Turkish pupils develop cutlery to help tremor sufferers

KASTAMONU, Turkey

A group of Turkish students have developed a device they hope will one day help people suffering uncontrollable shaking due to neurological conditions.

The pupils have developed a handle that cancels the effects of hand tremors experienced by people with conditions such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases and stabilizes cutlery.

Ibrahim Yay, 17, who studies at the Anadolu Vocational and Technical High School in Kastamonu, northern Turkey, thought of developing the device to help his uncle who suffers from multiple sclerosis.

With his friend Harun Istenci, 18, he designed a prototype handle that can be fitted to the head of a spoon or fork.

“One of my relatives had trouble using a spoon so we developed this project for him,” Yay told Anadolu Agency.

A sensor inside the device is connected to two motors that keeps the cutlery level and stable regardless of external disruption. The outer body of the handle was made on a 3D printer.

Yay said he and Istenci hoped to improve the design to make it smaller and more ergonomic.

“We will reduce the size of the engine and make a fine design,” he said.

School Principal Orhan Ozin congratulated Yay and Istenci. Their design has been listed for the Fatih Project’s Future Education Contribution Awards.

Reporting by Bilal Kahyaoglu; Writing by Sorwar Alam