The document is a research report about designing a walking device to help disabled infants walk at an earlier stage of development. It discusses research showing treadmill walking can help infants with disabilities like Down syndrome walk earlier. It outlines background research on this topic and the current approach of using slow treadmills. The report also summarizes the author's secondary research on existing products and primary research conducted through meetings and prototype testing.
Call Girls Frazer Town Just Call 7001305949 Top Class Call Girl Service Avail...
Infant Walking Device Research Report Summary
1.
Research Report:
Infant walking device.
To design a walking device to be used at the home to
help disabled infant walk at an earlier stage of
development.
Date: 13/10/09
Student Name: Jonathan O Toole
ID Number: 0650935
Course: Product Design and Technology.
5. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
• Proto‐type builds
Secondary Research:
Research through Caroline Teulier’s work and notes:
Caroline Teulier has been one of the main figures in recent research in France, America
and now Ireland in Spina Bifida in infants and its affects. Caroline Teulier is now working
her research out of the PESS building in the University of Limerick. Through her research
she has confirmed that a slow walking treadmill does help Spina Bifida infants walking
patterns and development. In Caroline Teulier’s latest research she proved that early
intervention in with infants can improve dramatically their muscle strength and also their
co‐ordination.
5 | P a g e
6. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
Research conduct by Caroline Teulier (Reference #2)
Internet research for existing solutions:
The main relevant information gathered on the internet was gathered through five main
web sites:
• Enable Ireland: http://www.enableireland.ie/ (Ref #4).
• The Irish Association of Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus: http://www.sbhi.ie/ (Ref #5)
• Carlins Creations: http://www.carlinscreations.com/ (Ref #6).
• Gait lite: http://www.litegait.com/ (Ref #7).
• Thinking Toys: http://www.thinkingtoys.ie/aboutus.php (Ref #8).
6 | P a g e
9. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
The GaitLite being used with a balance ball (Reference #11).
Carlin Creations:
Carlin Creation offers a product which they call a pediatric treadmill. Carlin Creation
started as a proto‐typing and design service company but after building the first prototype
for the research team in the University of Michigan they decided to branch into pediatric
treadmills. The design of the treadmill is very similar to that of a conveyor. It has a very
large motor attached to a pulley and belt which drives the main belt. It has a ply‐wood
shell which is then covered in black plastic acetate. For safety on the top Carlin Creation
covered all edges in a plastic piping. All the controls are on the wrong side of the operator
so you must remove the infant and walk to the opposite end of the treadmill. The speed
9 | P a g e
12. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
Search through US Patents with Pediatric as a title work and treadmill as a key word (Reference #15).
The second search and the US patents office web site looked for the keywords infant and
treadmill. The search found 57 results none of which are relevant to the concept.
Search through US Patents with key words infant and treadmill (Reference #16).
12 | P a g e
13. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
Book research:
The book research was conducted using four main books
1. Bellman.M & Peile.E, The normal Child (2006).
2. Piek.J.P, Infant Motor Development (2006).
3. Bremner.G & Fogel.A, Infant Development (2004).
4. Lllingworth.R.S, The Development of the infant & young child (1972).
Some interesting points shared by all the books:
• Infants will play by using the cause and effect theory. This is for example if the
infant drops a toy which he/she wants, if he/she starts to cry a parent or grown up
will arrive pick up the toy and kiss them on the head. A simple example but the
important thing is that the infant creates a action and the result is a direct
reaction.
• Communication in infants up to 12 months is done through gaze, gesture &
babbling. A child will sit and crawl by 6 to 9 months and will usually walk by 12 to
15 months. A child can recognize faces by about 9‐12 months.
• An interesting view that runs through most of the books is that baby‐walkers do
very little to encourage walking. A baby walker may occupy the child but it will
encourage learning rather that a health walking pattern.
