Innovation Challenge
As part of 3-person team, LifeAlign, in the Innovation Challenge, I contributed to designing a wheelchair adaptation aimed at reducing the time and effort required to position patients for emergency care. Our team conducted extensive user needs analysis, competitive benchmarking, risk assessments (DFMEA & UFMEA), and prototype testing to develop a functional headrest and footrest attachment. I specifically led the testing and validation phase, ensuring regulatory compliance and optimizing design feasibility.
Most of all, I learned by doing—engaging in hands-on prototyping, testing, and troubleshooting. Instead of just working on theoretical designs, I physically assembled components, identified design flaws through real-world testing, and iterated based on performance data. This direct experience deepened my understanding of human factors, mechanical design, and regulatory considerations in medical devices.
This project reinforced my passion for medical device design and accessibility, solidifying my interest in human-centered engineering solutions. It also strengthened my problem-solving skills and adaptability, while giving me increased confidence in my engineering abilities through hands-on learning. This experience has prepared me for future roles in biomedical engineering and product development.
This image shows the final design of the team LifeAlign prototype, a wheelchair adaptation that allows for faster and safer patient positioning in emergency situations. The design features a collapsible headrest attachment that secures to the wheelchair frame. The attachment points were optimized to ensure stability, durability, and ease of use, while maintaining compatibility with standard manual wheelchairs. The system incorporates adjustable telescoping rods for adaptability across different wheelchair sizes, and a reinforced hinge mechanism to support the weight of the patient during the transition. The goal was to create a lightweight, non-intrusive solution that could be deployed quickly in emergency settings.
I chose this image because it represents the culmination of hands-on problem-solving and iteration throughout the project. Instead of just working with concepts on paper, I was actively involved in building, testing, and refining the design. Throughout the process, I learned that engineering is messy—things don’t always work the way you expect, and adjustments are constantly needed. From troubleshooting attachment points to testing stability, each iteration taught me something new about design feasibility, user needs, and real-world constraints. Seeing this prototype come together reinforced my confidence in taking an idea from concept to reality, and it solidified my interest in medical device development.