Medical Device Design Considerations in Special Needs Populations

Medical Device Design Considerations in Special Needs Populations describes the history of assistive technology and medical devices used for individuals with special health care needs. This comprehensive title covers each step of designing a piece of assistive technology or a medical device while keeping the user profile of patients with special needs in mind. Fully supported with case studies of successful devices developed for special needs populations, the book includes content on designing for children with special needs and technology in the classroom. Technologies reviewed include solutions for developmental disability, spinal cord injury, Cerebral Palsy, Stroke, ALS, Epilepsy - VNS, and Arthritis.

Patenting, business models and FDA regulatory compliance are also examined and discussed. Attention is given to the development of technology for both developed and developing countries, and for both high tech/low tech devices. Finally, the content also explores the development of prosthetics and orthotics for rehabilitation.

• Presents the challenges related to product development for a device with a small end-user population
• Provides information on the design of devices for conditions that are not homogeneous in their presentation across populations
• Includes the benefits of multidisciplinary research teams in the development of technologies for populations with multiple special health care needs