Industrial - Bachelors
The Accsis Brush addresses the daily challenges individuals with hand mobility impairments face when caring for their teeth. Designed to reduce wrist strain and improve grip comfort, the Accsis enhances accessibility and empowers users to maintain effective brushing with greater ease and independence.
The number of Australians living with arthritis will escalate to 5.39 million in 2040
Arthritis Australia, Febuary 2024
Oral health and its maintenance plays a vital and direct role in the development of chronic diseases. The consequences of not caring for the teeth, gums and mouth cannot only impact individuals by causing pain but can lead to more dire conditions and diseases later in life. Oral health has a link to diseases such as oral cancers, cardiovascular diseases , adverse outcomes in pregnancy like premature birth , diabetes , Alzheimer’s and even stroke. People who have limited hand mobility and dexterity are at risk of compromised health and wellbeing due to difficulties they may experience when trying to upkeep and maintain their oral health. Current products on the market aren’t proving to be effective in their comfort for users or their removal of plaque.
The findings that emerged though research processes such as surveys (1), interviews (2) and observations (2+) led to some criteria that the design needed to fulfil in order to make an impact for the target users. The main objectives of the brush were; improved ergonomic handle (specified wider and assist with grip through form or material), allow for customisation, assist with correct brushing techniques, help with fatigue and minimise strain.
It boiled on to the need for a toothbrush that users could hold with ease that didn’t lead to pain and allowed them to properly brush their teeth.
The overall target was minimising pain and improving user health through better brushing.
Early concept iterations addressed specific challenges faced by individuals with hand dexterity impairments. Some concepts focused on optimizing grip, experimenting with various handle shapes and materials to create a comfortable hold that minimizes joint strain and the grip strength needed by the user. More deigns further explored how brush heads could help with minimising the difficulty and accuracy needed when completing certain brush manoeuvres.
Initial sketches examined handle shapes and grip textures to promote comfort and stability. These sketches focused on addressing the core needs of users sampled from the surveys and observations of what was lacking in the current market. Sketching helped visualize each feature’s impact on user experience, setting a clear path for prototyping and ensuring every detail was designed with accessibility in mind.
The physical prototyping process involved several iterative stages to refine its usability and comfort. the first few prototypes were of the initial Concepts to gauge their ability to assists users in fostering better hand posture and assist brushing through form. Prototyping used basic materials such as monster clay and foam to test handle shapes, allowing for rapid adjustments to find an optimal ergonomic grip. As designs progressed, 3D prints and silicone and were incorporated into the handle to create a secure, cushioned grip. Each prototype was evaluated to verify that the brush’s design could effectively minimize wrist strain, and to gauge the weight of the product.
Emma is an industrial designer dedicated to advancing accessibility and innovation. With hands-on experience in prop making, rapid prototyping, and model building, Emma combines creativity with a passion for medical engineering and adaptive design. Her work bridges functional design with a strong empathy for user needs.