13 | P a g e
14. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
Primary Research:
First meeting with Caroline Teulier:
The first the author heard about this project was when the author received an email from
Caroline Teulier asking a product designer to design a treadmill for infants with particular
disabilities. Caroline Teulier also attached a presentation to show what the product was to
be used for and a outline of the brief (see below for details). The first meeting with
Caroline Teulier was on the 15th of May 2009 in the UL PESS building. She briefed the
author on previous research and her own research. The first project brief was to design an
infant treadmill to help infants with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida walk
at an earlier age. One of the design specifications for professional use was to help it
adaptive so maximum feed back could be recorded. The research conducted had proved
that early prevention using a slow treadmill does work and can reduce the age of walking
by up to a year. After the meeting it was decided that two weeks of research and
investigation into the three target groups and to the market was the best course for the
project.
14 | P a g e
15. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
Presentation that Caroline Teulier send by email (Reference #17)
Second meeting with Caroline Teulier:
After conducting research and knowing more about the infants a second meeting was
arranged to talk about the direction of the project on the 9th of September 2009. The two
options were design the product for physiotherapists or for parents. There are only two
other products in this field on the market for home use but over sixty for professional use.
A product that can be used in the comfort of the home by the parent of the infant is a very
15 | P a g e
17. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
• Push the on button.
• Select the speed at which the treadmill moves.
• Wait until the belt has turned a full revolution.
• Push the test button.
• Wait until the treadmill has reached a full stop.
• Push the restart button.
• Make sure the speed is site correctly.
• Pick up infant all gently lower onto the treadmill.
• Do not place full weight of infant directly onto treadmill.
• If the infant miss steps lift the infant slightly and lower again.
• Conduct session for approximately 5‐6 minutes.
• Place infant down in a safe location.
• Push the off button.
• Wait until the treadmill has reached a compete stop.
• Plug the treadmill out.
• Place back into storage where a child cant get to it.
17 | P a g e
18. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
Image from http://www.carlinscreations.com/treadmill.htm (Ref #19).
Meeting with Spina Bifida Ireland
The author visited the Mid‐Western Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus clinic on the
Ballysimon road on the 6th of October 2009. The meeting was with a girl called Milena
Morawska who is a Senior Physiotherapist. The author was shown around the areas in the
building and the main physiotherapy room (pictured below). The physiotherapy room is
more like a play room with some equipment hidden around, covered in bright colours and
soft padding.
18 | P a g e
20. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
The area is very open and there's a lot of very interesting item's in it. Some of the
equipment is used for older people but the play area in the corner of the room is just for
the kids (pictured above). This area has lots of fun toys and slides. It’s very easy to see why
some people think this area would be used to rest the kids, if they finish there physio they
could play but that’s not the case. The play area is the physio area. This is a very
interesting view. In the picture below you can see a green stairs and a red slide in the
center background. The kids love to slide down the slide but to do that they must climb
the steps which build muscle and helps create balance. You can also see a few large balls
in the back corner of the image. These are used to create balance. The child is placed on
top and the ball in moved around and the child keeps its center of gravity. Some children
don't like the ball but love the ball pit so a track is created. You must balance on the ball to
get the key to open the pit then you must go through the tunnel to get back to the ball.
The kids are very smart they know that if they don’t want to do something chances are
they'll get away without doing it but through this idea of Physio and Play being the same
thing more and more children are benefiting from these interactions.
20 | P a g e
21. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
Main infant physiotherapy area in Mid‐Western Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus clinic, Limerick (Ref #22).
Meeting with Paul McCarty from BlackBerry Park (Enable Ireland):
On the 12th of October 2009 a meeting took place between the author and Paul McCarty a
senior physiotherapist for Enable Ireland in the BlackBerry Park, Limerick. At this meeting
they discussed the pros and cons of a product being bought by the government health
system and rented out to family on a need and tested basis. Two main issues came from
this meeting. The first is that it is possible to have a arrangement like this where the
government finance the product but if the product causes injury or malfunctions it falls
21 | P a g e
25. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
Research findings to date (15/10/09):
The main reason for all the research is to really understand the user, the environment and
the reason there’s a need for the product. Through all the research some very important
considerations have been revealed. These considerations affect the design of the product
and the function and look of the product. Theses are the main points to come from the
research that will affect the design directly:
• The Product will be in a treadmill format.
