ENGINEER 1P13 – Project Four: Power in Community

PROJECT FOUR: MILESTONE 2 – COVER PAGE

Team Number: Mon-53

Please list full names and MacID’s of all present Team Members.
Full Name: MacID:
Stephen Dorssers dorssers
Chuyuan Xie xiec19
Danielle Fong fongd5
Mohammad Muntazar Bhurwani bhurwanm

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MILESTONE 2.1 – CLIENT NOTES

Team Number: Mon-53

You should have already completed this task individually prior to Design Studio/Lab B for Week 8.

1. Compile your team’s notes from the client Q&A visit.

•
• Mobility challenges and pain makes things more difficult (bending at the waist)
• Largest work she has done is the one at the back.
• 5 to 10 pounds is her maximum load.
• Prefer to paint in studio on her own hand.
• Would like to raise plants from seeds.
• Would like to plant flowering plants.
• Range of motion when hands in pain: muscle freezes up and can't hold the brush at all,
but range of motion of arm is not affected as much as holding.
• Gripping for a short term of time will make her uncomfortable and painful.
• Wrist dimension: 5- and three-quarter inches
• The client uses variety type of brushes.

• She hasn’t tried any painting methods that involved changing her hand placements/ hand
positions. She says it may affect her intricate paintings, but that she is adaptable.
• Ankylosing Spondylitis (look up how to spell this), affects the base of her spine, but this
does not affect the pain in her hands, no swelling in her hands. The pain is only from nerve
damage and sometimes from her other conditions. She also might have arthritis.
• All her activities are more difficult. Bending is one of her huge problems.
• Her max lifting is 5-10 pounds depending on her lymphedema.
• Only likes to paint in her studio, so should focus on helping in this space.

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• She would like to plant seeds, but right now only buys pre-planted. Wants more flowering
plants.
• When she has muscle spasms in hands she cannot hold a position which obviously affects
her paintings.
• May kneel on a meditation cushion and put a canvas on a coffee table to paint. May literally
lie on the floor with the canvas on the floor to paint (she has carpet thankfully).
• Her wrist size (right side dominant) 5 and 3 quarters inches at the base. Her left side is the
same.
• She uses many brush sizes depending on the message she tries to convey with her art.
She does use her fingers to make adjustments in her paintings.
• Bearing the weight of her arms even makes her feel pressure in her lats and back
especially when holding things.
• Lying on the ground allows her to conserve her energy.
• Her hand length is (from tip of middle finger to wrist) is 6 and a half inches, and her hand
width (where thumb starts to other end) is about 4 inches.
• She is fine with it being portable or non-portable as long as she can use it individually.
• Painting would be her primary target for a solution. It is her way to leave a positive impact
on the world. Paintings are an expression of herself. A solution should still allow her to
express herself creatively, only enhancing her abilities not changing how she is able to
express herself.
• She holds her brushes similar to holding her pen and does brush strokes like writing she
says. Maybe look into how people who have pain in her hands get help with writing.
• She shakes her hands to sometimes relieve pain, sometimes even she shakes her arms
out. Runs her hands under warm water to relieve pain.
• Her floor space is her room is 4 foot by 7 foot, so it is kind of small really.
• Contracting her fingers and holding them in one place can hurt.
• She has a hand stretcher to help with finger strength.
• She prefers silk and cloth fabrics, does not like hard edge fabrics such as Velcro.

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• A relaxed grip allows her to feel less pain in her hands. She uses the example that the pen
she has she does not need much pressure on paper to write.
• Bigger grip brushes are better for her hands.

• Intricate details would most likely need to be done with the paint brush being held by the
hand
• Pain on hands is mainly from nerve damage
• Bending down at the waist is difficult
• Muscle spasms occur when using small paint brushes and limits hand motions or hand
loses ability to hold the brush
• Gripping small tools after a short amount of time causes pain and discomfort
• Painting positions are either kneeling/sitting on a floor cushion or lying on the floor to
support the body
• A variety of brushes are used and sometimes fingers are used to make fine adjustments
• Pain can either effect the arm first or the fingers first
• Muscles get exhausted easily (arm, torso, back)
• Extending fingers doesn’t cause much pain, holding and gripping causes pain
• Measurements
• Wrist size: 5 ¾ in
• Length of hand: 6 ½ in
• Width of hand: 4 in
• Swelling is usually 1 to 2 mm
• Studio dimensions: 4 by 7 ft
• Painting height can go up to 10 feet tall and wide
• Maximum load to lift is 5 to 10 pounds depending on flaring
• Best materials: cotton and silk
• Worst materials: anything with hard edges, velcro, latches
• • Allergies: gluten, flower based pre-primed canvases, caution for chemicals

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MILESTONE 2.2 – RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT

Team Number: MON-53

You should have already completed this task individually prior to Design Studio/Lab B for week 8.

