Page 499 - Biomedical Engineering and Design Handbook Volume 2, Applications

APPLIED UNIVERSAL DESIGN 477

finite-element model of the AFO after non-load-bearing material is reduced. An added benefit is the
reduction of perspiration experienced due to wearing an AFO in the summer. Technology transfer from
other industries would certainly benefit Lisa.

16.3.3 Design for Failure
Engineers are constantly considering failure modes in their designs. When designing a device for
persons with disabilities, great care must continue. What will happen to its user if a failure occurs?
Could the person become injured? Trapped until someone happens by? Who would repair this
device? Can it be completed onsite? Would it require special training or tools? From the instant
the device fails, how long will it take before the user has the repaired or replaced device in use?
If this product is important to users, how could they do without it? If it is not that important, they
probably would not have purchased the unit in the first place. If this is a custom design for a sole
user who you know personally, it is even easier to picture the possible impact of a failure.

16.3.4 Social-Psychological Perspective
A team of talented engineers is asked to design a device that will automatically open doors for a
teenage girl who has no use of her arms. The team, after 3 months, produces a device that can open
standard doors, sliding doors, light doors, heavy doors, and even bifold doors with ease. It is light-
weight and works off a single AA battery that lasts for a year. The team proudly delivers the inven-
tion to the client, but she refuses to wear it. You see, the device is built into a helmet with a robotic
arm jutting out. Most teens will not leave their homes if they are wearing the “wrong” clothes.
Why would a teen with a physical disability be any different? Many people, young or old, will not
use the appropriate assistive technology because of the stigma attached. They might avoid using a
wheelchair that is too ungainly, even if they are in a wheelchair already. Many of us have friends
and family members who would benefit from a hearing aid but refuse one because of what they
fear people might say. Others may be concerned that it would make them feel old.
These are complex issues that must be considered in the design of a product. The following are
questions to consider: Will my client use the device as intended if it is designed and fabricated?
What if the device could be hidden? Can it be made aesthetically pleasing? What if through uni-
versal design the product was desired by the general population, thereby eliminating the stigma? 10

16.4 DESIGN FOR UNDERDEVELOPED REGIONS

People around the world all deserve effective available medical care. In underdeveloped regions of
the world, medical care does not meet the standards that we expect in wealthier nations. Even when
medical staff is available, medical equipment is often not present, in disrepair or of insufficient quan-
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tities. Groups, including Engineers Without Borders provide critical engineering skills to impover-
ished villages by providing clean water and many important services. Specialty organizations such
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as Engineering World Health focus on supplying and maintaining critical medical equipment.
There are often political, transportation, and distribution issues working in these regions. In the
United States, labor tends to be expensive compared to the parts required in a consumer or medical
device. Designing for underdeveloped regions often requires a paradigm shift. Parts may be prohib-
itively expensive for a local economy preventing a donated medical device from being repaired.
Labor is often inexpensive and abundant. This shift has a major impact on the engineering design.
Whether a consumer product or a medical device, reliable power is not always present. For exam-
ple, is their reliable continuous power at home or daily power suitable for charging a system a few
hours each day? If not, is there a central location such as a school or clinic with available power?
How are sudden power interruptions handled by the system?