MAE 451: DESIGN PROCESS & METHODS

PATIENT SANITATION LIFT

MEMO 2

TEAM #35
ADVISOR: DR. RAHUL RAI
PREPARED BY:
BENJAMIN STORTZ
ZACHARY JANISH
LIAM FLYNN
LEANNE SKRABACZ
HUMPHREY CHI HSUN WU

OCTOBER 16, 2015

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. 7
Problem Statement ............................................................................................................................ 7
Brainstorming .................................................................................................................................... 7
Morphological Matrix ...................................................................................................................... 22
Concept Selection ............................................................................................................................ 24
Revised Product Design Specifications ............................................................................................. 31

Appendix A: Gantt Chart

Appendix B: WBS Chart
Appendix C: Team Meeting Minutes

List of Figures
Figure 1: The team being briefed on the required functions of the product before brainstorming ........ 9
Figure 2: Sketching of concepts during group brainstorming session .................................................... 9
Figure 3: The team comparing and discussing their sketched concepts .............................................. 10
Figure 4: The team determining advantages and disadvantages of each concept ............................... 10
Figure 5: Sketch of Concept 1 ........................................................................................................... 11
Figure 6: Sketch of Concept 2 ........................................................................................................... 11
Figure 7: Sketch of Concept 3 ........................................................................................................... 11
Figure 8: Sketch of Concept 4 ........................................................................................................... 12
Figure 9: Sketch of Concept 5 ........................................................................................................... 12
Figure 10: Sketch of Concept 6.......................................................................................................... 12
Figure 11: Sketch of Concept 7.......................................................................................................... 13
Figure 12: Sketch of Concept 8.......................................................................................................... 12
Figure 13: Sketch of Concept 9.......................................................................................................... 13
Figure 14: Sketch of Concept 10 ........................................................................................................ 14
Figure 15: Sketch of Concept 11 ........................................................................................................ 14
Figure 16: Sketch of Concept 12 ........................................................................................................ 15
Figure 17: Sketch of Concept 13 ........................................................................................................ 15
Figure 18: Sketch of Concept 14 ........................................................................................................ 15
Figure 19: Sketch of Concept 15 ........................................................................................................ 16
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Figure 20: Sketch of Concept 16 ........................................................................................................ 16

Figure 21: Sketch of Concept 17 ........................................................................................................ 16
Figure 22: Sketch of Concept 18 ........................................................................................................ 17
Figure 23: Sketch of Concept 19 ........................................................................................................ 17
Figure 24: Sketch of Concept 20 ........................................................................................................ 17
Figure 25: Sketch of Concept 21 ........................................................................................................ 18
Figure 26: Sketch of Concept 22 ........................................................................................................ 18
Figure 27: Sketch of Concept 23 ........................................................................................................ 18
Figure 28: Sketch of Concept 24 ........................................................................................................ 19
Figure 29: Sketch of Concept 25 ........................................................................................................ 19
Figure 30: Sketch of Concept 26 ........................................................................................................ 20
Figure 31: Sketch of Concept 27 ........................................................................................................ 20
Figure 32: Sketch of Concept 28 ........................................................................................................ 20
Figure 33: Sketch of Concept 29 ........................................................................................................ 21
Figure 34: Sketch of Concept 30 ........................................................................................................ 21
Figure 35: Function Structure for the patient lift ............................................................................... 23
Figure 36: Sketch of Concept 31, developed from analysis of the Morphological Matrix ..................... 25

