medical device

Calibrated Tensioner for Total Knee Arthroplasty Gap Balancer

The purpose of this project was to design a device that interfaces with the previously created gap balancer in order to simultaneously measure the cut gap between the femur and tibia and measure the tension in the ligaments of the knee. The final product, a device called the total knee arthroplasty calibrated tensioner, is intended for use alongside the existing gap balancer during total knee replacement surgery in individuals who have suffered from degradation of cartilage in the knee due to arthritis.

Composite LiftWalker for Shurouq

          The picture above shows our final prototype, successfully lifting our team member Daniel Martinez.

The goal of this senior project was to design and build a new version of our project sponsor Charlie Gutierrez’s LiftWalker for Shurouq, our client.

Shurouq is a young woman who lives with her family in Egypt. She was born with multiple health conditions which resulted in leg contractures that have since left her unable to walk.

Charlie’s device, the New LiftWalker, has helped dozens of people with disabilities similar to Shurouq’s. However, Charlie’s standard design is made of stainless steel weighing up to 80 lb, which is both difficult and expensive to send to Egypt. For this reason, Charlie turned to the Mechanical Engineering Department at Cal Poly, challenging us to redesign his LiftWalker out of lightweight composite materials.