Ergonomic Explorer Grip
Role:
Project Coordinator
Industry:
Medical Devices
Problem
The standard dental explorer was designed using outdated anthropometric assumptions that represent a narrow subset of users. As the dental workforce has diversified, this mismatch has contributed to chronic pain, musculoskeletal strain, and reduced career longevity across dentists, hygienists, and assistants. Existing tools offer little ergonomic adaptability, forcing practitioners to physically compensate during precision work.
Approach
Reviewed literature and competitive products to identify instruments most strongly associated with chronic pain and strain
Synthesized prior lab research and interviews to evaluate feasible redesign paths
Narrowed scope from full instrument redesign to an attachable grip system to reduce regulatory barriers and increase adoption
Used sketching and early prototyping to explore grip geometry, adjustability, and accommodation of different hand sizes
Execution
I coordinated work across subteams while contributing directly to prototyping and iteration. Through rapid prototyping and user feedback, the team progressed from exploratory concepts to mid-fidelity, CAD-modeled grip designs.
Built low-fidelity prototypes with adjustable sizing, removable grips, and textured surfaces
Conducted interviews with dentists and dental assistants and integrated feedback into design iterations
Modeled mid-fidelity grips in SOLIDWORKS across multiple form categories
Iterated designs to support multiple grip styles, 360° rotation, and dual-ended tool use
Impact
Developed an ergonomic grip system designed to accommodate a broad range of hand sizes and grip styles
Converged multiple prototype directions into a single attachable grip concept optimized for precision work
Enabled broader adoption by avoiding full medical-device reclassification through modular design
Presented research and prototypes at the NEC HFES 2025 Student Conference
Established a clear pathway to high-fidelity prototyping informed by materials testing and pressure-sensing data
