In STEM 2, we build an assistive technology device in groups to help a client. In my group, Parnitha Karapakula (Chief Executive Officer), Saara Patel (Chief Information Officer), Adrika Moulik (Chief Manufacturing Officer), and I (Chief Technical Officer), worked on creating a vibration compression sleeve for a client who experienced numbness in their arm. Read below to learn more about our project!
Around 20% of children and adolescents experience hemovisualization-related psychogenic paresthesia (Bhatia, 2015). This disease can cause mobility issues due to numbness in certain body parts. Patients who experience numbness in their arms mention how they struggle to write and feel pain in the palm of their hand. This causes clients to fall behind on work and lose concentration. Current methods to treat this numbness include fist clenching and applying pressure to increase blood circulation. These methods, though effective, require more client effort and are more time-consuming. Studies have demonstrated how compression can help individuals regain function in their body parts after experiencing numbness (Cleveland Clinic, 2025). Through compression, inflammation can be reduced, leading to blood circulation restoration. Therefore, our device aims to effectively reduce numbness due to hemovisualization-related psychogenic paresthesia through a compression therapy device.
In order to aid our client, our group proposes building a compression
sleeve-style device to apply pressure in waves. The purpose is to help return
blood circulation to the arm and return movement for the client, speeding up the
recovery process after an episode. The three design concepts include: a vibration
therapy compression sleeve, a vibration therapy targeting nerves bracelet, and a
step-motor-driven compression sleeve.
Vibration Compression Sleeve:
This concept will utilize vibration therapy to increase blood circulation in
the client's arm. Through bursts of vibration in intervals of 10-15 seconds, this
device will reduce the numbness in the arm by improving circulation, thus relieving
the client of the tingling or discomforting sensation. In our prototype, vibration
motors are placed at anatomically strategic points in the sleeve (which is constructed
with a lightweight, breathable, and non-irritating material), such as the extensor muscles,
palm, and radial artery.
Targeted Nerve Vibration Bracelet:
This design concept utilizes vibration stimulation targeted at the superficial
radial nerve. Using a vibration motor embedded into a thin wristband sleeve, the device
will allow for vibration located specifically at the superficial radial nerve.
Stimulation targeted at the superficial radial nerve has been shown to help reverse
vasoconstriction. The thin wristband sleeve will be made of a breathable material
and will be effective in hiding the internal device components.
Step-Motor-Driven Compression Sleeve:
This design utilizes a step motor to contract the width of the compression sleeve,
making it smaller and more compressive in intervals. This will allow pressure
to be applied to stimulate blood flow and return feeling to the client.
The step motor will turn for 15 seconds, wrapping the elastic portion of the
sleeve onto itself. This will reduce the size of the sleeve and consequently apply
pressure. Then, it will spin the other way, to release for 15 seconds. This process
repeats for about 15 minutes, the duration of the client's episode.
After evaluating the three design concepts, we decided to move forward with the vibration compression sleeve. This design was the most effective in relieving numbness in our client and was also the most comfortable and user-friendly. The vibration compression sleeve is more comfortable than the step-motor-driven compression sleeve, and the vibration compression sleeve targets the whole arm, while the targeted nerve vibration bracelet only targets one area.
Not able to view the PDF? Check out my Assistive Technology poster here!