List of Tables
Table I: Morphological Matrix with arrows showing the development of concept 31 ......................... 24
Table II: Pros and Cons for Concept 1 ................................................................................................ 26
Table III: Pros and Cons for Concept 2 ............................................................................................... 26
Table IV: Pros and Cons for Concept 3 ............................................................................................... 26
Table V: Pros and Cons for Concept 4................................................................................................ 26
Table VI: Pros and Cons for Concept 5 ............................................................................................... 26
Table VII: Pros and Cons for Concept 6 .............................................................................................. 27
Table VIII: Pros and Cons for Concept 7 ............................................................................................. 27
Table IX: Pros and Cons for Concept 8 ............................................................................................... 27
Table X: Pros and Cons for Concept 9 ................................................................................................ 27
Table XI: Pros and Cons for Concept 10 ............................................................................................. 27
Table XII: Pros and Cons for Concept 11 ............................................................................................ 27
Table XIII: Pros and Cons for Concept 12 ........................................................................................... 28
Table XIV: Pros and Cons for Concept 13 ........................................................................................... 28
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Table XV: Pros and Cons for Concept 14 ............................................................................................ 28

Table XVI: Pros and Cons for Concept 15 ........................................................................................... 28
Table XVII: Pros and Cons for Concept 16 .......................................................................................... 28
Table XVIII: Pros and Cons for Concept 17 ......................................................................................... 28
Table XIX: Pros and Cons for Concept 18 ........................................................................................... 29
Table XX: Pros and Cons for Concept 19 ............................................................................................ 29
Table XXI: Pros and Cons for Concept 20 ........................................................................................... 29
Table XXII: Pros and Cons for Concept 21 .......................................................................................... 29
Table XXIII: Pros and Cons for Concept 22 ......................................................................................... 29
Table XXIV: Pros and Cons for Concept 23 ......................................................................................... 29
Table XXV: Pros and Cons for Concept 24 .......................................................................................... 30
Table XXVI: Pros and Cons for Concept 25 ......................................................................................... 30
Table XXVII: Pros and Cons for Concept 26 ........................................................................................ 30
Table XXVIII: Pros and Cons for Concept 27 ....................................................................................... 30
Table XXIX: Pros and Cons for Concept 28 ......................................................................................... 30
Table XXX: Pros and Cons for Concept 29 .......................................................................................... 30
Table XXXI: Pros and Cons for Concept 30 ......................................................................................... 31
Table XXXII: Pros and Cons for Concept 31 ........................................................................................ 31
Table XXXIII: Concept Screening Matrix for the remaining 10 designs ................................................ 31
Table XXXIV: Concept Scoring Matrix for the remaining 5 designs...................................................... 32

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Abstract
The intent of this project team in the coming months is to design and prototype a more effective way to
maneuver incontinent bedridden patients during the cleaning process. In this memo, the progress
achieved in Memo 1where customer needs were identified and a preliminary Product Design
Specifications were laid outis built upon by documenting the concept development process.
This process began by generating a Problem Statement, which distills the essence of the problem being
addressed by the product. With the problem well-defined, a brainstorming session was then conducted,
in which 30 design concepts were conceived. Following this brainstorming session, a Morphological
Matrix was developed by performing a functional analysis and functional decomposition for the product,
which then led to a well-informed additional conceptual design. In order to filter down these 31
concepts to the most promising solution, the group began by discussing each concept and identifying 3
pros and 3 cons for each design, and choosing the 10 most viable concepts based on these pros and
cons. From here, Pughs Method was employed as a concept screening matrix to identify the 5 best
remaining concepts, which were then scored with a Scoring Matrix to determine the overall best design
that will be developed further. The concept with the highest score, Concept 31 (Figure 36), was the
design that was generated after the Morphological Matrix was developed, underscoring the usefulness
of identifying the key functions of the product during the concept development process. Finally, Revised
Product Specifications were developed based on feedback from the concept screening process and team
discussion. These Revised Product Specifications mark the end of Memo 2.

Problem Statement
When designing any product with the intent of solving a problem, it is critical that a well-defined
problem statement is generated which captures the essence of the problem to be solved. A properly
developed Problem Statement is used to guide the concept development process, and acts as a cohesive
for constraining the further development of the product to purely those functions, features, and
attributes that have a role in solving the problem at hand. Thus, before any concept brainstorming took
place, the team generated a problem statement, which follows:

Problem Statement: The current method of maneuvering incontinent bedridden

patients during the cleaning process is time-consuming and involves a high amount of
effort and discomfort on behalf of the patient and caregiver, and devices currently on
the market to assist with this process are ineffective, difficult to clean, and/or
prohibitively expensive.