• The products target market is 12 to 48 months.
• For this product the focus will be on 12 to 24 months.
• It will be used by parents at home.
• The product will be bought and stored by the health service.
• The product will be released to parents after the infant is checked by a
physiotherapist and the physiotherapist deems the product suitable for the infant.
• The product will have a harness.
• The product will be small enough to fit in a car booth.
• The product will have Play Vs Physio element.
• Cause and effect playing for infants.
25 | P a g e
26. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
Ongoing research:
• Meeting to view Lokomat
• Meeting in Clare with designers of disabled children’s toys.
• Questionnaire for Spina Bifida parents
• Focus group for parents with main concepts for feed back
Meeting to view Lokomat:
So far every physiotherapist who has been interviewed for this report has talked about the
LokoMat product. The LokoMat is a machine for physiotherapist to use for serious spinal
injuries. It is a very expensive piece of equipment and cost 350,000 Euros and is very large.
At a very basic level it is two independent robots designed to move you legs in the correct
locomotive walking pattern. There are currently two in Ireland and the author has a
meeting to view one on the 28th of October in Patrickswell, Co.Limerick.
Image from http://radio.weblogs.com/0105910/ (Ref #27).
26 | P a g e
27. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
Meeting in Clare with designers of disabled children’s toys:
On the 21th of October the author will visit Thinking Toys in Killaloe, Co. Clare. Thinking
Toys was established with the intention of providing access, in Ireland, to a range of
products that can bring specific benefit to children who have special needs or learning
difficulties. The business is owned and managed by Aine Conacur and her husband
Michael. They’re eldest child had major brain surgery when she was 2 years old. The
frustration and difficulties they endured in trying to source suitable products that would
assist in her development was a catalyst in deciding to try and reduce this frustration for
other parents in similar situations.
Screenshot from http://www.thinkingtoys.ie/index.php/cPath/43 (Ref #28).
27 | P a g e
28. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
Questionnaire for Spina Bifida parents:
A questionnaire will be given to all the parent who are part of Enable Ireland, Limerick and
Mid‐Western Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus clinic, Limerick. This questionnaire will
include questions like, Do you currently do any physiotherapy exercises at home?, Would
you have any issues in your infant being placed in a safety harness? and Would you find a
product for home use beneficial?.
Focus group for parents with main concepts for feed back:
The Mid‐Western Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus clinic, Limerick have also offered their
meeting room to hold a focus group. This focus group will be held after stage two of
concept development. This should give the focus group enough information and concept
to give really good feed back.
28 | P a g e
29. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
Appendix:
Tips for Treadmill Training at Home
“To implement the treadmill training at home, locate a bench that can straddle the
treadmill. Sit on the bench and hold your infant under their arms so they are facing you
with their feet on the belt. It is important to try to keep your elbows on your knees or
thighs while you are supporting the infant to help reduce the strain on your back caused
by the infant's body weight (see the attached picture below). If your elbows hurt your
thighs, place a towel under your elbows. As the treadmill belt moves away from the
holder, pulling the infant's legs back, the infant should take an occasional step. In the
event that no steps are taken, reposition the infant's feet to the front of the belt while
trying to keep your elbows in contact with your knees or thighs. It is the backward
movement of the belt that appears to stimulate the stretching of the infant's leg muscles,
causing a spring‐ like step forward.
The first month or so tends to be the most frustrating if the infant is not taking any steps.
All of our infants in the study, however, did begin to improve their stepping performance
over the first 6 weeks, with further improvement demonstrated once they were able to
support their weight on their feet.
It is important to try to keep the child looking forward as much as possible to stimulate
the conditions of independent walking. Frequently, parents have worn a cap with a small
toy attached to the visor by Velcro to stimulate the infant to reach for the toy and to serve
29 | P a g e
31. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
exercise and often is better since they will be more motivated to move around the room
with your help.
