidence-based information in addition to summarizing key challenges encountered after diagnosis (ie, grief, sharing the diagnosis) and the importance of self-care.

Field Measurement of the Motorcycle's Key Dimensions Using Simple Method and in-House Fabricated Instrument

Out of many plausible causative factors for the spike in accidents, lack of riding skills is reported to be a significant reason for motorcycle mishaps. The riding skills can be improved through better availability of training facilities (simulator). Non-availability of the dimensional database (of different types of motorcycles), which are essential for simulator design, makes it difficult for the designers/ engineers to build the commercially available cheaper motorcycle-simulators. Moreover, the available measuring techniques and devices are costly and unable to satisfy motorcycle measurement's diverse requirements. Thus, the present research aimed to prepare the dimensional database of motorcycles using an in-house fabricated measuring instrument. Following the adaptive design method, the alpha prototype of a laser-pointer-based measuring instrument was developed. The calibrated device was used for measuring the dimensions associated with the handlebar, seat, and footrest of the 23 different motorcycles under study. Detailed (linear, angular, and circumferential) dimensions of the handlebar, seat, and footrest were measured using sliding calipers and protractors. Generated dimensional databases of 18 critical dimensions from the handlebar, seat, and footrest of the 23 different standard-motorcycles would be useful for deciding the motorcycle simulator's dimensions.

Involving End Users in Adapting a Spanish Version of a Web-Based Mental Health Clinic for Young People in Colombia: Exploratory Study Using Participatory Design Methodologies.

BackgroundHealth information technologies (HITs) hold enormous promise for improving access to and providing better quality of mental health care. However, despite the spread of such technologies in high-income countries, these technologies have not yet been commonly adopted in low- and middle-income countries. People living in these parts of the world are at risk of experiencing physical, technological, and social health inequalities. A possible solution is to utilize the currently available HITs developed in other counties.ObjectiveUsing participatory design methodologies with Colombian end users (young people, their supportive others, and health professionals), this study aimed to conduct co-design workshops to culturally adapt a Web-based Mental Health eClinic (MHeC) for young people, perform one-on-one user-testing sessions to evaluate an alpha prototype of a Spanish version of the MHeC and adapt it to the Colombian context, and inform the development of a skeletal framework and alpha prototype for a Colombian version of the MHeC (MHeC-C).MethodsThis study involved the utilization of a research and development (R&D) cycle including 4 iterative phases: co-design workshops; knowledge translation; tailoring to language, culture, and place (or context); and one-on-one user-testing sessions.ResultsA total of 2 co-design workshops were held with 18 users—young people (n=7) and health professionals (n=11). Moreover, 10 users participated in one-on-one user-testing sessions—young people (n=5), supportive others (n=2), and health professionals (n=3). A total of 204 source documents were collected and 605 annotations were coded. A thematic analysis resulted in 6 themes (ie, opinions about the MHeC-C, Colombian context, functionality, content, user interface, and technology platforms). Participants liked the idea of having an MHeC designed and adapted for Colombian young people, and its 5 key elements were acceptable in this context (home page and triage system, self-report assessment, dashboard of results, booking and video-visit system, and personalized well-being plan). However, to be relevant in Colombia, participants stressed the need to develop additional functionality (eg, phone network backup; chat; geolocation; and integration with electronic medical records, apps, or electronic tools) as well as an adaptation of the self-report assessment. Importantly, the latter not only included language but also culture and context.ConclusionsThe application of an R&D cycle that also included processes for adaptation to Colombia (language, culture, and context) resulted in the development of an evidence-based, language-appropriate, culturally sensitive, and context-adapted HIT that is relevant, applicable, engaging, and usable in both the short and long term. The resultant R&D cycle allowed for the adaptation of an already available HIT (ie, MHeC) to the MHeC-C—a low-cost and scalable technology solution for low- and middle-income countries like Colombia, which has the potential to provide young people with accessible, available, affordable, and integrated mental health care at the right time.

Using Participatory Design Methodologies to Co-Design and Culturally Adapt the Spanish Version of the Mental Health eClinic: Qualitative Study.