With the problem now well-defined, the team was then able to continue on in the development
process, which began with a brainstorming session.

Brainstorming
Brainstorming sessions are a very effective tool for devising preliminary concepts for the product, which
can then be assessed for their individual strengths and weaknesses and filtered down into the single
most promising solution that will be developed and refined further to create the final product design.
7

Thus, once the Problem Statement was defined, the team conducted such a brainstorming session to
generate a large number of potential solutions. The conditions and process that guided this
brainstorming session are laid out as follows:
Brief: To prepare the group for the brainstorming session, the customer needs identified in Memo 1
(with Kanos model and Hierarchical Model) were reviewed, as well as the Problem Statement that was
generated. A copy of each of these was provided for each group member for referral during the
brainstorming session.
People: All group members (Ben, Zack, Liam, Leanne, and Humphrey) were present for the
brainstorming, in addition to two friends that were non-group members in order to get an influx of
fresh ideas from people who had not already been familiar with the project.
Set: In order to facilitate open discussion and a large amount of space with which to sketch concepts,
the brainstorming session was held in the Group Study area of Capen Hall on the University at Buffalo
north campus, at 3:00pm on October 5. The team was stationed at a large table, and graph paper,
pencils, and snacks were provided. Two laptops were also available on the table to assist in the
visualization of concept ideas during sketching (e.g., seeing how pulleys are typically mounted to a steel
frame).
Process: In order to clean the slate before the session began, each member was instructed to listen to
a favorite song of theirs without words, while keeping their eyes closed and focusing on their breathing.
Next, the problem statement was again recited, and members were instructed that they would have 30
minutes to generate as many concepts as possible, with a target of at least 4 concepts each. The rules,
which were then recited to the members, were as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Quantity, not quality

Absolutely no criticism
Weird ideas are good
Transform others ideas rather than detract from them
Go with the flow, and have fun!

Once the rules were recited, the timer was set to 30 minutes and the brainstorming began. Pictures of
various stages of this session are depicted in Figures 1-4, and the concept sketches that resulted are
provided in Figures 5-34.

Figure 1: The team being briefed on the required functions of the product before brainstorming

Figure 2: Sketching of concepts during group brainstorming session

Figure 3: The team comparing and discussing their sketched concepts

Figure 4: The team discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each concept

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Concept Sketches:

Figure 5: Sketch of Concept 1

Figure 6: Sketch of Concept 2

Figure 7: Sketch of Concept 3

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Figure 8: Sketch of Concept 4

Figure 9: Sketch of Concept 5

Figure 10: Sketch of Concept 6

12

Figure 11: Sketch of Concept 7

Figure 12: Sketch of Concept 8

Figure 13: Sketch of Concept 9

13

Figure 14: Sketch of Concept 10

Figure 15: Sketch of Concept 11

14

Figure 16: Sketch of Concept 12

Figure 17: Sketch of Concept 13

Figure 18: Sketch of Concept 14

15

Figure 19: Sketch of Concept 15

Figure 20: Sketch of Concept 16

Figure 21: Sketch of Concept 17

16

Figure 22: Sketch of Concept 18

Figure 23: Sketch of Concept 19

Figure 24: Sketch of Concept 20

17

Figure 25: Sketch of Concept 21

Figure 26: Sketch of Concept 22

Figure 27: Sketch of Concept 23

18

Figure 28: Sketch of Concept 24

Figure 29: Sketch of Concept 25

19

Figure 30: Sketch of Concept 26

Figure 31: Sketch of Concept 27

Figure 32: Sketch of Concept 28

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Figure 33: Sketch of Concept 29

Figure 34: Sketch of Concept 30

At the end of the brainstorming session, 30 concepts were developed (Figures 5-34), which exceeded
the original goal of 20 concepts total over the 30-minute time limit. The team then compared and
discussed the concepts (Figures 3-4) and provided feedback on each idea.
With the brainstorming session complete, the team then continued with the concept development by
creating a Morphological Matrix with which to generate further ideas.

