Tag Archives: assistive device

This wearable assistive device designed to help stroke patients relearn muscle movements is modular and adaptable!

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Rehap is a wearable, assistive device designed for stroke survivors to exercise mirror movements, and joint exercises during the recovery process and relearning of basic muscle movements.

Rehabilitative and assistive product designs have made some progress in terms of functionality and accessibility in recent years, but the current need for at-home rehabilitative designs cannot be understated. While physical therapy is recommended for anyone who’d like to restore their natural mobility, stroke patients in particular benefit from a tailored rehabilitative program. Rehap from Ka Man Choi is a wearable rehabilitative tool designed to aid stroke survivors in relearning basic muscle movements even in the comfort of their own homes.

During the research period for Rehap, Choi learned that around 1 in 3 stroke survivors experience varying levels of emotional stress following their stroke. During the recovery period, rehabilitative tools and assistive devices help stroke survivors train the affected limb and their own muscle memory to prevent stiffness and maintain circulation.

Choi integrated physical therapeutic exercises in Rehap like mirror movements and joint exercises to help stimulate the muscle memory of stroke patients. Stroke survivors wear Rehap as a sleeve or glove and configure the product’s modular gears with rubber bands to meet their level of recovery. Conceived to make rehabilitation more accessible, Rehap is also a less costly recovery option for stroke patients.

Developed out of a single material for simple production and recyclability, Rehap is a motorless, modular solution that’s easy to reproduce and intuitive by design. Accessible for stroke patients at all levels of recovery, Rehap comes with interchangeable gears that can be swapped out to adapt to three different rehabilitative levels. The needs and progress of the patients change over time and Choi designed Rehap to meet patients where they are in their recovery process.

Designer: Ka Man Choi

Choi designed Rehap to be a sustainable and accessible solution for stroke patients to relearn basic muscle movements. 

Following an involved research period, Choi optimized the design to be adjustable and universal.

“Unlike most of the existing rehabilitation and assistive tools, without any electronics and screws, the single prints of REHAP are easier for recycling the PLA.”

“After research on the target user – stroke patients and discussion with the expert in assistive technologies, I decided to design a rehabilitation tool attached to the human body inspired by the exoskeleton and body coordination.”

This cork planter + assistive device functions as a lantern and health tracker for the elderly!

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More than a quarter of the world’s elderly population relies on assistive devices throughout the day to help with daily activities like cleaning, walking, and cooking. With contactless health services rising in popularity due to the global pandemic of 2020, that number is sure to only increase. While functionality is the most crucial aspect of assistive devices, the overall look and approachability are arguably just as important. Recognizing the importance of intuitive and simple design, designers at Iran University of Science and Technology created Fanoos, a health tracker for elderly people that doubles as a nighttime lantern.

Fanoos consists of a planter that rests at the bottom of the device’s three-legged frame and a detachable lantern that sits just above it. The three wooden legs that comprise Fanoos’s frame seem to be cut from natural pinewood, while the planter and lamplight mimic the texture of cork for a soft and lightweight feel. Included with Fanoos is an emergency button located on the top of the lamplight, which can be pressed whenever medical attention is necessary. Through integrated technology, Fanoos tracks the health status of elderly citizens, from sleeping habits to their emotional wellbeing. In fact, Fanoos adapts according to the user’s mood and emotional state.

In addition to the health-tracking sensors that fill out Fanoos, the detachable lamp’s light is adjustable so that it can be dimmed or brightened throughout the day and night according to each user’s preference or need. During the night, when a user needs to use the bathroom or grab a glass of water from the kitchen, the detachable lamp can be used like an old-school lantern and carried throughout the house. Or, if a user cannot walk and carry the lantern at the same time, the brightness can be raised to light up the room just enough to see the floor and surrounding space.

Designer: Iran University of Science and Technology

Fanoos consists of a planter and lantern equipped with integrated health-tracking technology.

Fanoos’s simple assembly further enhances its intuitive design and makes it easy to transport or switch between rooms.

An SOS button on the top of Fanoos’s lantern signal that a resident requires medical attention.

Fanoos adapts to each resident’s changing mood and preference.

Come night, Fanoos becomes a lantern for the elderly to use when moving from room to room.

A sleep apnea assistive device to bring you the quality and safe sleep you deserve

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Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and begins again. During sleep, when throat muscles are too relaxed, they expand and obstruct airways, disrupting the flow of oxygen throughout the body. There are assistive devices such as CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), whose purpose is to increase air pressure in your throat so that the muscles surrounding it do not become too relaxed to the point of obstructive expansion. Carmen Maier, the designer behind Lune, imagined a different approach.

Lune, a holistic training and monitoring system for people with sleep apnea trouble, encourages a sound sleep by stimulating oral muscles around the throat by means of pulsating electrodes. Inspired by the male frog’s mate calling technique, which is when the male frog lifts his head upwards in order to produce mighty ribbits, Lune incorporates an integrated airbag into the sleeping assistive device in order to maintain an upright position for their head, which in turn promotes steady, open airflow. Then, during sleep, Lune uses sensors to determine whether or not the user’s breathing canals are blocked. If the user’s throat muscles are too relaxed, causing the tongue to recede backward, blocking the flow of oxygen between the lungs and brain, then Lune gently pulsates electrodes over the throat area. The pulsating electrodes trigger the user’s nervous system to swallow, which then sets the tongue back to a neutral, alert position. Through this reimagination of a CPAP device, the user’s oral muscles are strengthened, which brings the possibility of long-lasting sleep improvements. Along with the product’s main feature of improving the flow of oxygen throughout the user’s body, its charging station integrates a fully-operative alarm clock, smartphone connectivity, and analysis software that tracks your sleeping habits, providing a visual guide to your personal sleep improvements.

By researching the needs and considerations of people with sleep apnea, along with the knowledge and science from doctors and engineers, Carmen Maier devised a product that ensures a good night’s sleep without requiring lifestyle changes from the user. While most CPAP designs provide a lot of relief in regard to airflow, this machine does that and also strengthens your breathing capabilities all while you’re sound asleep.

Designer: Carmen Maier