Industrial Design – Capstone
Essential Tremor Reducing
Adaptive Device
for the Logitech M100
Regaining the ability to use a conventional Mouse for Persons with mild Essential Tremors
The domestic market diffusion, cost reduction and increasing system reliability of FDM 3D Printers has enabled a new realm of possibilities in multiple applications.
This capstone aimed at addressing the unmet need of tremor reduction for conventional mouses (Specifically the Logitech M100) by FDM’s capabilities and process advantages.
Project Timeline
September 2024 – April 2025
Capstone Partners
Tetra Society of North America (Ottawa Chapter)
Granville Biomedical
Buildable
Design Processes
Materials Exploration, Market Research, Physical and Digital Sketching, Prototyping, Computer Aided Design, Ergonomic Validation, Manufacturing Analysis, Stakeholder Testing
Software
Solidworks, Sketchbook, Adobe Illustrator
The Problem
Essential Tremors
make it hard to use
existing mouses.
This Condition affects over 3% of Canadians.
Essential Tremors are a disorder that involves involuntary shaking
that is most commonplace in the hands. It is one of the most |
common movement disorders affecting Canadians today.
Tremors can range from slight and gradual, to a progressive
worsened movement that can be confusedwith Parkinsons.
Design Opportunity
Adaptive devices, its
democratizing potential and
right to repair
Solutions that fit someone’s individual needs
Adaptive Devices help someone improve the ergonomics of their existing products,sparing devices from the landfill due to ergonomic or functional changes that might arise in someone’s lifetime.
However, Assistive Devices can have a high cost of entry due to its low-market demand, leading to people requiring them not being able to obtain it.
The Material and Process Opportunity
The Diffusion of FDM 3D Printing into Households
Low Demand, Low Volume and High Design Variability
The rapid household diffusion of this technology opens up opportunities where users make their own solutions without the limitations of existing manufacturing systems.
The Solution
Essential Tremor Reduction Adaptive Device (TRAD) Attachment
Leveraging the material opportunity
This direction makes use of a passive solution using a singular 3D printed structure with an integrated flexure as its functional mechanism.
The principle of pressure-attenuation
Using the flexural spring, the attachment provides back pressure to the user’s hand while using the mouse, attenuating their tremor movements.
Designed For the FDM 3D Printing Process
Designed to be Support-Less, Slice-able by multiple slicers and Printable by any regular consumer 3D Printer capable of Printing 95A TPU.
Problem Identification
User Experiences Difficulty Using their existing mouse due to hand tremors
Sourcing
Model Acquired via a web search or through a local accessibility group
If Mouse is Incompatible, a Logitech M100 can be sourced for $10 at any electronics store
Fabrication
Model is printed though a personal printer, public library or personal friend with 95A TPU.
Installation
Usage
Printed Model is friction fit into mouse, ready for use