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Morphological Matrix
A morphological matrix is a concept development tool wherein the top level functions that the system
must perform, as well as various methods for achieving these functions, are identified and placed in a
matrix that allows for simplified generation of product concepts. In order to generate new ideas from a
source other than the brainstorming session, the team developed such a Morphological Matrix, which
began with the performing of a Functional Analysis and Decomposition and corresponding development
of a Function Structure, shown in Figure 35.

Functional Analysis
Level 0
The purpose of this system is to lift or lower the patient in order for medical personnel (nurses,
caretakers, or others) to clean and sanitize the patient and bedding.

Level 1
This level describes the top-level functions of the system. The two inputs for this system are force
and electricity.

Force Input

This input is human effort which is used to maneuver the patient onto the sling
(function A)
This input also includes to human effort used to lift the sling (function B), and flows to
holding the sling in place (function C)
The resulting output of functions A C is the patient lifted
For lowering the patient, the force input will be used to unlock the sling position (function D)
and the sling will lower gradually (function E)
The resulting output of functions D E is the patient lowered

Electricity Input

In alternate designs, this input will be used to lift the sling (function B), and flows to holding
the sling in place (function C)
The resulting output of functions B C is the patient lifted
This input will also be used to unlock the sling position (function D) and the sling will lower
gradually (function E)
The resulting output of functions D E is the patient lowered

Level 2
This level describes the auxiliary functions of the system.

In mechanical designs, the force input will be used to fold the unit into a storage configuration
In alternate designs, the electricity input will be used to fold the unit into a storage
configuration
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Function Structure:

OVERALL FUNCTION

SUPPORTING SUB-FUNCTIONS

AUXILIARY FUNCTION

Figure 35: Function Structure for the patient lift

Here, the functional analysis resulted in the determination of the key functions of the product, with a
decomposition of functions into Overall (Primary), Supporting (Secondary), and Auxiliary (Tertiary)
functions identified as depicted.
Using this Function Structure as a guide, the team then created a Morphological Matrix identifying
various methods by which each sub-function could be performed, and then used this matrix to generate
an additional product concept. Table I shows this matrix, with blue arrows showing the development of
the additional concept.

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Table I: Morphological Matrix with arrows showing the development of concept 31

SUB-FUNCTIONS

L
I
F
T
/
L
O
W
E
R
P
A
T
I
E
N
T

Maneuver
Patient
onto Sling

Use hands
(human force)
to slide sling under
patient

Sling already
under patient

Raise Sling

Pulleys and cable

Hydraulics

Electromechanical
(Motors)

Hold Sling at
Height

Ratcheting
mechanism with
lock

Electromechanical
brakes

Hand brake
(lever)

Unlock Sling
Position

Unlock ratcheting
mechanism
with lever

Unlock ratcheting
mechanism by
pulling (like
window blinds)

Lower Sling
Gradually

Rotational dampers
on pulley

Motor resistance
(lower electromechanically)

Crank with
handle

Storage

Sling winds itself

up
electromechanically

Sling winds up
by hand

Structure folds
by hand

Release brake
with lever

Lever

Release
brake
electronically

This tool proved to be quite useful in identifying further product concepts, and resulted in a more
refined additional concept, shown in Figure 36:

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Hand
crank

Figure 36: Sketch of Concept 31, developed from analysis of the Morphological Matrix

With 31 concepts now identifiedbetween the brainstorming session and the development and usage
of a Morphological Matrixthe team then moved on to the Concept Selection stage in to filter the
concepts down to the single most promising one.

