Affordable 3D-printing technology may improve fabrication and accessibility of orthoses for individuals with impaired movement. The goal of my research is to leverage 3D-printing to improve the design of wrist-driven orthoses (WDOs) for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Specifically, I have sought to improve comfort, aesthetics, and ease-of-use of WDOs while reducing fabrication time and increasing customizability using 3D-printing. WDOs are used by individuals who can move their wrist but have little to no mobility in their fingers. Through wrist flexion and extension, this device assists in opening and closing the hand. Unfortunately, current WDOs are laborious to fabricate, uncomfortable, and have poor aesthetics. The potential of 3D-printing for orthosis fabrication was evaluated with a group of orthotists. I modeled the 3D-printed WDO using computer-aided design software and asked orthotists to assemble and rate the device and provide feedback. The average assembly time decreased from 12+ hours for traditional metal WDOs to 1.5 hours and the device received average scores of 6.6, 6.6, and 7.6 on a scale of 1-10 (1 = poor, 10 = great) for function, aesthetics, and comfort, respectively. Based upon the orthotists’ feedback, I implemented design improvements and created a fatigue tester to ensure the device’s safety for extended use. The next round of testing focused on getting feedback from individuals who have had an SCI. The device enabled participants to achieve a three-jaw chuck grasp, which they could not achieve without it, improved performance in functional tasks, and was lighter than traditional devices. The device received average scores of 6.8, 6.5, and 8 for function, aesthetics, and comfort, respectively. Participants’ feedback was used to further improve the design. Upon finalizing the device design, fabrication method, and assembly manual, editable CAD models of the WDO design will be released for open-source development and use.

Individuals with impaired finger function are commonly prescribed a wrist-driven orthosis which utilizes wrist movement to open and close the fingers. However, if the individual has weak wrist extensors and flexors in addition to weak fingers, this device becomes obsolete. While multiple prosthetic devices are available to amputees, options for orthotic devices are limited. The purpose of this research is to adapt elements of successful upper limb prostheses into an open-source orthosis made with 3D printed and off the shelf materials for an individual with unilaterally impaired hand and wrist function. We continue to draw inspiration from body-powered prostheses, where the motion of other joints, such as rotation of the elbow, is used to control artificial hand motion. Gaining hand motion through the use of this device will allow users to perform daily tasks independently and with improved performance. We first created a series of prototypes to identify task specific designs. An optimal design will utilize elbow or shoulder movement to operate a low-profile hook positioned under the palm while also stabilizing the wrist and fingers which are flaccid. Input from practitioners aided in optimizing the design and process. In order to augment design acceptance, our research included user testing and feedback. Once a design was finalized, we resized the device to fit our participant. The participant then went through a series of hand functional tests which compared their ability to complete an assortment of tasks, such as lifting and moving small blocks, with and without the device. These results as well as user feedback assisted in further improvements to the overall design of the device. After completing our design, the orthosis was made open-source to make it both accessible and low-cost, while allowing users and makers to further improve upon the device.

Ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) are commonly prescribed to improve gait in individuals with cerebral palsy to stabilize gait. AFOs have also shown additional benefits in reducing the metabolic cost of walking, preventing bone deformities, and providing support during gait. The advent of the affordable 3D-printer has provided a new tool in the manufacturing of AFOs which may be able to overcome many limitations of current production methods. The purpose of this study is to improve the manufacturability and functionality of AFOs by improving AFO design and manufacturing techniques. Validation testing through the use of material testing, and multiple subject gait experiments verified the study’s results. The subjects’ lower leg was scanned with a portable 3D scanner and using this scan the AFO was form fitted to the unique shape of the subject’s foot. Parametric and non-parametric computer aided design tools were used to design the AFOs. Using a fused deposition modeling 3D printer the AFOs were fabricated using polylactide (PLA) filament. In order to adjust the stiffness of the AFO, elastic polymer bands were fabricated with polyurethane. Since a single elastic polymer band only allows for one specific AFO stiffness, multiple of elastic polymer bands might be need to be used to control the wide range of AFO stiffness. To solve this issue, the AFO was designed to have a support structure that allows for the moment arm of the elastic polymer bands to be changed, thereby adjusting to a wide range of AFO stiffness with minimum number of elastic polymer bands. Designing an open-source, 3D-printed AFO that helps rehabilitate the user could allow for low-cost, easily accessible rehabilitation devices to be common place.

Understanding the sources and salience of gender stereotypes in society is of huge interest to social scientists as well as the broader public.  Indeed, a large body of research has been devoted to examining gender stereotypes represented in different forms of media particularly digital and print media.  A burgeoning body of research has begun to examine gender stereotypes in video games.  There are 155 million Americans who play video games and four out of five U.S. households own a device used to play video games.  Therefore, gender stereotypes portrayed in video games may be an important way in which people understand gender.  In this research project, I examine trends of female gender stereotypes in both actions and appearances in top rated PC and console games from 1996 to 2015.  I use data from a video game review aggregation website to find the top ten rated games of each year and randomly select four from each year.  I code each game on the stereotypes shown through the actions and appearances of the female characters to determine the overall trends in gender portrayals throughout the years.  This study will help us to understand how women are represented in a wide-reaching media outlet and whether video game companies are displaying more, less, or the same amount of stereotypes in their games over the years.

In the 1990’s, Washington State led the nation in adopting unprecedented punitive legislation, which fundamentally altered the punishment of sex offenses. Due to this history, certain subsets of the sex offense population have indeterminate sentences and could potentially be held for life; this system exists in direct contrast to the overall sentencing system in Washington State, which mandates fixed sentences for all other crimes. The motivations and effects of this divergent sentencing standard have not been fully addressed and deserve careful scrutiny. Furthermore, these policies hold significant consequences for the overall prison population as twenty percent of those currently incarcerated in Washington State were convicted for sex crimes. This project will investigate the legislative and sentencing changes regarding Washington State sex offenses in the last forty years. Through evaluations of historic Washington State criminal codes, I document how legislation regarding sex offenses has intensified since the 1980’s, specifically examining rape crimes. Utilizing Washington State sentencing data, I will demonstrate recent trends in the sentencing of sex offenses and evaluate how the sentences for this population have changed between 1986 and 2013. I will also interview local elected officials, affiliates, and attorneys involved in the sentencing of sex offenses to gain a qualitative perspective on this issue. In evaluating the human consequences of this sentencing model, I argue that we need to reevaluate the structure, motivation, and treatment of sex offenses in Washington State today.