ME463 SENIOR DESIGN. Dr. Estill Maddox PROJECT NAME: Custom shoe insert and possible brace PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

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Olivia Potter
5 years ago
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1 ME463 SENIOR DESIGN Dr. Estill Maddox PROJECT NAME: Custom shoe insert and possible brace PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Shoe insert and possible brace made with carbon fiber foot plate for patients with foot injuries, including amputations and diabetic patients with chronic foot ulcers. The carbon fiber inserts can be fitted with micro sensors and printed circuits that would relay signals to an app on the user s cell phone and the doctor s office relaying real time information of the patient s pressure points when they are walking. This would allow for modification of the foot plate and help the physical therapists modify the patient s gait. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM YOU ARE TRYING TO SOLVE? Patients such as myself, who have had partial amputations of toes and metacarpal bones, have difficulty with balance and too much pressure on remaining tissue and bones which can cause in additional skin break down resulting in more amputations. Diabetic patients that suffer with skin ulcers that are generally caused by repeated pressure on areas on their feet. This style of insert would reduce and sometimes eliminate appearance of skin ulcers resulting in reoccurrence of skin ulcers, improve patients balance which helps in eliminating falls and assist in better quality of patient s health and longevity. This technology can also cross over to be used with the sensors and reduce athletic injuries and improving the athlete s form and assist trainers of the athlete to have real time information from the insert. 1

2 EXPLAIN THE PHYSICS OF THE PROBLEM Diagrams and pictures will be submitted along with the application. WHY IS IT A PROBLEM? (WHY IS IT WORTH SOLVING?) Medicine and engineering make for a perfect fit for cutting edge innovations. But rarely does medicine let go of something that may be 20 or more years behind in technology. I am including a diabetic patient shoe insert photograph so that you can see how antique it s design is and how it lacks for any engineering principles to give the patients a fighting chance. Purdue students in your department can literally change the lives of millions of people for everything they do to wake up the medical industry to allow engineering its rightful place on the team. Purdue has a reputation for shocking the medical world and industry all over the world with innovations that far exceed what we call new and modern. Imagine a coach and trainer of a football, soccer, volleyball, track or cross country athletes and any other sports requiring a lot of lateral movements. Would have the ability to get real time information where and how the athlete is positioning his foot to start a lateral movement. This information could prevent many of the stress fractures and injuries to the feet and ankles, the legs and knees of the athletes. DESCRIPTION OF YOUR PROPOSED SOLUTION(S). In the initial footplate and possible brace would be designed for my right foot. I have an injury from falling that caused the amputation of the fourth and fifth toes, a large portion of the metatarsal bones and the first metatarsal ball on the third toe. I am proposing to use carbon fiber layered with protective jells or silicon s to reduce impact pressure while being active on my feet. Unlike the present injury and diabetic inserts, the carbon fiber would be far more durable. Providing much more strength and durability and yet be somewhat flexible where it needs to be. I would propose to put several small hollow areas like tubing on 2

3 the portion of the foot plate that lies in the area of the missing metatarsal bones. And there would be a raised spacer in the area that was amputated. This would prevent pressure and friction by keeping the foot from moving left or right within the shoe. It could be beneficial to have the foot plate roll up to some degree on the sides of the foot where if necessary straps could be made to hold the foot plate in place. The foot print of the plate would need to be the size of the foot before the injuries and amputations to give a larger foot print when you are walking to increase balance and stability. WHAT ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES WILL BE USED ON THE PROJECT AND HOW? Being a doctor and not an engineer I really don t know how to answer this question without discussion. In my own thinking I would consider bringing strength and support that is also flexible to the areas where bone and its function have been removed. To offset the load that the remaining toes will carry (especially the ball of the first metatarsal or the large toe) there would need to be extra cushion to prevent stress damage. This would also need to be considered in the area of the heel. MARKET ANALYSIS : According to John Hopkins Medicine Health Library, In the U.S. about 30 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports, and more than 3.5 million injuries each year, which cause some loss of time of participation, are experienced by the participants. Every school that has sports programs would be potential customers. Industries that are at risk of potential foot injuries at the work place would be additional markets. Every amateur and professional sports team expands the market exponentially. Hospitals, Orthopedists, Podiatrist, Physical Therapists, and Gerontologists would be potential markets. 3

4 BENCHMARK RESEARCH I don t know where to find this research. HOW WILL THE SOLUTION CREATE BUSINESS AND/OR SOCIETY VALUE? It will offer an improved quality of life to an individual who has had a partial foot amputation. It will create business by the fact that current orthotic inserts are behind years in technology. Doctors and practitioners have been restricted by the choice of products and the availability of current technology. Societal change will be noticed in a better life and less further amputations for the individuals using this new technology. It could even contribute to longer life with more mobility and better quality of life. It will impact several markets that will adapt their existing products when the advanced technology is explored and created. 4

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MEDIAL TIBIAL STRESS SYNDROME (Shin Splints)

MEDIAL TIBIAL STRESS SYNDROME (Shin Splints) Description Expected Outcome Shin splints is a term broadly used to describe pain in the lower extremity brought on by exercise or athletic activity. Most commonly