Project Zero: A Wristed Development
Introduction to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The hand is made up of 27 bones and a complex system of tendons. the transverse carpal ligament runs across the wrist and creates the carpal tunnel. Muscle tendons and various nerves, including the median nerve, run through the transverse carpal ligament (carpal ligament) to the hand. when the median nerve is compressed in the carpal tunnel resulting in constrained use of the hand or forearm, a patient is said to have carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is characterized in different ways depending on the patient. Some patients describe the feeling to be identical to their hand "falling asleep". This is known as paresthesia and is sometimes incorrectly referred to as "cutting off" circulation. In more severe cases, patients may experience pain and have little to no use of their hand.
There are two main treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome. Conservative treatment usually consists of a brace to prevent wrist movement and progression of the syndrome. It is used mainly in minor cases to allow natural healing. In more critical cases where surgery is needed, the transverse carpal ligament is severed to relieve pressure on the nerve.
Project Zero Objective
An occupational therapist (OT) working in a remote community in northern Quebec has approached your team with a problem. the OT has seen a recent rise in the number of patients with chronic and acute hand and arm conditions, particularly carpal tunnel syndrome. A device used to treat this condition, called a wrist orthosis, is no longer available in the clinic due to increased demand, and it will take a number of weeks before additional orthoses can be delivered by plane.
The OT has identified a bulk supply of materials at the nearby elementary school and has provided a list of these materials to you, requesting that your team design a custom wrist orthosis that she can easily reproduce in her clinic. Successful reproduction of the orthosis will require that your team document your work and present your prototype to the OT.
The project requires that your team:
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Establish the functions for a device to treat carpal tunnel syndrome
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It is required that you establish all the functions that your device must perform
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It is required that each established function couple an action verb to a noun or object
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Design a custom device for treating carpal
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Each team member is required to sketch a design for your custom device
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It is required that you build a prototype of your design
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It is required that you compose a bill of materials of your design
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Demonstrate the functionality and utility of your design
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It is required that you demonstrate your design's functionality to your colleagues
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Your team must promote your design through social media
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