Week 4 Progress

This week we began brainstorming models for our preventative brace. We are focusing on young athletes who are looking to prevent the tear of their ACL. Here are two primary designs:

This week we have also been asked to come up with an estimated price rang for our project, in order to possibly extend the project budget. Our group has come up with a preliminary idea of purchasing different levels of braces, and taken certain parts of each brace to construct our own. 

Week 3 Progress

This week, the group came up with a basic idea of the design for the preventative knee brace. The brace will be worn by all athletes willing, in order to prevent tearing of the ACL. It will be light, comfortable, and mobile enough to allow the athlete normal motion. However, this brace will prevent the pivoting and twisting of the kneecap, in order to prevent and ACL tear. It will be small, cheap, and incorporate aspects of many different braces already on the market.

Also, the ballistics gel came in, and we will begin molding the gel in order to replicate an ACL. We have also discussed with Professor Siegler in order to schedule and use the BioMechanics lab to test the synthetic ACL we will mold with ballistics gel. We will also design the brace in Creo or AutoCad, and use the 3D printer to test our design. 

Current Available Braces

Varying Levels of Support    http://www.betterbraces.com/acl-brace-for-knee-stability

Currently, there are various types of knee braces, specifically for the tear of an athlete's ACL, that vary in levels of support. A majority of them are made from lightweight materials, and offer support designed for specific sports.

• Every day And Low Impact Sports Knee Braces - An every day or low impact sports knee braces are comfortable, and support weak knees during everyday activities and low impact sports. They are designed for helping athletes recover after surgery, and help to prevent further injury to the knee. 


• Intermediate Level Knee Braces –  The knee brace pictured below is an intermediate level knee brace, which helps prevent injury to the knee for athletes who participate in moderate activity. They help prevent pivot motion, and are good for recovery from torn meniscus or arthritis. They are also beneficial to athletes returning to their moderate activity after ACL reconstruction. 

• Lightweight Support For Non-Contact Sports –  This brace is design for athletes who participate in non-contact sports. This brace is constructed with aircraft grade aluminum, and are ideal for those who need low-profile support. More commonly used for athletes with mild ACL/LCL/MCL instability or partial tear. It helps to prevent further damage in non-contact sports. 

• Sturdy, Low Profile Knee Braces Suitable For Contact Sports –  These sturdy, low profile knee braces are suitable for contact sports, and are molded to fit individuals knees. This kind of brace also offers extra features that are suitable for skiing. Covered hinges prevent snagging, and keep clothing from being torn during contact sports. 

• Custom, Technologically Superior Knee Braces For High Impact Sports And Water Sports – This custom-made superior knee brace for high impact sports and water sports is the ultimate in knee protection. This brace prevents moderate to severe knee conditions from becoming debilitating issues in the athlete's future. It is lightweight, and 100% customizable. For a torn ACL, this brace requires fitting from a medical professional. 

Week 2 Progress

Monday of week 2, the group decided on not only building a prototype of an enhanced ACL brace for post corrective surgery, but  also either construct or test Drexel's mechanical leg which would include a simulated ACL made out of ballistics gel which acts exactly like tissue and ligaments of the human body when put under stress. The materials have been purchased, and construction and testing will hopefully begin week 3. The proposal has been finished, and questions regarding the testing and construction process will be addressed in class tomorrow.

During lab, the group decided to change it's purpose. Instead of adjusting the current available braces in order to better the recovery process, the new purpose is to develop a a universal brace for athletes to wear in order to prevent the tear of an athletes ACL. In order to create an effective brace, we are going to focus on the prevention of the injury for soccer players specifically.

