As an introduction to the project we took a trip to beth Israel hospital. There we observed a surgery on a fake dummy. We had the privilege of entering into an operating room and watch as the surgeons preformed the operation. The surgeon explained what he was doing and showed us the different tools and instruments used for the procedure. 

The goal of this slide was to present the problem and solution of the project. We developed a device that limited tremors in the hand intended for surgeons. This instrument could also be used for people who suffer from Parkinson’s.

Our First precedent was the wrist brace. The issue with the wrist band was that we did not want to limit hand movement like a splint. We only wanted to remove the tremor. 

Our second precedent and inspiration for the project was a glove with a gyroscope. This model would eliminate tremors in the hand. When the hand moved a certain way the gyroscope would move the opposite way creating a limiting movement. The issue with this model is that it would be too big for a surgeon to wear and would impact the arm movement immensely.

This was a picture of our first sketch of the project. We wanted to have a aluminum glove that would rap around the entire hand. Unfortunately we realized that idea was not helpful and actually restricted hand movement. It was imperative to eventually switch to a rubber material making the glove more flexible. Our goal was to keep hand movement but limit the tremors. 

This sketch was a picture of the forearm and the individual bones that connected the wrist to the elbow. There are two bones in the forearm and when they rotate one of the bones overlap. In order to have a system that stayed put and didn't move along with that rotation, we added a structure that connected the hand piece to a strap around the bicep. There would be a wooden bar or plank connecting the glove with the strap around the bicep. 

For our first iteration, we wanted to restrict side to side movement of the hand. We used cardboard which we laser cut, two screws, and velcro to make a design that would stop any horizontal movement but allow vertical movement.

It was then that we began to study the movement of how a person tremors, and we began trying to restrict rotational movement. We extended our structure up the forearm, using wooden planks and velcro to try and completely stop the arm from rotating.

For our third iteration, we replaced cardboard with aluminum for the hand piece and extended it all the way up to the bicep. We did this because we saw that when the forearm was rotating, the bicep was orating less so we planed that if we connected them, the rotational and movement would stop. We used dowels to connect the hand and bicep parts, and velcro to attach it to the forearm.

For our last iteration before our final, we changed the idea. Instead of trying to completely restricting rotational movement, we truly were aiming for a design that would limit tremors. Dr. Feldman gave us the idea of making a gyroscope-type device where a weight would go the opposite direction of the hand. We did this by making a tray out of aluminum where a weight would be placed. We also changed the aluminum frame for the hand to rubber, and changed the dowels to wooden planks.

Here you can see the rubber brace that goes around the hand, the wooden planks that attach to the bicep, and aluminum plates that add some support to the rubber structure. 

For the final, we changed the aluminum tray to a wooden, cylindrical cage with ball bearings inside. If the hand rotates slowly to either side, the balls will also go that direction. But if the hand moves quickly one way, then quickly the other way, the balls will still be moving in that same direction, causing the hand to slow down and not tremor.

As you can see on our final images, we used a rubber hand brace, the wooden cage to restrict rotational tremors, and wooden planks that runs up the arm. We also added rubber along the arm piece to make it more comfortable.