ME 497 Biomechanical Design
Dr. Tamara Reid Bush
Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
MKT 420 New-Product Development
Dr. Hang Nguyen
Assistant Professor
Marketing Business College
Biomechanical Design and New-Product Development
The Biomechanical Design and New-Product Development course (ME 497/MKT 420) provides students with a unique opportunity to develop and market a real, new product that incorporates biomechanical function. Students work in inter-disciplinary teams of engineers and marketers and experience the entire process of new product development, from need identification, concept generation and testing, to product development, design analysis and launch. This course further strengthens students’ knowledge and real-world exposure by working with Spartan Innovations. This year General Motors provided $100 per team for prototyping costs, and the Mechanical Engineering Department Endowment sponsored an in-class competition providing awards to the top three product ideas.
| # | Team Members | Team Slogan |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Ben Gaynier, Parks Gissinger, Cade Rathbone, Maggie Ritchie, Sophia Swiecki | The Shoe-In: A hands-free shoe assist device (Putting on your shoes has never been easier) |
| 02 | Emma Clawson, Jon Cruz, Garrett Ruhala, Chris Sadler, Michael Yamin | Crutch-Claw: “Reach No Further” |
| 03 | Wyatt Cool, Jack Falardeau, Steven Souphis, Grace Veenstra, Max Wiedemann | Chair-Roids: “The ultimate way to juice up your chair, a convenient and versatile way to exercise the upper body right from the wheelchair” |
| 04 | Allison Keller, David Lawless, Amanda Miner, Lila Ninotti, Olivia Simone, Jerica Tallman | Straight-Up: Simple chair attachment to correct posture while sitting |
| 05 | Will Brendlinger, Bryn Dittmar, Maddy McKown, Rob Paquette, Trevor Stephenson | Pocket Crutch: “The crutch that comes in clutch” |
| 06 | Heather Kulkis, Nicholas Michaels, Vigneshwer Ramamoorthi, Olivia Reyes, Kainnon Vilminot | GrowKart: A garden cart that helps you up. |
| 07 | Katie Bieszke, Kaitlyn Blazo, Brittany Bush, Alex Grotjohn, Nicole Kowalski, Lucas St John | Thumb360: An inovation in brace technology that helps strengthen, heal, and to live life painlessly |
| 08 | Jennifer Blowers, Paige Cordts, Chloe Gunther, Rhett Pimentel, Katharine Walters, Claire Weller | Throne Alone: Increase bathroom independence with the use of the toilet assist |
| 09 | Kobie Davis, Anna McClellan, Anthony Pero, Bridgeen Shapton, Tommy Wierzbicki | The Anchor Arm: A device designed for individuals who struggle with muscular weakness and need assistance with lifting and moving the arm in any environment |
| 10 | Joe Fantin, Erica Igwe, Logan Malak, Adam Van Gieson, Tamia Wilson | EVA (Ergonomic Vest Arm): Clasp it and grasp it |
| 11 | Michael Bachleda, Sean Brady, Ginger Haller, Jack Lambrix, Matt Stucky | ErgoNomics: Ergonomic advancement to the I.V. pole in order to assist in smoothly raising and lowering the pole with one hand. |
| 12 | Grace Biebly, Kylie Decker, Grace Kruger, Claire McMillen, Hailey Minton, Hailey Swamy | Safe-Rail: A collapsible, portable support railing to assist disabled and elderly users to propel themselves to a standing position |
| 13 | Miel Edwards, Leah Kiura, Kace Krauss, Olivia Lage, Ash McKesson, Jax Prusakiewicz | EZ Grip: A device created for people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and need to pick up items without using hand-finger grip strength |