TYPE
CAPSTONE / THESIS
AREA OF FOCUS
USER + ENGINEERING TESTING
MATERIAL ANALYSIS
PROTOTYPING
LENGTH
36 WEEKS
BACKGROUND
Within this model, there exists the opportunity for a deeper collaborative culture between biomechanical engineers, scientists, and physicians, that leverage the involvement and unique perspective from designers.
Designers are engrained to solve problems that situate human interaction as the primary focus. Wound care is a particular area in healthcare facing inefficiencies where designers can be of value.
Additionally, while textiles are the most intimate objects the human body interacts with, designers can provide their unique experience and knowledge of textile-based materials, in the medical industry where they are often left unexplored.
CHALLENGE
Medical adhesive-related skin injury (MARSI) is a term used to define skin damage related to the use of wound dressings, prolonging the healing process of skin wounds.
The hands are of a particular concern due to their high involvement of movement, and thinness of skin, exacerbating the potential for long-term complications such as hypersensitivities, cold intolerance, and overall reduced hand function.
Due to the intricate relationship we have with our hands, wounds located on the hands are one of the most common types of injuries presented in the emergency department.
DESIGN DIRECTION
CONCEPT EVALUATION
RESEARCH
CRITERIA HIERARCHY
iNSPIRATION
BIOMIMETIC STRATEGIES
PROTOTYPE CONSTRUCTION
AUXETIC STRUCTURES
mATERIAL EXPLORATION
HYDROGEL + POLYURETHANE FOAM
PRODUCT TESTING
MOISTURE CAPACITY
PRODUCT TESTING
THERMAL REGULATION
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
OUTCOME
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT
HYDROGEL APPLICATION
OPPORTUNITIES
There exists opportunities to leverage the technological advancements with that are shown with hydrogel, specifically in terms of providing responses such as thermo-responsive, pH-responsive, degradable, charged, swell upon stimuli, be self-healing, or magnetic (Sikdar, et al. 2021).