BackgroundThe Mental Health eClinic (MHeC) aims to deliver best-practice clinical services to young people experiencing mental health problems by making clinical care accessible, affordable, and available to young people whenever and wherever they need it most. The original MHeC consists of home page with a visible triage system for those requiring urgent help; a online physical and mental health self-report assessment; a results dashboard; a booking and videoconferencing system; and the generation of a personalized well-being plan. Populations who do not speak English and reside in English-speaking countries are less likely to receive mental health care. In Australia, international students have been identified as disadvantaged compared with their peers; have weaker social support networks; and have higher rates of psychological distress. This scenario is acquiring significant relevance as Spanish-speaking migration is rapidly growing in Australia, and the mental health services for culturally and linguistically diverse populations are limited. Having a Spanish version (MHeC-S) of the Mental Health eClinic would greatly benefit these students.ObjectiveWe used participatory design methodologies with users (young people aged 16-30 years, supportive others, and health professionals) to (1) conduct workshops with users to co-design and culturally adapt the MHeC; (2) inform the development of the MHeC-S alpha prototype; (3) test the usability of the MHeC-S alpha prototype; (4) translate, culturally adapt, and face-validate the MHeC-S self-report assessment; and (5) collect information to inform its beta prototype.MethodsA research and development cycle included several participatory design phases: co-design workshops; knowledge translation; language translation and cultural adaptation; and rapid prototyping and user testing of the MHeC-S alpha prototype.ResultsWe held 2 co-design workshops with 17 users (10 young people, 7 health professionals). A total of 15 participated in the one-on-one user testing sessions (7 young people, 5 health professionals, 3 supportive others). We collected 225 source documents, and thematic analysis resulted in 5 main themes (help-seeking barriers, technology platform, functionality, content, and user interface). A random sample of 106 source documents analyzed by 2 independent raters revealed almost perfect agreement for functionality (kappa=.86; P<.001) and content (kappa=.92; P<.001) and substantial agreement for the user interface (kappa=.785; P<.001). In this random sample, no annotations were coded for help-seeking barriers or the technology platform. Language was identified as the main barrier to getting medical or psychological services, and smartphones were the most-used device to access the internet. Acceptability was adequate for the prototype’s 5 main elements: home page and triage system, self-report assessment, dashboard of results, booking and video visit system, and personalized well-being plan. The data also revealed gaps in the alpha prototype, such as the need for tailored assessment tools and a greater integration with Spanish-speaking services and communities. Spanish-language apps and e-tools, as well as online mental health information, were lacking.ConclusionsThrough a research and development process, we co-designed and culturally adapted, developed and user tested, and evaluated the MHeC-S. By translating and culturally adapting the MHeC to Spanish, we aimed to increase accessibility and availability of e-mental health care in the developing world, and assist vulnerable populations that have migrated to English-speaking countries.

Muslim Ablution Eco Water Tap: From First Design Alpha Prototype to Second Design

Muslim in Indonesia uses a lot of water to do an ablution activity, and it is not caused by wasteful character of Indonesia’s Muslim society, but because of the design of conventional water tap is not intended to conserve water in ablution activity. To solve the problem, a conceptional Muslim ablution eco water tap design was made. The concept of the product is, it has a mechanical based system to create an auto shutdown mechanism. Thus, the water usage for ablution is predicted can be decreased. However, after the first design alpha prototype is built, faults of the design are directly detected. Thus, this paper tries to analyze the first design alpha prototype and suggest a refinement to create the second design. In this paper, two deficiencies from the first design are identified and a second design is proposed.

Roadmap to a Successful Product Development

This study details a product development process that accurately predicts the successful implementation of a new product into the market. This product development process evaluates the product development stage of a multi-stage-gate new product development system. It offers a systematic and a rational platform that describes multiple phases that allow for the determination of project viability at the onset of any small to medium product development process. These phases detail interconnected steps with a feedback loop that carry a product concept through a conceptual stage (Phase I) and the generation of a “proof of concept” or an alpha prototype that allows for the initiation of estimates for development cost, market risk analysis, performance evaluation, and product manufacturing cost estimation (Phase II). The final steps are the pre-product design stage (Phase III), which is an expansion of the broader development cost estimates generated in Phase II providing additional rigorous estimates of the product development costs. Notably, modification or redesign of failed product concepts and their conversion into successful prospects that garner market profitability is another tangible objective of the described product development process.

Developing a Mental Health eClinic to Improve Access to and Quality of Mental Health Care for Young People: Using Participatory Design as Research Methodologies.

