Project 1 - Design and Development of Crutch ( Medical Technology)

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF CRUTCH:

Crutches are a type of walking aid that serve to increase the size of an individual's base of support. They transfer weight from the legs to the upper body and are often used by people who cannot use their legs to support their weight (from short-term injuries to lifelong disabilities).

There are three types of crutches: axilla crutches, elbow crutches and gutter crutches.

• Axilla or underarm crutches: They should be positioned with 2 fingers of distance between the axilla and the axilla pad with the elbow flexed between 20-30 degrees.The design includes an axilla bar, a handpiece and double uprights joined distally by a single leg. They are adjustable in height; both the overall height and handgrip height can be adjusted (adjustable approximately 48 to 60 inches / 12 to 153 cm).
• Forearm crutches: (or lofstrand, elbow or Canadian crutches). Their design includes a single upright, a forearm cuff and a handgrip. The height of forearm crutches is indicated from handgrip to the floor (adjustable from 29 to 35 inches / 74 to 89 cm).
• Gutter Crutches: (or adjustable arthritic crutches, forearm support crutches) An additional type of crutch, which is composed of a padded forearm support, made up of metal, a strap and adjustable handpiece with a rubber ferrule. These crutches are used for patients who are partial weight bearing, and are particularly useful for clients with rheumatoid conditions.

Task 1

Market Analysis:

The global medical crutches market size was valued at USD 727.4 million in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% from 2023-2030. This growth can be attributed to the high number of surgeries performed worldwide which is contributing to the demand for medical crutches. Moreover, there is a high prevalence of osteoporosis and other bone-related disorders globally. This further propels the demand for medical crutches globally.

Market players are undertaking various strategic initiatives such as the launch of new product partnerships, collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, geographic expansion, aiming to strengthen their product portfolio, and provide a competitive advantage.

Some prominent players in the global medical crutches market include: Sunrise Medical, Nova Medical Products, Millennial Medical, Chinesport, IWALKFree, Cardinal Health, Home Medical Products, New York Millennium Pharmaceutical, AMG Medical, Breg, Inc., Valley Tool Die, Inc.

Task 2

The general design requirements of a crutch are:

• That they are easily adjustable, strong and durable
• Have a low deformation risk and high abrasion resistance
• Be made from a lightweight material
• The tips of the crutch should be durable, non-slip and replaceable
• Parts must be replaceable and made from materials that withstand the environment of use

The design includes a single upright, a forearm cuff and a handgrip. The height of forearm crutches is indicated from handgrip to the floor (adjustable from 29 to 35 inches / 74 to 89 cm).

Crutches should be appropriate for local terrain and conditions such as sand, rocky terrain, rain, ice and snow, the guide advises. WHO says that each crutch should last for at least for five years, provided they are properly looked after in line with product instructions.

Task 3

Concept generation based on feedback:

The people wish for a crutch that doesn't slip even on a slippery surface. They also want the crutch to have a robust design. This means that the design should not break easily under pressure. The crutch should also not deteriorates overtime. In a survey it was seen that the crutches are bought in a pair, people do not tend to buy more of an expensive pair, thus the product should be cheap but not compromise with the quality at the same time. In the design of crutches people seem to prefer modular architecture over the integral architecture. Since finding an integral architecture based crutch is not easy to find for the height of the patient, thus patient looks for a modular architecture one. Modular architecture gives the user freedom to choose whatever they wish for in a product, thus modular ones are on the rise. Also the demand for no slipping ones is also there the design would more like represent a foot but with some suction blobs on the surface that would come in contact with the earth. This would make the thing non slippery.

Concept of operation:

Operating Scenarios: Now let us take a normal example that if you are full weight-bearing there are no risks, but if you are partial or non-weight bearing you will be putting extra pressure/weight through your arms which could result in hand, arm or shoulder pain and the elbow crutch which you are using can slip easily. therfore good quality rubber tip of high strength and durability should be used.

The risk of slip and fall accidents can increase with slippery floors, uneven walkways, clutter on the floor and other such hazards. It is therefore important to consider a number of safety measures when using crutches. Clear away rugs, cords or any other objects in the home that can cause one to trip or slip and fall. Use nonslip bath mats and install grab bars in the bathroom. Crutch users should also be extra cautious during slick weather conditions and avoid slippery stairways. They should also try to walk only in well-lit areas. Ensure the crutch’s rubber tips are clean and in good condition so that they have traction on various surfaces.

Operating Conditions: The crutch should support the normal travelling, getting up and down the stairs and not slip on slippery surafces. The crutch should also be mad of rust-repellant material so it does not catch any rust if used in rain a lot. The crutch should have a comfortable handle to begin with along with an elbow rest and it should give comfort and strong grip to the user.