1. Copy-and-paste each team member’s research assignment on the following pages (1

assignment per page)
® Be sure to indicate each team member’s Name and MacID

See individual worksheet for assignment specification.

We are asking that you submit your work on both the team and individual worksheets. It does
seem redundant, but there are valid reasons for this:
1. Each team member needs to submit their research assignment with the Milestone Two
Individual Worksheets document so that it can be graded
2. Compiling your individual work into this Milestone Two Team Worksheets document
allows you to readily access your team member’s work
a. This will be especially helpful when completing the rest of the milestone

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Team Number: MON-53

Name: Stephen Dorssers MacID: dorssers

Include your research assignment below.
What is your question?
Are there any devices to support one’s arm during painting and how do these devices work?
What is your answer?
For artists with physical disabilities affecting their arms, it can become quite challenging to hold
one’s arm up for long periods of time to finish a task such as a painting. To reduce the strength
needed to keep an artist’s arm raised and stable, there are a couple devices such as a mahl
stick, and a mobile arm support that can achieve this. A mobile arm support provides elbow and
forearm support by using a padded sleeve that the user inserts one of their arms into [1]. This
sleeve is connected to a mounted adjustable stand with flexible joints that allows for full motion
of the arm and greatly reduces the effect of gravity on the user’s arm [1]. The mobile arm support
provides support of the arm no matter what position it is in using a gravity balancing technique
[2]. More specifically, the spring balancing technique is used because “…spring elements can
be generally benefitted from the light weight, small additional inertia, easiness for adjustments
and cheap cost.” [2]. An example of this device being used specifically for painting can be found
in the YouTube video titled, “Painting with mobile arm support, a zero gravity device.” where the
SaeboMAS model is used [3]. Compared to the mobile arm support, the mahl stick is a much
simpler design but still provides support to the arm for painters. The mahl stick is a light thin
pole like a cane with a ball-shaped end that can be positioned on the canvas. There is
sometimes also padding where the user’s lower wrist or upper forearm is rested [4]. The arm
not used for painting holds the mahl stick and moves the stick around based on where the
painter is using their brush [4]. The mahl stick steadies the hand allowing for more precision
when painting and reduces arm fatigue by providing more support compared to holding one’s
arm without any assistance [4]. The mobile arm support and mahl stick are great examples of
devices that could assist the client for this project. Currently, the client must stabilize her
dominant painting arm with her other arm just to paint because the client’s lymphedema causes
her arm to fatigue very quickly [5]. These devices provide great inspiration and ideas for the
creation of a design solution because both devices can reduce the load on the client’s painting
arm, allowing her to steady her arm and potentially paint more intricately and for longer durations
of time.

List of sources:

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[1] I. Hussain, G. Salvietti, G. Spagnoletti, M. Malvezzi, D. Cioncoloni, S. Rossi, and D.

Prattichizzo, “A soft supernumerary robotic finger and mobile arm support for grasping
compensation and hemiparetic upper limb rehabilitation,” Robotics and Autonomous
Systems, vol. 93, pp. 1–12, 2017.
[2] P.-Y. Lin, W.-B. Shieh, and D.-Z. Chen, “A theoretical study of weight-balanced mechanisms
for design of spring assistive mobile arm support (MAS),” Mechanism and Machine Theory,
vol. 61, pp. 156–167, 2013.
[3] Nancy Dodds. “Painting with mobile arm support, a zero gravity device.” YouTube, Feb. 24,
2014. Available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXXj56eEE0Y&ab_channel=NancyDodds. [Accessed:
Mar. 12, 2021].
[4] M. Boddy-Evans, “How to Use a Mahl Stick While Painting,” LiveAbout, 22-Mar-2018.
[Online]. Available: https://www.liveabout.com/what-is-a-painters-mahl-stick-2577635.
[Accessed: 12-Mar-2021].
[5] “1-P4 Project Module,” class notes for ENG 1P13, Department of Engineering, McMaster
University, Winter, 2021