BackgroundEach year, many young Australians aged between 16 and 25 years experience a mental health disorder, yet only a small proportion access services and even fewer receive timely and evidence-based treatments. Today, with ever-increasing access to the Internet and use of technology, the potential to provide all young people with access (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) to the support they require to improve their mental health and well-being is promising.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to use participatory design (PD) as research methodologies with end users (young people aged between 16 and 25 years and youth health professionals) and our research team to develop the Mental Health eClinic (a Web-based mental health clinic) to improve timely access to, and better quality, mental health care for young people across Australia.MethodsA research and development (R&D) cycle for the codesign and build of the Mental Health eClinic included several iterative PD phases: PD workshops; translation of knowledge and ideas generated during workshops to produce mockups of webpages either as hand-drawn sketches or as wireframes (simple layout of a webpage before visual design and content is added); rapid prototyping; and one-on-one consultations with end users to assess the usability of the alpha build of the Mental Health eClinic.ResultsFour PD workshops were held with 28 end users (young people n=18, youth health professionals n=10) and our research team (n=8). Each PD workshop was followed by a knowledge translation session. At the conclusion of this cycle, the alpha prototype was built, and one round of one-on-one end user consultation sessions was conducted (n=6; all new participants, young people n=4, youth health professionals n=2). The R&D cycle revealed the importance of five key components for the Mental Health eClinic: a home page with a visible triage system for those requiring urgent help; a comprehensive online physical and mental health assessment; a detailed dashboard of results; a booking and videoconferencing system to enable video visits; and the generation of a personalized well-being plan that includes links to evidence-based, and health professional–recommended, apps and etools.ConclusionsThe Mental Health eClinic provides health promotion, triage protocols, screening, assessment, a video visit system, the development of personalized well-being plans, and self-directed mental health support for young people. It presents a technologically advanced and clinically efficient system that can be adapted to suit a variety of settings in which there is an opportunity to connect with young people. This will enable all young people, and especially those currently not able or willing to connect with face-to-face services, to receive best practice clinical services by breaking down traditional barriers to care and making health care more personalized, accessible, affordable, and available.

Patterns and Drivers of NPD Tool Adoption in Small High-Technology Firms

In this paper, we set out the drivers and patterns of adoption of new product development (NPD) tools in small high-technology firms. Despite previous findings that using NPD tools can improve NPD performance outcomes, surveys of large firms show reluctance to make full use of such tools. Our study is the first to look at NPD tool adoption in small high-technology firms. We draw on survey data from 99 firms in New Zealand, covering 76 NPD tools, including both functional and support tools, and tools from nontechnical aspects of NPD, such as the market perspective. The firms in our sample adopted fewer tools overall than studies report for larger firms, and fewer complex tools, but adopted just as many simple tools such as brainstorming, competitor analysis, project management, and alpha prototype. The firms typically did not have formalized NPD processes, but those that did also adopted more NPD tools. We found no significant differences in tool adoption by the level of project novelty to the firm or between industrial and consumer products. We conclude by discussing the case for small firms to formalize their NPD processes and to adopt a greater number and range of NPD tools.

Energy Saving Switched-Mode Regulator in Motorcycle Power Supply

A new approach to designing Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) for motorcycle power supply is presented. It uses an alternative way to efficiently regulate power output from a stator generator instead of using conventional Power Rectifier Regulator (PRR). Energy saving switch mode regulator shown the fuel consumption were less used compared using conventional PRR from several experiments using an alpha prototype of SMPS.

Perspectives of Nurses and Patients on Call Light Technology.

Call lights are prevalent in inpatient healthcare facilities across the nation. While call light use directly influences the delivery of nursing care, there remain significant gaps both in research and technology that can affect the quality of care and patient satisfaction. This study examines nurse and patient perceptions of the use of a new call communication solution, Eloquence, in the acute care inpatient setting. Eighteen patients were recruited for the study and participated in individual semistructured interviews during their hospital stay. Eighteen nurses were recruited and participated in focus groups for this study. Qualitative descriptive methods were used to analyze the data. Results revealed themes of usability, improved communication, and suggestions for improvement to the alpha prototype design. After a demonstration of the use and capability of Eloquence, nurse and patient participants found Eloquence as a welcomed advancement in nurse call technology that has the potential to improve workflow and patient outcomes. In addition, the participants also proposed ideas on how to further develop the technology to improve its use.

