Z2024- Assistive Kitchen Device

Presenter

Megan Adams

Document Type

Prototype

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

Approximately 38.4 million people suffer from diabetes and about 50% have at least one variation of diabetic-related neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is a complication due to diabetes where the high levels of glucose in the blood start to cause nerve damage in the arms, hands, legs, and or feet. This causes a loss of sensation and weakness in motor functions. Many people, including our patient, could benefit from having a device that assists in moving heavy objects such as people with amputated limbs, people who have suffered a stroke or brain injuries, and many other conditions. Currently there are no devices on the market that have been specifically made to allow people who use wheelchairs or have weakness in their extremities to lift pots in the kitchen. This makes it difficult for them to gain independence in daily essentials such as cooking. Our solution is to create a device that is compact enough to fit around an average-sized oven, integrate heat-resistant material, and a stabilizing mechanism to ensure it does not tip with objects loaded onto it. The current design for this device consists of a board with an array of ball transfers which will be used to slide pots and pans onto it and then unload into the oven. Then this will be attached to struts that will allow this plate to lift off the oven surface and to the front of the oven rack. This allows the client to easily guide the pots into the oven without bearing the weight of them.

Faculty Mentor

Nicole Urban, Ph.D.

Academic Discipline

College of Engineering & Design

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