Websites/Links Involved in Presentation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpIOMuqXWrE

          How the ACL tears:
 http://www.mendmyknee.com/knee-and-patella-injuries/anterior-cruciate-ligament.php

          General Information on the ACL tear:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterior_cruciate_ligament_injury

            Information on Ballistic Gel:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_gelatin#Uses

                                            http://www.medicinenet.com/torn_acl/article.htm

Biographies

Padma Shenoy-

Padma is a freshman at Drexel University, majoring in general engineering and a student in the BS/MD program. Padma is from Harrisburg, Pa, and chose Drexel because of her love for Philadelphia and the opportunities available in the BS/MD program. When it comes to sports, Padma's favorite is track, more specifically running hurtles.

email address: pas98@drexel.edu




Amanda Tilles-

Amanda is a freshman at Drexel University, also majoring in general engineering. Amanda is from Princeton, NJ and chose Drexel for a change of environment, the tennis team, and of course the co-op experience. When it comes to sports, Amanda currently plays on Drexel 's Varsity women's tennis team.

email address: alt75@drexel.edu





Danielle Fernandez-

Danielle (Dani) is also a freshman at Drexel University, majoring in chemical engineering. Danielle is from Toms River, NJ and chose Drexel for the unique co-op experience. When it comes to sports, in high school Dani participated in soccer, cross country, winter track, and lacrosse, and now in college plays on Drexel's club track, lacrosse, and SOCCER teams.


email address: ddf33@drexel.edu

Steve Enriquez-

Steve is a freshman at Drexel University, majoring in civil engineering. Steve is from Egg Harbor Township in New Jersey, and also chose Drexel for the unique co-op experience. When it comes to
sports, Steve participated in his high school's varsity crew team.


email address: see35@drexel.edu



Sorin Siegler, Ph.D.-

Dr. Siegler is a professor at Drexel University and works in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics. Dr. Siegler has an bachelors of science degree in aeronautical engineering from Israel Institute of Technology, a degree in biomedical engineering from Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D in biomedical engineering from Drexel University. His research involves, orthopedic biomechanics, human motion analysis and applied dynamics.

email address: sseigler@coe.drexel.edu

Week 1 Progress

Week 1 was used specifically to brainstorm the groups purpose and problem, and how to approach said problem. Group 4 decided to focus on an athletes ACL, or the anterior cruciate ligament. More specifically, the recovery process after an athlete tears their ACL. After discussion and a general consensus, it was decided that the groups main goal is to design a knee brace for athletes to use after  corrective surgery and rehab, which will provide enhanced support and flexibility once the athlete has been cleared to play their sport again. 

http://www.rittersp.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/women-acl.jpg

The proposal has been drafted, and the group will continue to brainstorm methods to approach this problem, and begin research for materials needed, and a deeper understanding of how the knee and ACL function and rehabilitate once corrective surgery has been done. 

Mission Statement

The common injury of an ACL tear
is one that affects countless athletes
in almost every sport. Unfortunately while common, this injury can ruin an athletes career. Recovering fully from an ACL tear could take 8 months to a year to recover, meaning an athlete could be "benched" or "red-shirted" for this time. And while a year may not seem like much time, to an athlete, especially one injured and watching from the sidelines, one year is an eternity.

This groups mission is to design and manufacture a prototype for a new ACL brace that would help prevent athletes from tearing their ACL in sports. A brace they could wear that would be equally supportive and mobile, and comfortable enough for athletes to be willing to wear this brace for all athletic activities          


http://www.braceshop.com/ProductCart/pc/catalog/images_donjoy/dynamicbrace.jpg
How the ACL tear happens:
The anterior cruciate ligament, or the ACL is one of the four major knee ligaments. This ligament connects the tibia and femur, and prevents the tibia, or the shin bone from sliding forward and rotating the femur, or thigh bone.  It is a very crucial ligament for the stability of the knee joint. A sudden change in direction is the most common cause of a torn ACL. Immediately after the ACL is torn, the knee will swell, and the athlete will feel a sharp pain in their knee. Most likely when the injury occurs, the athlete will hear a sudden "pop" as the ACL tears.

http://www.creativerehab.net/images/ACL%20Anatomy.jpg