Marketers Understanding Engineers and Engineers Understanding Marketers: The Opportunities and Constraints of a Cross-Discipline Course Using 3D Printing to Develop Marketable Innovations

Marketers are criticized for not understanding the steps in the engineering research and development process and the challenges of manufacturing a new product at a profit. Engineers are criticized for not considering the marketability of and customer interest in such a product during the planning stages. With the development of 3D printing, rapid prototyping at a reasonable cost may help to overcome the “sound barriers” between the two disciplines. We report on how a cross-discipline class team, using the stage gate model taught by an engineering professor and a marketing professor, helped both groups of students acquire cross-functional knowledge of marketing and engineering design to hear the voice of the customer while creating and prototyping an innovative new product. We provide in detail the work students completed at each stage and explain how developing rough prototypes and testing customer reaction to them lead to 3D printing of an alpha prototype. With an alpha prototype, which looks and functions like a marketable product, students were able to get more authentic customer feedback about their new product.

LabLink: Journaling via Multimedia in Anatomical Dissections

Thorough laboratory procedure and findings documentation is a valuable asset, as it fosters active participation and provides resources for further study outside of the classroom. We propose an electronic lab journal, LabLink, which includes a traditional journal alongside documentation via photographs and short videos. Students can document anatomical variations, pathologies and anatomical relationships via Bluetooth connected hardware. The multimedia is stored in a large‐scale database available to future students and researchers. The database is stored in SQL format and searchable with a user‐friendly interface. The electronic journal software provides analytics on student use and grade correlation. LabLink electronic journal is an asset in learning and technological advancement in anatomical dissection.An alpha prototype was used to qualitatively test medical students' reactions to both the software and the alterations to expected lab duties. A beta prototype was then made and tested in a lab session with four groups of eight students using the journal, and four groups of eight students without. Test scores and specific anatomical understanding were then compared. Additionally, user analytics were studied post‐experimentally.Students were intrigued by the alpha prototype and were particularly interested in its advanced technologic approach.LabLink is looking forward to expansion into advanced, hands‐free hardware technologies, additional test periods with larger sample sizes and use in anatomy labs for classes other than first year medical students.

How Feasible Was a Bed-Height Alert System?

This qualitative and descriptive study examined the feasibility of a bed-height alert system as a fall-prevention strategy. The alpha prototype was developed to measure and record bed height, and to remind staff to keep patient beds in the lowest position. This pilot project was conducted in a 52-bed adult acute surgical inpatient care unit of a Michigan community hospital. Qualitative and quantitative information was gathered during semistructured interviews of nursing staff (18 RNs and 13 PCAs; January-April 2011). Descriptive content analysis and descriptive analyses were performed. The overall response rate was 44.9%. The mean values of the feasibility questions are all favorable. Staff's comments also support the view that the alert system would promote patient safety and prevent falls. In short, this system was found to be somewhat useful, feasible, appropriate, and accurate. It has the potential to promote patient safety and prevent bed-associated injurious falls in inpatient care settings.

Development of Dynamic Ankle Foot Orthosis for Therapeutic Application

In a population of aging with low birth rate, many elderly become bedridden because of their suffering from injuries or diseases that require a long period to heal and rehab. We developed the lowest cost of production while provides the highest performance and reliable prototype. The selective 27 parts were identified and used in this project including the cabling assembly for wiring. The other selective 14 parts are using other polymer materials such Acrylontrile Butadine Styrene (ABS) and Polypropylene. The alpha prototype was produced using FDM (Fuse Deposition Modeling). The model is fabricated by using real scale of (1:1) for the chosen conceptual design. Engineering drawing is the last process in design stage, where the final prototype must be verified as according to requirement and the related problem rise have been solved. The effective cost reduction newly designed DAFO is presented in this study. The functional test was conducted in the laboratory and based on human testify. The performance was good even though the prototype using rapid prototype materials. The controller board also functions as it programmed. The DC motor was performed a job based on signal provide by two (2) limit switch at the bottom part of lower foot. As a conclusion, The development of cost-effective new mechanism of dynamic ankle-foot orthosis was successfully fabricated in this current study. Further evaluation need to be tested accordingly prior to use as important device in rehabilitation therapy.

Design and Development of an Improved Tissue Retractor for Use in Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures

Laparoscopic surgery is a widespread and rapidly growing surgical technique. One of the challenges facing surgeons performing laparoscopic procedures is the retraction of anatomical structures that restrict vision and access to the surgical site. Current solutions to this problem involve opening additional incisions, which causes increased risk and discomfort to the patient. This study proposes a design for a laparoscopic retractor that can be inserted and operated without the need for additional incisions. The anatomical principles relevant to the design are introduced. The inventive problem is investigated and the design requirements for the device are listed and explained. The processes of initial concept generation and selection are described, as well as the various stages of design refinement and prototyping performed on the chosen concept. User feedback regarding the alpha prototype of the device is presented. Finally, recommendations are made for future development of the device.