Innovative Design of Crutches for the Elderly Based on TRIZ and KANO Integrated Model

Abstract

To improve the age-appropriateness and functionality of crutches for the elderly and enhance user satisfaction, an integrated model based on TRIZ and KANO model is constructed to optimize the crutches. Through the technology maturity forecasting module based on the patent analysis in TRIZ, patent search and analysis can be conducted by means of SooPat so that the life cycle and the invention direction of the product can be determined. Based on the KANO model, a Si-Di four-quadrant diagram can be obtained. The obtained user requirements can be divided into four categories, which are must- be requirements, one-dimensional requirements, attractive requirements, and indifferent requirements. Using a Likert scale, we rated all one-dimensional requirements and attractive requirements, calculated the average score of each requirement, and obtained the ranking of the requirements according to their importance. The results show that the TRIZ and KANO integrated model can optimize the existing crutches for the elderly and provide better guidance for the innovative design of crutches for the elderly.