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Team Number: MON-53

Name: Danielle Fong MacID: fongd5

What is your question?
What tools do artists use for different techniques and what are the physical properties of these
tools?
What is your answer?
The main tool that an artists use when creating their artwork is paint brushes, but there are
many different types of paint brushes. There are three main types of brushes that all come in
various sizes and these brush types are round, flat, and filbert. Round brushes have a rounded
tip and are usually used for drawing outlines, flat brushes are more square shaped and are used
for creating straight shapes and lines, and filbert brushes are a mix of round and flat brushes
and are used for blending.[1] The size of these brushes range from small detailed brushes used
for intricate designs and large brushes for filling in space. Intricate detailed brush sizes can
range from 1/32 inch to 1 inch which will require a controlled grip in the fingers while larger
surface area brushes that can be held easily with the whole hand have are 1 inch to 4 inches
wide.[2] The length of these paint brush handles can go from as short as 6 inches to as long as
12 inches. Paint brush handles are made from a different variety of materials, but the most
commonly used materials to make these handles are plastic, wood, and bamboo. The shapes
of these handles are either rectangle, curved, cylindrical, or sometimes they have a grip
indented for fingers so the brush can be held with more comfort and ease.[3] Finger holding
paint brushes are lighter than hand holding paint brushes but when the brush is dipped in paint,
depending on the size, the paint brush can get heavier when used and loaded with paint. Given
the variety of paint brushes and their different physical properties, we can study the hand
motions and grip size of what the client would need when creating artwork. This gives an idea
of how the solution should be designed and created to meet the requirements needed for the
client to be satisfied.[4]
List of sources:
[1] “How to choose which paint brush to use | Creative Bloq.”
https://www.creativebloq.com/illustration/how-choose-which-paint-brush-use-11618912
(accessed Mar. 11, 2021).
[2] “Paint Brush Sizes in Inches - The Art Suppliers.” https://theartsuppliers.com/arts-and-
crafts-guides/paint-brush-sizes-in-inches/ (accessed Mar. 11, 2021).
[3] “How to Match the Paintbrush to the Project • Wooster Brush - Wooster Brush.”
https://www.woosterbrush.com/reviews-advice/match-paintbrush-project/ (accessed
Mar. 11, 2021).

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[4] “Painting Brush - Types, Uses, and Anatomy – Acrylic Pouring.”

https://smartartmaterials.com/painting-brush/ (accessed Mar. 11, 2021).

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Team Number: MON-53

Name: Chuyuan Xie MacID: xiec19

Topic: What type of physical aids do people with limited function in hand and waist usually
use?
Research Summary:
For people with instability in hands, a band looks like a long-sleeve glove surrounds the user’s
wrist or palm will help the users to grip tools by making the tools fixed on them and controlling the
tools with their arm [1]. It will help people who are not able to grip tools such as tableware,
stationaries, or other daily supplies. The tools allow the user to reinforce finger and hand strength
instead of maintaining the grip. [2]

[3]

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A kind of tool can help people with back pain to sit for longer. A soft pad on the back connecting
with a set of strap placed over the knees are everything on the tool, and the strap makes the user
to sit in a correct posture and help eliminating discomfort.

[4]
List of Sources:
[1] M. Hagen. “Active Hands – Frustrated By The Limitations Caused By Weak Grip Or Poor Hand
Function?”, Closing The Gap, Mar 31, 2019. [Online] Available:
https://www.closingthegap.com/active-hands-frustrated-by-the-limitations-caused-by-weak-grip-
or-poor-hand-function/. [Accessed Mar 08, 2021]

[2] D. Stout. “Best Adaptive Tools for DIYers with Disabilities”, Oct. 6, 2020. [Online]. Available:
https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/adaptive-tools-disabilities/. [Accessed Mar 08, 2021]

[3] A. Mohammed Rashed, N. Abdel-Wahab, E. M. M. Moussa and N. Hammam. “Association of

hand grip strength with disease activity, disability and quality of life in children and adolescents
with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis”, BMC- Part of Springer Nature, June 28, 2018. [Online] Available:
https://advancesinrheumatology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42358-018-0012-1
[Accessed Mar 08, 2021]

