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Appendix G: Expert Interview Summary
Introduction
In order to gain insight on the materials to use for our design and how to implement our design, our team discussed our design with Scott Simpson.
The design that we chose was a divider that extended from a walker and acted as a physical barrier between the patient’s legs (Figure 15). We wanted to use an L-shaped frame, where the vertical part attached to the walker and the horizontal part acted as the divider.
Figure 15
Figure 15: Sketch of walker with divider prototype
Questions
We prepared a list of questions that we wanted to ask Mr. Simpson, which are detailed below:
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What material should we use for the framework?
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How should we attach the vertical bar to the walker so that the device remains secure?
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How do we make the divider vertically adjustable?
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How do we make the device horizontally adjustable to fit multiple walkers?
Results
After discussing our design and questions with Mr. Simpson, he told us that because of time and budget constraints, we should focus on building the prototype first rather than trying to make it universal to all walkers. After this, we decided to focus on just the vertical adjustability of the divider, which is a key aspect of our design rather than the horizontal adjustability.
Mr. Simpson then gave us advice on each of our questions. We wanted our frame to be lightweight and durable, so he suggested aluminum channels. Additionally, he gave us ideas on how to implement a sliding mechanism that can adjust the height of the divider. He suggested either a U-channel that can fit over a piece of aluminum or a series of holes in the aluminum, where you can physically move and stabilize the divider.
In terms of securing the device onto the walker, we explored the idea of a clamp but were unsure how to attach the clamp to the device securely. Mr. Simpson recommended using another piece of aluminum metal with a flange that attaches to the clamp and stays on the walker. This allows the vertical part of the L-shape frame to rest on the flange and connect with the other piece of metal, creating more stability in the device. Additionally, we discussed how the divider height could then be made adjustable by attaching the two vertical pieces of metal at different heights using drilled holes of 1-inch increments.
Conclusion
Through our expert interview with Scott Simpson, we were able to answer all of our questions and order our materials. We will be using aluminum for the framework and focus on how to implement vertical adjustability of the divider.
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