Concept Selection
The concept generation process is excellent for formulating many potential solutions to the problem
being solved by the product; however, the goal is to make a single, optimal product, and the Concept
Selection process helps in funneling these ideas down to the most viable. In using various methods for
filtering and ranking ideas, the team sought to determine the best concept, which would continue on
to be developed further. This concept selection process consisted of two stages: a subjective filtering
method, and an objective scoring method. The subjective method was utilized first, and consisted of the
development of a Pros and Cons list for each concept. The results of this analysis are given in Tables IIXXXII:

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Table II: Pros and Cons for Concept 1

Pros
Sling design maximizes comfort
Accessible ceiling mounted
Simple mechanical device (no electronics)

Cons
Not versatile only raise whole body easily
Ceiling mount introduces added cost for
customers
Hard to get sling under patient

Table III: Pros and Cons for Concept 2

Pros
Sling design wide to accommodate rolled
patient position
Accessible in most patient rooms
No hydraulics or electronics

Cons
Very hard to maneuver patient onto sling
Ceiling mount introduces added cost for
customers
Take a long time to clean entire sling

Table IV: Pros and Cons for Concept 3

Pros
Extremely simple utilizing well known devices
Cheap materials
Mimics motion of nurses during cleaning
process

Cons
Tipping entire bed could be dangerous and
unstable
Would take a long time to raise bed with
mechanical jack
Could have issues with other equipment when
tipping bed

Table V: Pros and Cons for Concept 4

Pros
Versatile able to raise legs and upper body
Allows large range of motion
Simple mechanical device

Cons
Lot of components
Bed mounted and ceiling mounted
Separate controls for each part not easy to use

Table VI: Pros and Cons for Concept 5

Pros
Simple mechanical system
Easy to operate (caregiver)
Padded cushions

Cons
Patient held against bed rail could be
uncomfortable
Cant maneuver to appropriate angle
Assembly complex

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Table VII: Pros and Cons for Concept 6

Pros
Full maneuverability able to reach 90 degree
angle
Simple mechanical system
Ease of operation for caregiver/nurse

Cons
Big design structure takes up a lot of space
Could be a pain to mount to bed
Patient held against bed rail

Table VIII: Pros and Cons for Concept 7

Pros

Cons

Easy to fold
Takes up less space more compact
Easier to maneuver under patient

Less rigid structure

Additional time required to set up
More components more complex assembly

Table IX: Pros and Cons for Concept 8

Pros
Easy to operate, does not involve electrical
parts
Dont need to spent effort to left a body
Easier to clean

Cons
Not portable
Cant roll the patient
Need to separate the top and bottom slings

Table X: Pros and Cons for Concept 9

Pros
3-D maneuverable
Can left the patient and to the side or up
Easy to clean

Cons
Hard to put the hammock under the body
Not portable
Hammock is not safety for patient

Table XI: Pros and Cons for Concept 10

Pros
3-D maneuverable
Safe
Easy for to clean

Cons
Take too much time to put on the vest
Frame is not portable (vest is)
Uncomfortable
Table XII: Pros and Cons for Concept 11

Pros
Portable frame
Comfortable
Safe

Cons
Hard to put the sling under the body
Might need two people to operate
Hard to raise the patient high

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Table XIII: Pros and Cons for Concept 12

Pros
Foldable design to stow out of way
Convenience of always being in room
High maneuverability of the patient

Cons
Difficult to integrate with existing beds
High cost
Difficult to manufacture

Table XIV: Pros and Cons for Concept 13

Pros
Out of the way design retracts into fixture on
ceiling
High maneuverability
Can lift whole person

Cons
Difficult to integrate with existing beds
High cost
High structural requirements for ceiling
strength

Table XV: Pros and Cons for Concept 14

Pros
Always there no need to move patient
No user force needed
Easy for one person to operate

Cons
May be hard to reach
Strap system may be too uncomfortable
High cost of integration

Table XVI: Pros and Cons for Concept 15

Pros
Always there no need to move patient
No user force needed
Easy access to bed sheets for
cleaning/replacement

Cons
Difficult to integrate into existing beds
High structural requirements
High cost