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Team Number: MON-53

Name: Mohammad Muntazar Bhurwani MacID: bhurwanm

What is your question?
What kind of devices are suitable for people with chronic pain?
What is your answer?
The developments in the medical industry have risen exponentially with the increase in inter-
disciplinary research opportunities. It is due to such opportunities that solutions and treatments to
various medical difficulties are being found. The medical design solutions vary from nerve
stimulations to physical devices. Patients with chronic pain have benefited from these discoveries
in recent years too.
Omron Healthcare, one of the leading healthcare device manufacturers, combined heat with
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to provide pain relief for acute joint and muscle
pain [1] Electrical impulses are sent along the skin and nerves which prevents the pain signals
from reaching the brain. ActiPatch® developed an electromagnetic neuromodulation device that
dampens the brain’s perception of pain [1]. The device has proved beneficial for patients suffering
from chronic pain from arthritis, fibromyalgia among others. Results of a long-term prospective
study that included 240 patients who had previously experienced chronic pain relief with the device
showed that at 6 months, 97% of the 240 participants sustained a 60% reduction in pain [2].
A new simulation method called Burst Stimulation was put into action for chronic pain treatment
by manufacturers Abbott. This involved generating high-frequency electrical impulses mimicking
body pulse [3]. A surprising idea that was introduced by artist Deepa Mann-Kler was to use virtual
reality systems to immerse the patients and decrease their pain levels. She also developed ‘Whack
A Mo’ in partnership with Queens University, Belfast, an augmented reality app that distracts
children as they undergo regular cannula procedures [4].
Outside of the common nerve stimulations, BioCare Systems utilized LED infrared pods in their
device called LumiWave. “As a localized treatment, it works with the tissue underneath, where the
infrared light penetrates to release nitric oxide to increase blood flow and help tissue repair itself.
Healthy tissue produces nitric oxide, whereas damaged tissue can’t do it in the same way [5].”
Several mobile apps have also been released into the market that claims to help in pain
management. Currently, these apps can calibrate with pain management devices, help analyse
the users’ sleep and activity patterns, and provide personalised insights related to the sensation
of pain. Other innovations in the same field include chemical solutions to chronic pain
management. An oral drug named Orphengesic Forte by Galt Pharmaceuticals consists of
orphenadrine citrate, aspirin and caffeine as well as other non-active ingredients. The drugs serve
as a safer alternative for pain management before the opioid prescription [6].
Another category of solutions includes physical implants onto the skin or body of the patient when
surgeries are not possible. The implant provides electrical stimulation to the nerves to manage the

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pain. Drug-free patches have also gained popularity as a way to reduce musculoskeletal pain and
can be bought over the counter.
List of sources:
[1] L. Stiles, “Five New Technologies for Pain Management - Clinical Pain Advisor.”
https://www.clinicalpainadvisor.com/home/topics/treatments/five-new-technologies-for-pain-
management/ (accessed Mar. 15, 2021).
[2] R. Staelin, S. N. Koneru, and I. M. Rawe, “A Prospective Six-Month Study of Chronic Pain
Sufferers: A Novel OTC Neuromodulation Therapy,” Pain Research and Management, vol. 2019,
2019, doi: 10.1155/2019/3154194.
[3] T. R. Deer, L. W. Campos, and J. E. Pope, “Evaluation of Abbott’s BurstDR stimulation device for
the treatment of chronic pain,” Expert Review of Medical Devices, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 417–422, Jun.
2017, doi: 10.1080/17434440.2017.1330147.
[4] “How virtual reality can be used as a powerful painkiller.”
https://www.siliconrepublic.com/machines/virtual-reality-painkiller-neon (accessed Mar. 15, 2021).
[5] T. Kritsonis, “BioCare Systems LumiWave Review | Digital Trends.”
https://www.digitaltrends.com/health-fitness/lumiwave-review/ (accessed Mar. 15, 2021).
[6] S. Biyani, “Advances in Chronic Pain Management - PreScouter - Custom Intelligence from a
Global Network of Experts.” https://www.prescouter.com/2020/09/advances-in-chronic-pain-
management/ (accessed Mar. 15, 2021).

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MILESTONE 2.3 – REFINED PROBLEM STATEMENT

Team Number: MON-53

• Write your initial problem statement below. This is what you have submitted for Milestone
1.2.

The client has expressed that she would like to perform more intricate artwork, however she
experiences pain and instability in her hands. Design a solution that grants the client more control
and comfort when handling her paint brushes to perform intricate designs.

