Improvisation of Finite element analysis for designing an After Fall Assistive Device for the Elderly Patients

Abstract

Falling on the ground can cause serious injuries such as bruises, broken bones, head injuries, etc. Annually 684,000 individuals die globally from falling on the ground. There are more than 37 million fall injuries that requires medical care each year. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) anticipates seven fall deaths every hour by 2030. In Saudi Arabia, falls are the 6 th major cause of death, and the 7 th major cause of living with a disability. Furthermore, falling on the ground becomes a risk factor with age, obesity, and presence of balance affecting diseases due to fact that individuals have difficulty getting up after a fall, and the majority of them stay on the ground for more than an hour. As a result, the risk of multiple injuries, dehydration, pressure ulcers, rhabdomyolysis, hypothermia, and pneumonia increase. This study aims to design and analyze a device that can assist individuals, especially seniors, at risk to rise up after a fall on the ground with no external help from others. The design of the device was modelled using SolidWorks 2017 (Dassault Systems, Waltham, MA, US). Also, finite element analysis (FEA) was performed to study von Mises stresses and total deformation on the model. FEA results showed that the device could withstand to lift an overweight individual from the ground without reaching the maximum failure stress of a conventional material such as aluminum.