Table XVII: Pros and Cons for Concept 16

Pros
High adjustability to fit patients
Integrated in bed always there
Good support of patient when lifting

Cons
Complex frame (high part count)
High cost
Difficult to clean

Table XVIII: Pros and Cons for Concept 17

Pros
Inexpensive
Always integrated to bed no setup time
Easy to operate/clean

Cons
Still requires physical force input
Difficult to integrate into existing beds
May not provide adequate access underneath
patient

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Table XIX: Pros and Cons for Concept 18

Pros
Lifts patient completely off the bed for easy
cleaning
Always in the room
Easily disinfected

Cons
Could get in the way of cleaning, being
attached to the bed
Possibly uncomfortable for patient
Straps could get tangled

Table XX: Pros and Cons for Concept 19

Pros
Easily disinfected
Always in the room/attached to the wall
One caregiver to operate

Cons
Lift could get in the way of cleaning
Not very comfortable for patient
Possible extra lifting required to move patient

Table XXI: Pros and Cons for Concept 20

Pros

Cons
Lift could get in the way
Possible extra lifting required to move patient
into slings
Not very comfortable

Easily disinfected
One caregiver to operate
Always in the room

Table XXII: Pros and Cons for Concept 21

Pros

Cons
Not very comfortable
Lift could get in the way
Possible extra lifting required to move patient

Easily disinfected
Always in the room
Low cost

Table XXIII: Pros and Cons for Concept 22

Pros
Only requires one caregiver to operate
No lift system needed, just use straps
Easy to store

Cons
Not very comfortable
Possible unnecessary jerking of patient
Does not wipe clean easily

Table XXIV: Pros and Cons for Concept 23

Pros
Easy to store
Easy to clean and disinfect
Only requires one caregiver to operate

Cons
Possibly not turn patient on side completely
Could get in the way during cleaning process
Not very comfortable

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Table XXV: Pros and Cons for Concept 24

Pros
4-point sling for ultimate maneuverability
Small/lightweight slings
Can be easily wiped clean

Cons
Ropes/cables can get in the way of cleaning
Pulleys require some lifting strength
Not portable

Table XXVI: Pros and Cons for Concept 25

Pros
Cheaper than 4-point sling/lift
Only one sling to clean
Fewer cables to get in the way of cleaning

Cons
May not provide adequate access for cleaning
the patients back
May be uncomfortable
Can only lift legs (no turning/rolling of patient)

Table XXVII: Pros and Cons for Concept 26

Pros
Built into bed frame
Completely electrical (no force input required
by user)
Compact and easily moved out of the way
when not in use

Cons
Difficult/expensive to implement in current
bed designs
Not portable
Difficult and expensive to manufacture

Table XXVIII: Pros and Cons for Concept 27

Pros
Simple, lightweight
Can be stored under bed
Easily wiped clean

Cons
May not provide adequate access for cleaning
the patients back
Still requires force input by the caregiver
Potentially uncomfortable
Table XXIX: Pros and Cons for Concept 28

Pros
Cons
Easy to clean
Not portable
Can adjust the size of the sling for various body Uncomfortable
sizes
Stable (hangs from ceiling)
May require two people to operate
Table XXX: Pros and Cons for Concept 29

Pros
Easy to clean
Portable
Safe and comfortable

Cons
Entirely hand-powered
Needs patient be in sitting position
Hard to position the sling under the body
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Table XXXI: Pros and Cons for Concept 30

Pros
No force input required by caregiver
Lifts patient completely out of bed (for
changing sheets)
Robust and can handle a lot of weight

Cons
Difficult to manufacture
Expensive
Not portable and very bulky

Table XXXII: Pros and Cons for Concept 31

Pros
Low cost
Can also use to roll the body (rather than just
lift)
3-D maneuverable

Cons
Not portable
Potentially uncomfortable
High structural requirements (only one section
hanging from the ceiling)

