Cup-nication: Making Drinks Easier to Drink—DL-03

For (With Whom)

People with physical disabilities, such as those with ALS, who drink with assistance; and caregivers who often use a syringe to draw up medication or blended meals for gastrostomy or tube feeding.

Why

Developed at a food makeathon, an online self-help device creation event hosted by the NPO Slow Label. It responds to requests from a person with ALS and their supporters (need-knowers): 1. Currently they drink with assistance using a commercially available cup, but the timing of pouring is difficult, so they want a cup shaped to be easy to drink from and easy to help someone drink from. 2. They also want the cup to serve as a temporary container for medication or blended meals, shaped so that it can be drawn up completely with a syringe without tilting the cup.

How

Developed by several small teams made up of people who use the device, caregivers, occupational therapists, and designers who took part in the event. Specifically: 1. Monitor and interview the need-knower about their actual situation online. 2. Based on this, all members brainstormed ideas and created design sketches of the cup. 3. Design a prototype in 3D CAD. 4. Make a prototype using a food-safe plastic material and a 3D printer. 5. Monitor the prototype. 6. Improve. Steps 3 to 6 were repeated 3 to 4 times to refine it.

Outcome

1. By devising the shape of the rim, the drink is less likely to spill from the side of the drinker's mouth, and the cup is less likely to hit the nose. 2. The inverted cone shape of the cup lets the person finish the drink without raising the chin very far. Also, because the cup is translucent, the caregiver can easily see the surface of the drink, making it easier to control how much to tilt the cup. 3. The handle position can be changed, making it easier for caregivers to use. 4. The bottom of the cup is mortar-shaped with a recess only at the center, so the contents can be drawn up completely with a syringe without tilting the cup. 5. Graduations were added every 50cc for measuring.

Materials Used

Cup body: PP (food-contact grade, HEP) Handle: PETG (food-contact grade, Nefilatek)

Approximate 3D Print Weight

62g

Print Settings Overview

Cup body: Nozzle diameter = 0.4mm, Layer height = 0.15mm, Infill = 20%, Temp = 220°C, Speed = 40mm/s, Supports = none Handle: Nozzle diameter = 0.4mm, Layer height = 0.2mm, Infill = 20%, Temp = 205°C, Speed = 50mm/s, Supports = none

Accessory Information

None