Overview

Project

At the request of a practicing therapist, this project will aim to design an improved, wireless version of a TheraTapper, a device used in EMDR therapy.

Background

What is EMDR Therapy?

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is most often used for processing traumatic memories. It involves the patient revisiting a distressing memory while a stimulus is simultaneously introduced. The type of stimulus varies from audible to physical, but the important part of it is bilateral stimulation, a practice of alternately stimulating the left and right sides of the brain. When a person revisits a trauma, the logical part of the brain shuts down and lets the emotional part spiral into distress. The added stimulation from EMDR keeps the logical brain from doing that shut-down and keeps it engaged, allowing room to actually process the memory.

A Therapist’s Request

Lisa Jellison, LCSW, is a practicing therapist in Northern California. She offers EMDR and she uses a device called a TheraTapper to provide the necessary stimulus. It consists of a control box and two handheld paddles. When activated, the paddles vibrate depending on the settings of the control box. There are three dials for adjusting the settings labeled as: length, intensity, and pause. The purpose of modifying the vibration pattern is to prevent the brain from getting accustomed to the sensation and tuning it out. 

Lisa is happy with the TheraTapper, but there is one aspect that she doesn't like which is that the cord between her and the patient is awkwardly short. So, she asked if it was possible to make a wireless version. 

Plan

The final deliverable will consist of two main parts: a control module and the handheld components. The latter may have a wired connection between the two components, but the connection to the control module will be wireless.

The timeline is roughly as follows:

• Weeks 1-2

  • Research and prototyping

• Weeks 3-4

  • Electronics prototyping

• Weeks 5-7

  • CAD

• Weeks 8-10

  • Testing and overflow time

• Week 11

  • Mail to Lisa Jellison for testing

• Weeks 12-13

  • Adjustments from UX feedback

  • Documentation

• Week 14

  • Deliver final product

• Weeks 15-16

  • Finish documentation