The Development of Adjustable Leg Supports for Trauma Patients; Ethnic Stereotypes & Health Disparities in Hypertension & Diabetes Diagnosis/Treatment

My technical project and STS research paper both explore inequities in healthcare by examining how different patient populations with specific needs are often overlooked in standard medical practices. While my STS research paper investigates how ethnic stereotypes influence diagnosis and treatment for Black and Hispanic patients, my technical project focuses on improving mobility equipment for patients of size or who may be unable to bend their legs. Together, these works highlight the importance of designing healthcare systems and tools that are responsive to the diverse needs of real-world patients.

For my technical project I was focused on redesigning the leg supports for a sit-to-stand device, known as the Sara Stedy Lift, to improve the usability and inclusivity of the device. The Sara Stedy Lift is a widely used mobility aid that is designed to promote safe transfers for patients with limited lower body strength. The current design fails to accommodate individuals who may have leg injuries or any kind of brace. This limits the device’s usefulness and increases reliance on labor intensive manual transfers. As a result, this leads to risk of injury for the patient and the caretaker when performing these transfers. In some cases, the device is deemed unusable and patients are transferred via wheelchair instead. This results in a lack of early mobility for the patient and in an increased risk of complications such as blood clots. My team aimed to design and prototype adjustable leg support modifications for the Sara Stedy Lift that would allow patients with an immobilized leg to still use the device safely and comfortably. The redesigned system features independently adjustable leg supports with lateral swing away allowing for patients to comfortably rest one leg while the other is supported. We used computer-aided design (CAD) software to create the new supports as well as run stress simulations to ensure the device would be able to support a 400 lb load. In addition, we also designed a radiotranslucent bar to replace the current model’s pull up bar that cannot be used when taking pelvic radiographs. The final Sara Stedy Lift prototype was tested in simulated hospital scenarios using weights and different technical project team members to evaluate stability and ergonomic impact. Our results demonstrated that the modified leg supports did not interfere with transfer mechanics and were able to bear the proposed load. However, the component of which the modified leg supports attached to the Sara Stedy Lift fractured. Future research would focus on strengthening the failed component and manufacturing of the radiotranslucent pull up bar.

My STS research paper utilized an STS framework, particularly intersectionality and infrastructure studies, to examine how ethnic stereotypes and systemic inequities influence the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension and diabetes in Black and Hispanic patients within the U.S. healthcare system. Despite advances in medical technology, studies show that these communities continue to experience disproportionately poor outcomes in managing chronic conditions such as diabetes. My analysis explores how historically embedded biases in medical research, combined with unequal access to healthcare infrastructure and lack of diverse clinical research, contribute to disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and health outcomes. These systemic issues are particularly evident in the case of diabetes, which affects Black and Hispanic populations at nearly twice the rate of White Americans. My results highlighted that due to limited access to diagnostic testing and inadequate care, these groups face disproportionately higher risks of severe complications, such as kidney failure and retinopathy. In addition, my findings also emphasized how experiences of racism and language barriers further undermine care. My paper draws on data from scholarly meta-analyses, news interviews, and secondary accounts to demonstrate that these health inequities are deeply rooted in the social and structural fabric of medicine. It argues that to reduce disparities, we must not only reform medical technologies and care systems but also confront the historical and institutional biases that shape healthcare. By highlighting the lived experiences of marginalized patients, this work calls for more inclusive research, culturally competent care, and policy changes that address the root causes of health inequities.

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Technical Advisor: Leslie Wood, Timothy Allen

STS Advisor: Karina Rider

Technical Team Members: Tyler Jones