Rubber Spring for Chopsticks —DL-08

For (With Whom)

People with paralysis of the hand, or reduced dexterity (difficulty with fine work) People with reduced fingertip sensation

Why

The user had mild paralysis of the dominant hand and reduced dexterity due to vascular dementia. As a result, the hand slipped during meals and the user often dropped the chopsticks. The family living with the user asked for help to find some way to deal with this.

How

First, we visited the user's home and checked the user's physical condition. The user was using ordinary chopsticks that many people use daily, but the mobility of the fingertips (mainly the DIP and PIP joints) was poor, and the chopsticks were used with the gap between the left and right sticks unchanged. The user could manage the closing motion somehow, but opening required considerable effort. Side dishes and the like were speared with the chopstick tips and carried to the mouth. We therefore judged that a structure that makes the chopsticks easy to open when held was needed, and decided to fit a rubber spring for chopsticks between the sticks.

Outcome

At first, the user was particular about regular chopsticks and resisted the device, but gradually came to recognize how easy it is to use and has continued to eat with chopsticks. Eating with chopsticks lets the user enjoy preferred foods such as noodles and fish, which helps maintain quality of life (QOL). Also, since hand slipping and dropped chopsticks have decreased, the relationship with the family living with the user has improved.

Materials Used

Main body: TPU

Approximate 3D Print Weight

4g

Print Settings Overview

Main body, sides: Nozzle diameter = 0.4mm , Layer height = 0.2mm, Infill = 20% , Temp = 215°C , Speed = 60mm/s, Support = None

Accessory Information

Chopsticks (width 7mm)