A toileting solution for female electric powered wheelchair users

Abstract

This IPD (Integrated Product Design) master thesis describes the development of the LooWee. The LooWee was developed in collaboration an electric wheelchair user in search for a new toileting solution for female wheelchair users. The goal of this thesis was the further research the idea and design a new toileting solution that could replace the available tools. Currently, adult diapers or a catheter are the only options, but these are medically unnecessary. The two main issues with these tools are discomfort and capacity. They are either painful or won’t last the whole day. Limiting the user’s mobility and having a negative effect on their quality of life. Based on previous prototypes and the client experience, this thesis focussed on finding the most suitable design direction. Incorporating a tool into the wheelchair seat would fit most in the given context. However, it came with multiple challenges. The client sits on an orthosis and making alterations can influence the performance of the seat. Which was a problem that occurred in the previous prototype. Therefore the chosen concept focused on incorporating a urination tool without making large changes to the orthosis. Figure 1 shows only one small change is made to the bottom layer of the seat. Which is the ergonomic shape of the seat, which determines its performance. The embodiment of the chosen concept focussed on comfort and functionality. The different aspects of the concept were further researched. Prototyping and material testing were used to detail the design. In the end, all the results were gathered into the final design, as it is shown in Figure 1. The LooWee can be added to a Lewis orthosis. This seat has a tilted orientation, which is used by the LooWee to drain the urine to the back of the seat. A silicone product is sunken into the seat, to keep it leveled with the top of the seat. A curved shape sticks out from the seat surface with the opening. This curve will form to the user’s body and capture the urine directly at the source. Urination through the opening will help control the unpredictable female urine stream and prevent spilling. A toplayer will cover the silicone part, for comfort (mask the feeling of sitting on an opening) and to prevent sweat. The drained urine is stored at the back of the wheel, provides enough room to store the urine of a whole day. The embodied design was validated with a comfort and functionality test.