2. Outline the Who, Where, Why, and What elements of your problem statement. Then write
the refined problem statement below. Refer to the provided Refined Problem Statement
rubric provided.

● Who? – Alanna, our client.

● Where? – Her art studio in her apartment.
● Why? – To help alleviate Alanna’s pain and difficulties with holding thin brushes or
stretching across large canvases which restricts her from painting intricate designs and completing
her artwork. Also, to allow her to express herself freely through her art without any need to overly
exert her body. And to combat her pain that causes her instability in her hands so that she can
work on her paintings longer and finish more of her paintings.
● What? – The solution we design for Alanna must be comfortable for her to use for an
extended period and provide stability when she is gripping her tool. It should also allow for flexibility
for her hand to move and control the brushes more easily. Lastly, the solution should be lightweight
and durable to support her arm.

Refined Problem Statement:

Our goal is to design a lightweight, durable solution to support the weight of Alanna’s arm when
she’s painting. It should also provide her control when she’s painting and an easier grip with thinner
brushes in her hands so she can paint intricate designs without any pain and difficulty.
Furthermore, the solution should give comfort to Alanna when she’s painting, allowing her to paint
for a longer period and complete more of her artwork, so she can express herself freely through
her artwork and share a message of positivity with the world.

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MILESTONE 2.4 – FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS

Team Number: Mon-53

1. Identify your team’s choice of design tool to perform Functional Analysis and the rationale
behind choosing it. For examples of design tools, see lecture on Monday March 8th.

Choice: Morphological Chart

Rationale: A morph chart allows us to list all the functions we envision to see in our design solution
while noting down every possible mean for us to accomplish that. It opens a wider range of
creativity while ensuring we keep in mind the design objectives and needs of the client. The matrix
allows us to explore different combinations and alternatives of achieving our end goal.

2. Include a copy of your team’s functional analysis below.

Function Mean 1 Mean 2 Mean 3 Mean 4 Mean 5 Mean 6 Mean 7 Mean 8 Mean 9
s

Allows to Gripper Handle Strap Magnet Groove Glue Sandpa Straw- Add a
hold thin s per like tube wide
objects handle
to
object
Support Adjusta Table or Shoulde Long Hanging Exoskel
and ble platform r strap bar that strap eton for
stabilize stand that can arm arm can that arm
arm with be support be user
place to rested rested can
put arm on on place
arm into
Provide Cotton Cushion Feathers Sponge Foam Ergono Bean Water
comfort fabric s mic bag filled
to user shape cushion

Device Strong Interwov Waterpr Triangul Honeyc Metal

can material en oof ar omb coating
withstan s (high structure coating structur structur
d young’s spray e e

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prolonge modulu
d use s)

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MILESTONE 2.5 – CONCEPT EXPLORATION

Team Number: Mon-53
Complete this worksheet during Design Studio/Lab B for Week 8.
1. Include multiple photos of your concept exploration, if needed
® Include necessary annotations to help in the communication of your ideas
® Include your Team Number, Name and MacID on each concept
2. Insert your photo(s) as a Picture (Insert > Picture > This Device)
3. Do not include more than two concept photos per page

Make sure to include photos of each team

member’s concept exploration

We are asking that you submit your work on both the team and individual worksheets. It does
seem redundant, but there are valid reasons for this:
1. Each team member needs to submit pictures of their concept with the Milestone Two
Individual Worksheets document so that it can be graded
2. Compiling your individual work into this Milestone Two Team Worksheets document
allows you to readily access your team member’s work
a. This will be especially helpful when completing the next milestone

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Team Number: Mon-53

Concept 1
Name: Stephen Dorssers MacID: dorssers
Insert screenshot(s) of your concept below.

Concept 2
Name: Stephen Dorssers MacID: dorssers
Insert screenshot(s) of your concept below.

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Team Number: Mon-53

Concept 1
Name: Chuyuan Xie MacID: xiec19
Insert screenshot(s) of your concept below.

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Concept 2
Name: Chuyuan Xie MacID: xiec19
Insert screenshot(s) of your concept below.

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Team Number: Mon-53

Concept 1
Name: Danielle Fong MacID: fongd5

Concept 2
Name: Danielle Fong MacID: fongd5

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Team Number: Mon-53

Concept 1
Name: Mohammad Muntazar Bhurwani MacID: bhurwanm

Concept 2
Name: Mohammad Muntazar Bhurwani MacID: bhurwanm

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