Pen Holder for a Person with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis—DL-11

For (With Whom)

People who have difficulty gripping a pen because amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) leaves their fingers without strength, and who can write but cannot make copies on carbon-copy forms because their writing pressure is weak.

Why

Writing on carbon-copy forms was an important task in the accounting work the user performs. At present it is difficult to digitize everything, so this part needed to be addressed.

How

We began by looking for a ballpoint pen that is easy to use on carbon-copy forms. We then made a pen holder that thickens the grip and had the user try it. Writing became easier, but writing pressure did not improve. A characteristic of the disease is weakness of the intrinsic hand muscles, and we considered that the cause was that a firm support surface had not been created at the index finger. We therefore redesigned it into a shape in which the index finger sits in close contact.

Outcome

Because the user can now grip the ballpoint pen firmly, writing pressure increased and they can write on carbon-copy forms. At the same time, the easier grip has also reduced fatigue.

Materials Used

TPU

Approximate 3D Print Weight

16g

Print Settings Overview

Nozzle diameter = 0.4mm, Layer height = 0.1mm, Infill = 15% (for elasticity), Temp = 220°C, Speed = 30mm/s, Support = None

Accessory Information

Ballpoint pen: Mitsubishi Pencil Jetstream