Joseph Petsinger Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Engineering Development & Design (EDD) South Elgin High School (SEHS)

1. RICE-Optimized Knee Brace
Ian Saxton
Joseph Petsiger
Jaguar Ramangkoun

2. Problem Statement
• Athletes express a need for a product that assists physical
therapists with the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
process as the primary method of treating the 55% of all athletic
injuries that occur at the knee. These Injuries occur while
participating in their sports during the athletic season.
Doctors and therapists acknowledge the presence of common
knee injuries and the significant morbidity in professional and
recreational athletes. These injuries are a constant and
recurring problem and the hypothetical product previously
mentioned must make it easy for a person to make use of
multiple of the steps of this method simultaneously.

3. Background
• North-Shore-LIJ Orthopaedic Institute states that
runner’s knee makes up 42% of all overuse injuries in
athletes.
• The center for injury research & policy concluded that
55% of all sports injuries occur at the knee.

4. What Exactly is the Problem?
• Patellofemoral Pain (Runner's Knee)
• Patellar Tendonitis (Jumper's Knee)
• Swelling caused by Osteoarthritis
• Muscle & Cartilage Injuries

5. Who Says there is A Problem?
• “Patellar tendinopathy causes
significant morbidity in professional
and recreational athletes.” ---
Rittweger J Institute for Biomedical
Research into Human Movement
and Health
• “Patellar tendinopathy is a common
injury in jumping athletes.” --- Van
der Worp H, Zwerver J, Kuijer PP,
Frings-Dresen MH, van den Akker-
Scheek I. Center for Sports Medicine
--“Patellofemoral pain
syndrome (PFPS) is one of
the most common
problems among physically
active individuals between
the ages of 15 and 30.” ---
DeHaven & Lintner

6. How Prevalent is the Problem?
• “High school athletes account for an estimated 2 million
injuries and 500,000 doctor visits and 30,000
hospitalizations each year.” ---JS Powell, KD Barber
Foss
• “Feretti reports that jumper’s knee represents 28% of all
sport injuries in volleyball.” ---Miroslav Kezunovi
• “Kujala et al reported that 26.4% of athletes with knee
disorder who were treated in outpatient unit have had
jumper's knee.” ---Miroslav Kezunovi

7. Past Solutions
• Freezer-Dependent Ice Packs
• Tape
• Splints and Other Compromising Structures
• Heavy Water-Cooling Systems
• Inferior Knee Braces and Sleeves

9. Proposed Solution
• A therapeutic knee-brace that optimizes each
aspect of the R.I.C.E. recovery process, utilizes
a light, portable, and optional cooling system,
and permits use with the M.E.A.T. process.
Main Focuses
• Patellar Support
• Compression
• Rest (Stress-Relieving Structure)
• Cooling

10. R.I.C.E.
• Sport science has endorsed the RICE method as the most
effective method to deal with ankle and knee sprains, muscle
and tendon pulls or strains, and the bruising that results from
the physical contact of sport.
– Rest
– Ice
– Compression
– Elevation
• “The best treatment often involves a combination of RICE
(rest, ice, compression and elevation), range of motion
(stretching) and strengthening exercises, and joint protection
strategies such as splinting, taping, strapping or bracing.” –
Freeman Spine & Pain Institute

11. Market Research
• Surveys Conducted
– Google Forms
– Survey Monkey
• Survey Takers
– 79% ages 13-17
– 95% used an ice pack
– 31% used a knee
brace
– 57% were athletes

12. Survey Results
• 60% would use a thermo
electric cooler over a
traditional ice pack
• 71% wanted to be able
to be able alternate
temperature
• 61% wanted the brace to
be black

13. Survey Results Cont.
• Other Questions Asked:
– Would you buy a product that helps prevent
unnecessary knee surgeries?
– If you have been injured, how long did it take for
you to recover?
– In what way would a therapeutic knee brace help
you?

14. Survey Results Cont.
• Have you ever found it inconvenient to ice a
certain area of your knee? If so, where?
“Yes, on the side
where you must hold
the pack in place.”
“As long as I'm in a sitting position I
find it quite easy to ice my knee.
Standing however is a slight
problem.”
“The
side of
my knee.”
“The side.”
“On top of my knee.”
“All of it.”“The back of the knee,
it tickles.”
“The tendon
under the knee
cap.”
10 other takers said:
“On top of my
knee.”

