Design improvement of an assistive technology apparatus based on QFD and TRIZ

摘要

This paper proposes a systematic study of the mechanical design for obtaining a technical solution of a feeding utensil aimed at people with Parkinson's disease. The need to develop customized products, in the field of assistive technology, creates a segment in engineering for product development with a multidisciplinary approach, involving both technical professionals as those related to health care. In this context, TRIZ and QFD emerge as important tools to aid the design of new products that will meet the requirements of users in a systematic, efficient and, above all, innovative way. Moreover, from an economic standpoint, the use of design methodologies can greatly facilitate the development of cheaper products and, thus, more accessible to people who need them to carry out their daily activities, as in the case of the feeding task of people with Parkinson's disease.