Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
10 Remotely Adjustable Cast
 Alice Getmanchuk
Jack Burns
Saloni Garg
 Stasiu Chyczewski design_document2.pdf
final_paper1.pdf
photo1.jpg
photo2.PNG
presentation1.pdf
proposal1.pdf
video
# Remotely Adjustable Cast

Team Members:
- Alice Getmanchuk (aliceg3)
- Jack Burns (jackjb2)
- Saloni Garg (sgarg27)

# Problem

For broken limbs, there are a couple types of casts: plaster, fiberglass, splint, AirCast. And while they all have their own benefits, they also have drawbacks. The non-AirCast types are durable but also heavy, can get mold, and require doctor visits. The AirCast is lighter, but can be expensive and hard to properly put back on by the patient. Currently, patients with AirCasts have no method of setting exact levels of strap tightness by themselves as originally done by the Doctor.

# Solution

The solution to the above problem is to modify an AirCast so that it can be tightened remotely. The doctor would help install the cast once and save the position of the strap tightness. Then, when patients remove their cast to bathe (which prevents mold), they can press a button in the app to correctly tighten their cast again. Additionally, there is the opportunity to have further tele-health visits with the doctor which they can use to remotely adjust the cast and help the patient regain strength. This way, the cast doesn't just act as a stabilizer for broken limbs but can further help as a rehabilitation device. No current auto-adjusting casts exist on the market.

# Solution Components

## Subsystem 1

Pressure Adjustment/Gauge Subsystem maintains and manipulates the air cells in the cast which may be hard for the user to self-inflate (especially if the cast is on the arm)
- Sensor to detect pressure of air cell: [http://eshop.ece.illinois.edu/parts/Parts_List.htm](http://eshop.ece.illinois.edu/parts/Parts_List.htm) (Pressure sensors from ECE shop?)
- [Stretch goal] Motor to fill and deflate air cell based on current pressure: [https://www.hackster.io/news/programmable-air-is-an-arduino-based-air-pump-for-your-soft-robotics-projects-9945c6ed96aa,](https://www.hackster.io/news/programmable-air-is-an-arduino-based-air-pump-for-your-soft-robotics-projects-9945c6ed96aa) [https://www.adafruit.com/product/4699](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4699)

## Subsystem 2

Strap Adjustment Subsystem maintains and manipulates the straps on the cast which can be improperly tightened and this subsystem aims to prevent that by restoring straps to original tightness after cast is taken off
- Motor to tighten straps: (from ECE shop, doesn’t have to be fancy)
- Small electronic motor/lever component to unlatch the straps: (from ECE shop)
- Force sensor to detect the force of the straps on the cast for proper adjustment:
- ([https://www.instructables.com/AutoStrap-a-Self-Tightening-Strap/](https://www.instructables.com/AutoStrap-a-Self-Tightening-Strap/))

## Subsystem 3

Control Subsystem creates and implements boot tightness presets
- Microcontroller (with Bluetooth connection to connect to app) to handle sensor data and control motors
- [https://www.adafruit.com/product/5400](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5400)
- PCB - microcontroller will interact with sensors on PCB. Power control unit will be on PCB as well.
- Frontend display with preset options and ability to select one option which allows the user to remotely adjust the cast pressure level and strap tightness
- Display of pressure level and strap tightness amount for each preset option
- Allow remote adjustment of presets for doctor/patient

## Subsystem 4

Boot Subsystem
- https://www.amazon.com/United-Ortho-Short-Walker-Fracture/dp/B006L8M2GA/ref=sr_1_27?keywords=air+splint&qid=1662318400&sr=8-27 (possibly one that Alice can borrow)
- Power supply/battery (depends on psi necessary for air pump inflation)

# Criterion For Success

* cast is auto adjusting
* can tighten and loosen without physical user manipulation
* pressure in air cast changes without physical user manipulation

* can be controlled using the app
* have presets for tightnesses
* able to create new presets

UV Sensor and Alert System - Skin Protection

Liz Boehning, Gavin Chan, Jimmy Huh

UV Sensor and Alert System - Skin Protection

Featured Project

Team Members:

- Elizabeth Boehning (elb5)

- Gavin Chan (gavintc2)

- Jimmy Huh (yeaho2)

# Problem

Too much sun exposure can lead to sunburn and an increased risk of skin cancer. Without active and mindful monitoring, it can be difficult to tell how much sun exposure one is getting and when one needs to seek protection from the sun, such as applying sunscreen or getting into shady areas. This is even more of an issue for those with fair skin, but also can be applicable to prevent skin damage for everyone, specifically for those who spend a lot of time outside for work (construction) or leisure activities (runners, outdoor athletes).

# Solution

Our solution is to create a wristband that tracks UV exposure and alerts the user to reapply sunscreen or seek shade to prevent skin damage. By creating a device that tracks intensity and exposure to harmful UV light from the sun, the user can limit their time in the sun (especially during periods of increased UV exposure) and apply sunscreen or seek shade when necessary, without the need of manually tracking how long the user is exposed to sunlight. By doing so, the short-term risk of sunburn and long-term risk of skin cancer is decreased.

The sensors/wristbands that we have seen only provide feedback in the sense of color changing once a certain exposure limit has been reached. For our device, we would like to also input user feedback to actively alert the user repeatedly to ensure safe extended sun exposure.

# Solution Components

## Subsystem 1 - Sensor Interface

This subsystem contains the UV sensors. There are two types of UV wavelengths that are damaging to human skin and reach the surface of Earth: UV-A and UV-B. Therefore, this subsystem will contain two sensors to measure each of those wavelengths and output a voltage for the MCU subsystem to interpret as energy intensity. The following sensors will be used:

- GUVA-T21GH - https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/genicom-co-ltd/GUVA-T21GH/10474931

- GUVB-T21GH - https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/genicom-co-ltd/GUVB-T21GH/10474933

## Subsystem 2 - MCU

This subsystem will include a microcontroller for controlling the device. It will take input from the sensor interface, interpret the input as energy intensity, and track how long the sensor is exposed to UV. When applicable, the MCU will output signals to the User Interface subsystem to notify the user to take action for sun exposure and will input signals from the User Interface subsystem if the user has put on sunscreen.

## Subsystem 3 - Power

This subsystem will provide power to the system through a rechargeable, lithium-ion battery, and a switching boost converter for the rest of the system. This section will require some consultation to ensure the best choice is made for our device.

## Subsystem 4 - User Interface

This subsystem will provide feedback to the user and accept feedback from the user. Once the user has been exposed to significant UV light, this subsystem will use a vibration motor to vibrate and notify the user to put on more sunscreen or get into the shade. Once they have done so, they can press a button to notify the system that they have put on more sunscreen, which will be sent as an output to the MCU subsystem.

We are looking into using one of the following vibration motors:

- TEK002 - https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/sparkfun-electronics/DEV-11008/5768371

- DEV-11008 - https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/pimoroni-ltd/TEK002/7933302

# Criterion For Success

- Last at least 16 hours on battery power

- Accurately measures amount of time and intensity of harmful UV light

- Notifies user of sustained UV exposure (vibration motor) and resets exposure timer if more sunscreen is applied (button is pressed)