16. What’s the Difference?
What is Unique?
• Useful for both
– R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
– M.E.A.T (Movement, Exercise, Analgesic,
Treatment)
• Ability to alternate temperature on the go in a light,
compact, and portable package (no swapping ice
packs!)

17. PROJECT CONSTRUCTION
RICE-Optimized Knee Brace

18. Design Criteria

19. Design Matrices

20. Methods of Construction
• 3D Printing
• Sewing
• Holes and Pins
• Shaving & Forming

21. The Cooler
• Thermoelectric
• Utilizes the Peltier
Effect
• Can be powered by
DC power
(batteries)
• Can be turned on
and off
Cooler of
Choice: TEC1-
12706

22. The Cooler Cont.
• Assuming a 25C
(77F) Room
• -Want to achieve a
2C (35.6F)Surface
• -With a run time of 8
hours
Then we want:
• 3.7 Volts
• 1.5 Amps
Best Battery Candidate:
The kokam Superior Lithium polymer battery
205 series

23. Quick Info About Icing
• Note: With concern towards are choice of 2C and 8
hour run time, our Health Occupations expert Chris Malin
told us that coldness is only good in moderation. The
following problems can occur with too low a temperature,
or too long of an exposure:
– Frostbite
– Promotes fluid build-up
– restricts lymphatic flow
In short, it’s better to alternate
temperatures (on and off) throughout the
day

24. The Battery
(Amps per hour)12Ah ÷ (Amps
required)1.5A = 8 hours
The kokam Superior Lithium polymer battery
205 series
• Light
• Packaged circuitry that protects wear &
tear
• Size is manageable

25. TESTING DATA
RICE-Optimized Knee Brace

26. Stress Analysis
1000 ft-lbs
Each Side

27. Specifications
• Source of coldness needs to
be removable/Adjustable
• Exterior color must be black
• Temperature of cooling
surface must be above 0C
(to prevent frostbite)
• Brace structure must be
adjustable to 45
• Must support the patella
• TE Cooler can be
switched off with
SPDT switch
• Black
• TE Cooler cools to
2C
• Brace Structure is
adjustable to 80
• Supports the Patella

28. Cooler Testing Summary
• Faulty Components were provided
• Cooler would not activate when supplied with
appropriate power
• Differences in resistance proved inconsistency and
inoperability
• Existing spec sheets , experiments, and calculations
prove that a functional cooler will perform as
predicted

29. Who’s Going to Want It?
• Primary
Stakeholders
• Users
• -Athletes ages 11 - 30
• -Osteoarthritis patients
• Buyers
• -Athletes ages 15 - 30
• -Parents of athletes ages 11 -
17
• -Physical therapy clinics
• -Osteoarthritis patients
Sellers
-Physical therapy clinics
-Online athletic gear websites
Manufacturers
-Edgewater Products Co. -
Chicago, IL
-Dunham Rubber and Belting
Corp. - Indianapolis, IN
-Abbott Rubber Company Inc.
- Elk Grove Village, IL

30. Collaborators
Mary Lyons
President-Elect
Midwest Pain Society
Chris Malin
Health Occupations
South Elgin High School
Scott Zitnik
AP Physics
South Elgin High School

31. Questions?

32. Thank You For
Listening!

33. The Peltier Effect
• The cooling of one junction and the heating of the other
when electric current is maintained in a circuit of material
consisting of two dissimilar conductors; the effect is even
stronger in circuits containing dissimilar semiconductors.
In a circuit consisting of a battery joined by two pieces of
copper wire to a length of bismuth wire, a temperature
rise occurs at the junction where the current passes from
copper to bismuth, and a temperature drop occurs at the
junction where the current passes from bismuth to
copper.
Back to “Cooler”

34. Lymphatic Flow
• The primary function of the lymphatic
system is to transport lymph, a clear,
colorless fluid containing white blood cells
that helps rid the body of toxins, waste and
other unwanted materials.
Back to “Quick Info About Icing”

36. M.E.A.T
• MEAT stands for movement, exercise, analgesics and
treatment. While immobility is detrimental to soft tissue
healing, movement is beneficial because it improves blood
flow to the injured area, removing debris. One of the effects
of movement is the generation of heat, which increases blood
flow. This is why the application of heat is also recommended
for ligament and tendon injuries.
• Difference between RICE and MEAT?
– RICE – Muscles and Cartilage
– MEAT – Tendons and Ligaments
Back to
“Proposed
Solution”