Information from http://www.umich.edu/~cmbds/treadmill.html (Reference #29)
Treadmill Technical Information
We used specially designed infant‐ sized treadmills that cost us approximately $1,000 each
to build. While any treadmill can be used, certain restrictions do apply to a treadmill's belt
speed in order to accommodate use by an infant. The belt speed must be able to operate
at a speed just under � mile per hour. The speed we used with our infant‐sized treadmills
was 0.46 miles per hour (0.2 meters per second). Some parents have purchased
inexpensive adult‐ sized treadmills at stores such as Walmart, Service Merchandize, and
The Sports Authority that have met these speed requirements.
Information from http://www.umich.edu/~cmbds/treadmill.html (Reference #29)
Treadmill Procedures Used in Our Clinical Trial
We began the treadmill training when an infant could sit independently for 30 seconds. In
some cases this may have been a little too early since some infants did not step much for
the first month. If we were to do the study over again, training would not begin until the
infant could support a little of their weight on their feet.
31 | P a g e
33. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
References:
1. Dale A. Ulrich, Beverly D. Ulrich, Rosa M. Angulo‐Kinzler, and Joonkoo Yun, 2001,
Treadmill Training of Infants With Down Syndrome: Evidence‐Based
Developmental Outcomes, PEDIATRICS Vol. 108 No. 5 November 2001, p. e84
2. Teulier C & Ulrich B.D, 2008, Muscle organization in infants when stepping on a
treadmill
3. Chang, C‐L ., Kubo, M. , Buzzi, U. , & Ulrich., B.D. (2006) Early changes in muscle
activation patterns of toddlers during walking. Infant Behavior & Development, 29,
175‐188.
4. http://www.enableireland.ie/, accessed on the 15‐09‐09
5. http://www.sbhi.ie/, accessed on the 16‐09‐09
6. http://www.carlinscreations.com/, accessed on the 18‐09‐09
7. http://www.litegait.com/, accessed on the 18‐09‐09
8. http://www.thinkingtoys.ie/aboutus.php, accessed on the 20‐09‐09
9. http://www.litegait.com, accessed on the 10‐10‐09
10. http://litegait.com/pictures.html, accessed on the 10‐10‐09 (IMAGE)
11. http://litegait.com/pictures.html, accessed on the 10‐10‐09 (IMAGE)
12. Personal image of the Carlin Creation, Model 2, Pediatric Treadmill.
13. Personal image of the Carlin Creation, Model 2, Pediatric Treadmill.
14. http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search‐bool.html, accessed on the 13‐10‐09
15. http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search‐bool.html, accessed on the 13‐10‐09
33 | P a g e
34. Name: Jonathan O Toole Research Report: Infant Walking Device.
ID number: 0650935
16. http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search‐bool.html, accessed on the 14‐10‐09
17. Presentation created by Caroline Teulier, 08‐04‐09.
18. http://litegait.com/pictures.html, accessed on the 10‐10‐09 (IMAGE)
19. http://www.carlinscreations.com/treadmill.htm, accessed on the 10‐10‐09
(IMAGE)
20. Personal image of Mid‐Western Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus clinic, Limerick.
21. Personal image of Mid‐Western Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus clinic, Limerick.
22. Personal image of Mid‐Western Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus clinic, Limerick.
23. Personal image of Enable Ireland, Blackberry Park, Limerick.
24. Personal image of equipment in Enable Ireland, Blackberry, Limerick.
25. Personal image of Proto type PT#1.
26. Personal image of Proto type PT#1.
27. http://radio.weblogs.com/0105910/, accessed on the 13‐10‐09 (IMAGE)
28. http://www.thinkingtoys.ie/index.php/cPath/43, accessed on the 13‐10‐09
(IMAGE)
29. http://www.umich.edu/~cmbds/treadmill.html, accessed on the 13‐10‐09.
34 | P a g e