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Standing Paraplegic Omni-directional Transport (SPOT)

Mobility device to return Dr. Garrett Cuppels, a T-12 paraplegic surgeon, to the operating room.

Design Award

  • Design Excellence Award Winner

News About this Project

Project Overview

Our client is an orthopedic surgeon who has been without work ever since an accident left him paralyzed (T12 paraplegia). In order to return to orthopedic surgery he will need to be able to perform surgeries in a standing postion, as well as be able to move about the operating room. Our goal is to create a device which will allow him to meet those requirements.

Our design is a motorized base with four wheels and a stability mechanism to hold our client in the standing position. It utilizes mecanum wheels, which allow for movement in any direction as opposed to traditional wheels which allow for only forward and backward movement. We believe that this design will allow our client to be safely and comfortably held in a standing position and also move him quickly and precisely throughout surgery.

Team Picture

Team members from left to right: Bret Olson, Michael Konrath, Justin Cacciatore, James Madsen, Blake Marzella
Team members from left to right: Bret Olson, Michael Konrath, Justin Cacciatore, James Madsen, Blake Marzella

Images

Visiting Berlin Memorial Hospital.  From left to right: Blake Marzella, James Madsen, Justin Cacciatore, Michael Konrath, Bret Olson
Visiting Berlin Memorial Hospital. From left to right: Blake Marzella, James Madsen, Justin Cacciatore, Michael Konrath, Bret Olson
Receiving the BME Design Excellance Award
Receiving the BME Design Excellance Award
SPOT prototype at the end of the semester.
SPOT prototype at the end of the semester.

Files

Contact Information

Team Members

  • Bret Olson - Co-Team Leader
  • James Madsen - Co-Team Leader
  • Michael Konrath - Communicator
  • Justin Cacciatore - BSAC
  • Blake Marzella - BWIG

Advisor and Client

  • Prof. Amit Nimunkar - Advisor
  • Dr. Garrett Cuppels - Client

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