After analyzing and discussing the pros and cons of each concept, the team was able to filter down the
concepts to the 10 best, which were then subjected to Stage 2 of the concept selection process: the
objective method.
The objective method for filtering the remaining concepts was adapted from Pughs Method, where a
concept screening matrix was created for the 10 designs which was used to develop the 5 most
promising concepts. These remaining 5 concepts were then placed into a Concept Scoring Matrix, which
identified the final concept that the team would move forward in developing. This Concept Screening
Matrix and Concept Scoring Matrix are show in Tables XXXIII and XXXIV, respectively:
Table XXXIII: Concept Screening Matrix for the remaining 10 designs

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Table XXXIV: Concept Scoring Matrix for the remaining 5 designs

Performing the concept screening resulted in a clear winner in Concept 31, which also happened to be
the concept that was developed last, after creating and using the Morphological Matrix. This result gives
further support for utilizing this helpful tool when generating conceptual designs for a product.
Using feedback from the concept screening process as well as team discussion, the Revised Product
Design Specifications can now be detailed.

Revised Product Design Specifications

The product design specification stage of the design process is critical to help sort and lay out the
requirements of the product being designed. The customer and engineering requirements were
originally determined (in Memo 1) using surveys and interviews taken during the initial stages of the
design process. Similarly, the function of the product and certain design requirements such as the
performance requirements were laid out, using input from a QFD matrix as well as customer needs. And,
now that the concept selection process has been completed, some minor revisions to the product
design specifications can be made.
Function:
The lift will be attached to the ceiling involving a pulley system that will have two easily-cleaned
pads that are placed under the patient, one placed under the shoulders/upper back and the second
under the knees/upper calf. Instead of performing the rollover technique and stiff arming the
patient in the back to keep them on their side, this lift will perform the technique using the pads
and the pulley system to keep the patient on their side; or, alternatively, it can simply lift the lower
half of the body. The lift will be inexpensive to the extent that one could feasibly be installed in
every room.
Customer requirements (in order of importance):
1. Must be able to be disinfected easily
2. Safety of both the patient and the caregiver
3. Must be readily available
32

4. Must be able to be operated by one person

5. Must have the ability to be performed fairly quickly
Engineering Characteristics (in order of importance):
1. Medical-grade, easily cleanable materials used
2. No sharp edges, points, or loose hanging loops that could be tripped on
3. Must have the ability to attach to the ceiling to have one in every room
4. <50 lbs force required for lifting
5. Must take less than 2 minutes to deploy under patient
Design requirements:
1. Physical and Operational Characteristics:
a. Performance requirements: The lift will have the ability to roll a patient to their side or just
lift their lower half of their body for cleaning. The lift will have the ability to be operated by
one caregiver with minimal force required. The sling on the lift will be padded and have the
ability to be easily disinfected for repeated use.
b. Safety: The lift will have a locking system that will prevent the patient from being dropped
drastically so the patient stays in the position required for the cleaning. The sling will be easy
to clean to prevent spreading of diseases or infections. The straps will have the ability to be
moved to the sided to get out of the way of any other operations that need to be performed
or to prevent a patient accident with the straps.
c. Accuracy and Reliability: The lift should be able to perform the required lift of the patient
smoothly.
d. Life in Service: The lift should be able to function for a minimum of two years. The slings
of the lift should be able to function for a minimum of one year. The ideal service of the lift
shall be six years.
e. Shelf Life: The lift should be at least two years and the slings should be at least one year.
f. Operating Environment: The lift will be designed to be used indoors all of its product life.
The lift and slings will be designed to withstand a large temperature range and still be able to
perform the operation smoothly. The lift doesnt require any electricity so can be performed
if a power outage occurs.
g. Ergonomics: Allows for maximum patient comfort and easy operability by caretaker.
h. Size: The preliminary size goal of the mechanism that is attached to the ceiling would be
about 2x2 cube.
i. Weight: The preliminary weight goal of the total lift should be 100 pounds or less.

