The document describes the development of a low-cost wearable device called the DESC glove for upper limb amputees. The glove has two main parts - a sensorized glove that detects when objects are grasped, and an arm cuff that provides tactile feedback to the user. It is small, lightweight, low power, and cheap. The document outlines the market need for such a device, provides details on its design and functionality, and presents a business plan for testing, manufacturing, distributing and improving the DESC glove.
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TEAM C Final
1. The DESC glove!
!
the device amputees are asking for since powered
prostheses!
!
!
Team C!
Francesco Clemente!
Marco D’Alonzo!
Alessandro Gemignani!
Federico Montagnani!
Rossella Sassu!
Pierluigi Smaldone!
2. The upper limb loss!
94,000 upper limb amputees in EU
(Banzi, 2005; UK Prosthetics Services, 2006)!
~4000 traumatic new upper limb amputations per year
in EU (700 in Italy)
(La Plante, 1996)!
Congenital upper limb deficiency incidence of
approximately 4.1 per 10,000 live births
(La Plante, 1996)!
!
The DESC glove!
6. The goal is to develop a low cost
wearable device for upper limb
amputees!
The device has to provide tactile
information to the user when using
his own prosthetic device in a
non-invasive way!
Filling the gap!
The DESC glove!
7. The DESC glove!
Two main parts:!
• The sensorized glove includes
thin-film sensors in order to
detect when objects are grasped!
• The arm cuff is aimed to provide
sensory feedback to the user. !
The device is small, low weight, low
power consumption, cheap and
it works: already tested by two
upper limb amputees!!
The DESC glove!
8. Core team:
- Engineers and physicists with
expertise in prosthetics
- Economists!
!
Partners involved in R&D:
- Orthotists and therapists
- End user!
Team and partners!
The DESC glove!
9. Gantt: from the prototype to the product!
M3
R
&
D
Patent
(Italy)
M4
Website/brochures
M6
Sold
100
pieces
CerCficaCons
(CE..)
R
&
D
Searching
for
partnerships
M8
Start
retail
Y2
The DESC glove!
Y3
Sold
200
pieces
10. Patenting and certifications!
CE
cerCficaCon
• Non
invasive,
acCve
device
(class
IIa):
2500
€
• Conformance
tesCng
-‐>
product
modificaCon
• CerCficaCon
procedures
for
other
countries
(North
America)
PatenCng
• Italian
patent
(1st
year):
2500-‐5000
€
• Patent
CooperaCon
Treaty
PCT
(2nd
year):
5000-‐
8000
€
• SelecCon
of
countries
(3rd,
4th
year):
~4000
€
for
each
country,
European
patent
The DESC glove!
11. Manufacturing and R&D!
Manufacturing:
All
the
parts
will
be
purchased
and
then
assembled
in
our
laboratory
!
Cost of one
DESC glove
100€
R&D
(The
glove):
• Materials
• CosmeCcs
• Ergonomics
Reverse
engineering:
Producing
a
glove
that
can
fit
perfectly
the
hand
and
have
a
natural
aspect
starCng
from
the
shape
of
the
user
hand.
What we need!
Costs (€)!
3+5 months / 2 people! 40000!
CAD software! 5000!
3D scanner! 20000 (possibility of
renting)!
The DESC glove!
12. Distribution!
On line distribution
• Dedicate web site: 2500 €
• On line promotions: 1500 €
Promotion and distribution in orthopedic centers and
amputees associations
• Meetings with orthopedic technicians in strategic orthopedic centers: 1000 €
• Meetings with the end users in amputees associations: 1000 €
The DESC glove!
13. Summarizing costs!
Area! Costs (€)!
cerCficaCons
2500
patenCng
2500
manufacturing
20000
R&D
80000
distribuCon
7000
total
112000
300 expected DESC glove sold at 400 €/unit in two years of activity
can fully cover initial investment (35% after the first year)
The DESC glove!
14. Future actions!
DistribuCon
• Expand
the
market
abroad
(US,
Europe)
• Patents
and
cerCficaCons
• PromoCon
R
&
D
• The
DESC
glove
targets
a
new
paCent
category:
people
with
poor
hand
sensi0vity.
In
EU:
• 239000
subjects
suffered
from
Spinal
Cord
Injury
• 7500
new
cases
every
year
(Acute
Care
and
Primary
RehabilitaCon
2007
Report)
• EvaluaCon
of
several
modaliCes
of
sCmulaCon
and
sensing
technologies
The DESC glove!