Work Breakdown Structure:

Product Architecture:

Modular architecture

• Modular architecure will suit better for these products as they are used continuously, which sometimes results in damage of the product. So modular architecture will help in replacing the parts whenever needed.
• We can use different cushion fabric, color and replace the existing parts in modular structure.
• can replace any damaged part immediately
• Easy to manufacture
• Easy to operate and handle
• Understandable

Architecture schematic of an elbow crutch:

Elbow Crutch

Interface Control Documents:

Mechanical Interface

The crutch is a mechanical device in itself without having any electrical connection to move around. The parts will be assemble before use and the usage of the device is not a big hassle.

Electrical Interface - NIL

Information-flow Interface - NIL

Human-machine Interface - NIL

Task 4

Product development roadmap:

Q1 '22	Q2'22	Q3'22	Q4'22	Q1'23
Product idea initiation Budget preparation Sketch up idea for product	Making prototype of a product Prototype testing Begin building final product	Test out if product works fix any minor bugs in the testing process Prepare for shipment	Ship out product to over 100000 stores Annual employee reviews	Product release Meeting post product release Think of new ideas to create and sell

Mission Statement:

Product Description	Elbow Crutch is a very sophisticated walking aid designed to provide full weight bearing when one or both legs are physically challenged. Aluminium with a circlular cuff around the forearm, an ergonomically molded handle and the shaft is telescopic adjustable for height.
Benefit Statement	Foldable, lightweight, comfortable crutches to provide support for balance. Easier and safer to walk with even on wet surfaces.
Buisness Objectives	Competitive pricing over the exisitng crutches in the market. Recieve 5-star in safety. Launch of the product by first quarter of this year.
Core Market	Children and older people who need support to walk around People who cannot move because of disability and cannot afford wheelchairs.
Stakeholders	Manufacturing and supply chain partners. Retailers and stores Existing and new customers

• Generally we require mechanical engineers to work on mechanics of the product.
• No. of staffs depends on the volume of production.

Budget requirements:

• To develop an elbow crutch, requires lot many parts and cost of these parts depends on the company that we buy from.
• The cost of the staff, depends on the volume of production, high production means requires many staff members.
• It also includes fixed cost like land, machines etc.

Product Schedule:

Stage 1 : Idea Generation

The goal should be to generate many worthy ideas that can form the foundation for the New Product Development strategy. The major focus for stage 1 should be to arrange brainstorming sessions where solving customer problems is given precedence.

This phase is not about generating foolproof ideas that are ready for implementation. Instead, raw and unproven ideas that can be shortlisted later should be discussed.

Stage 2 : Idea Screening

This New Product Development stage revolves around choosing the one idea with the highest potential for success. Put all the ideas available on the table for internal review. That is, turn to people with industry knowledge and experience in the field for idea screening.

A proof of concept (POC) should hold precedence for a new product development idea as it helps check the idea’s feasibility. There is no point in zeroing in on an idea that is not technically feasible to build.

SWOT ( Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis can be another good practice to consider when shortlisting New Product Development ideas.

The New Product Development idea should be unique so that people do not need to be convinced to pay for it.

Stage 3 : Concept Development and Testing

1. Quantifying Gain/Pain ratio

A business needs to create an insightful picture of the product from the user’s perspective. This can be achieved by calculating the gain/pain ratio, where:

Gain = Benefits of the product for the customer. What is in it for them?

Pain = The efforts made by the customer to understand and use the product.

2. Conducting a competitor analysis

Knowing about existing market players is a critical strategic step to consider. Understanding the competition makes it easier to infer:

• Where the competitor lacks
• Where is the scope for improvement
• Existing white space in the market

3. Enlisting the major product features

The user stories involved in the New Product Development software project will make or break a business. When creating a list of such features, it is imperative to know — how is it an innovative feature, and how is it going to solve a problem?

4. Create a value proposition chart

Even after being convinced of the wisdom & the utility of an idea, being able to state it clearly to the end-user, in their context, is quite a different story altogether. The end-user needs to be given a clear picture of what the new product is capable of doing. This clean & presentable fashion can be best represented in the form of a value proposition chart.

5. Concept testing

Once the value proposition is ready, it is time to present it to the set of selected customers. How they perceive the idea is the test of the efforts so far. If the idea doesn’t look promising, it is wise to repeat the idea screening steps to develop a new product.

Stage 4 : Market Strategy/Business Analysis

Marketing strategy is all about drafting a way to reach out to the targeted audience. Perhaps the best and most straightforward method is to follow McCarMthy’s 4Ps (Product, Price, Promotion, Placement) of marketing for a New Product Development project.