empowerLIFT
a stand-assist device

Spring 2019
Designed at MIT’s Medical Device Design Class
In collaboration with sponsoring physician Dr. Alan Ertel from Mount Auburn Hospital and my classmates Alina LaPotin, Gal Zeidman, and Jennifer Leung

Tools + Skill-sets: mechanical and electrical engineering, CAD, design, human factors, user testing

empowerLIFT is a medical device that assists older adults in standing up or sitting down independently and in a controlled manner. The device uses a stepper motor, a lead-screw, and linkages to raise to a height that minimizes a person’s knee torque.

Problem & Background

Getting up from a seated position is difficult for many older adults but essential to living autonomously. Older adults have greater EMG activity and greater muscular demands than younger adults. Raising the seat height result in reduced hip and knee biomechanical demands and muscle activity (Hurleya et al., 2016).

Hurleya ST, Rutherforda DJ, Hubley-Kozeya C. The Effect of Age and Seat Height on Sit-to-Stand Transfer Biomechanics and Muscle Activation. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics 2016; 34:169-85.

• Determined acceptable joint torque at the knee

• Selected lifting height of 10” to achieve desired knee angle

Future Work

Increase portability by decreasing weight through using carbon fiber reinforced ABS plastic and using stored energy to reduce the size of the motor and battery