Discovery and Innovation

College of Nursing and Health Professions

Clara Hartlaub

School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems Biomedical Engineering

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Arun Ramakrishnan Office of Research, Discovery and Innovation School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems

Co-Mentor: Dr. Noel Goodstadt

Portable Adaptable Strength Testing Device: Product design for clinical and commercial applications

Accurate measurement of muscle force output is used by physical therapists and sports coaches to evaluate athletic performance as well as monitor rehabilitation progress after injury. Such measurements were previously only possible with a bulky isokinetic dynamometer that costs over $50k. Researchers at Drexel University have developed a portable isometric muscle strength testing device that functions equally as well at a fraction of the cost. Since securing the patent in 2021, the research team has received numerous requests for use of this device in clinics and research labs. A previous clinical trial using this device revealed some structural weakness in the enclosure causing electronics failure and leading to long delays in the study. This STAR project involved working with clinicians and engineers to improve repairability and structural rigidity of the enclosure and incorporate design elements to make the device more ergonomic and marketable. Using an iterative design process facilitated by CAD and 3D printing, a new enclosure was developed that holds all the electronics components and can be unplugged from the physical load-bearing elements for easy repair, while also providing physical support for the outer enclosure.