33

j. Materials: Utilizes steel and aluminum for the primary structure, steel cables to take on
loading of the patient, and a padded fabric sling with a rigid support skeleton. Other
materials utilized include plastics and rubber which will be optimized for low-cost.
k. Aesthetics, Appearance, and Finish: The lift shall be aesthetically pleasing and fit in with
the rest of the hospital rooms aesthetics. The slings of the lift should be aesthetically please
but also have a finish that allows for them to be disinfected easily.
2. Production Characteristics:
a. Quantity: 5,000 per year
b. Target Product Cost: $800 or under

In using the feedback from the concept generation process and team discussion to revise the Product
Design Specifications, the product can now continue into later stages of development with a rock-solid
set of functional and engineering requirements to guide the design.

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Appendix A: Gantt Chart

35

Appendix B: Work Breakdown Structure

Appendix C: Team Meeting Minutes

Date
10/8/15

Time
Location Attendance
3:00pm Capen
Everyone
Library

36

Minutes
Brainstorming session:
o Come up with at least 2 unique
concepts based on customer needs
feedback - 30mins
o Sketched designs, annotated aspects
of the design
o Each came up with 2 new concepts
o Took pictures and documented
brainstorming process
Weekend work:
o Come up with at least 4 more unique
concepts post-brainstorm
o Think about pros/cons of each
Laid out plan for next week:

10/12/15 3:30pm Capen

Library

Everyone

10/13/15 2:00pm Capen

Library

Everyone

37

Next meeting (Monday):

Finalize pros/cons
Morphological matrix (if we have
time)
Tuesday:
Funnel down concepts to 10
then 5
Look at project proposal form for
senior design

Discussed senior project

o Proposal - what is required
o When is proposal due?
o Discussed different ideas for selfdefined project:
Quadcopter controls problem
Quadcopter & ground unit
communication autonomously
Electro-mechanical creeper for
car repair
Electro-mechanical lift for cars
Engine and turbo design for
efficiency in cars
o Finalized and submitted survey form
Top 3 preferences: self-defined,
self-defined, bridge in a box
Self-defined #1: quadcopter
controls problem
Self-defined #2: electromechanical creeper for
automotive repair
Finalized pros and cons for each concept
o Reviewed all design concepts
o Made any necessary revisions
Next meeting:
o Pick top 10 ideas from pros/cons
Senior design project need to update drone
idea
o Look for what already has been done
o Tethered quad for crowds?
Identify top 10 ideas from pros and cons:
o Design numbers:
4, 6, 8, 10, 13, 19, 20, 25, 26,
28,31
Not 4!
Constraints for pughs method screening
matrix:
o Easily disinfected
o Minimal required force for lifting
o One person operation
o Safe for patient and caregiver
o Low cost

o
o
o

10/14/15 2:00pm Capen

Library

Ben, Zack,
Leanne,
Humphrey

10/15/15 3:00pm Capen

Library

Everyone

38

Comfortable for patient

Durable
Accessibility
Action Items:
o Type up pros and cons for tomorrows
meeting in tabular form
Senior design project
o Need to write proposals
o Develop quadcopter idea further
o Have prosthetic arm design as backup
plan
o Look into problems that could be solved
with a tethered quadcopter
o Different idea - collapsible large stage
for performances
Scoring matrix
o Add weights to design constraints
o Create excel file for scoring matrix
Morphological matrix
o Signal diagram development
Designed level 0, 1, 2
o Need to draw diagram in MS Word for
final copy
Tabularize meeting minutes for final copy
Next meeting:
o Split up remaining work for final copy
Functional Decomposition
o Finalize block diagram
o Discussed auxiliary functions
Functional analysis (write up what is in boxes
and see pdf) - Humphrey
Draw up block diagram in word - Liam
Tabularize meeting minutes - Zack
Gantt chart - Zack
WBS - Zack
Morphological matrix - computer version Leanne
Formatting - Ben
Paper version of morphological matrix and
functional structure (decomposition) - Zack and
Ben
Email function structure to Leanne and
Humphrey
Email picture of paper version of morpho
matrix
Weighted screening matrix - Zack