Suth helps people suffering from Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) get a good night’s sleep.
My role
Qualitative research . Ergonomic and usability study . Concept development . 3D modeling . Prototyping . Wire-framing . Digital App Development . Arduino
The Opportunity
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
RLS is a prevalent chronic neurological disorder with severe mental and physical health consequences.
For people suffering from RLS, getting a good night sleep is not a choice like most, its a chore.
It affects about 1 in 10 million people in USA.
The Solution
Suth is a wearable that goes on your leg. It stimulates your muscles when it detects a tremor. Suth powers itself and provide relief to the wearer.
The accompanying app allows for the control of Suth’s therapy and also collects and gives you information about your sleep quality.
Key Features
All-night long comfortable therapy
Wearable worn near the thighs and hamstrings apply EMS therapy through out the night. The units are designed to work in sync with each other and apply therapy when detecting an RLS tremor.
Complete control of your therapy sessions
Suth app allows you to control every aspect of your therapy. From the intensity of the EMS to the pattern that best suits your need of the hour and night.
Records your sleep sessions
Records and maintains a sleep diary that gives information on your sleep quality and tremor episodes. This allows you to take back control of your sleep with hard facts and also allows sharing and consulting with your sleep therapist, if need be.
Suth Ecosystem
EMS pod
Leg Band
Charging case
Mobile App
Research
Qualitative Interviews
I spoke to few people who suffers from RLS. I listened in on how RLS affects their sleep quality and not to mention their day to day life. This helped me understand and empathize with their daily struggle to fall and stay asleep with this ailment.
Insights
Available treatment methods
User Journey Map
I mapped the journey of how people with RLS prepare for their sleep, the struggle of staying asleep and how they feel the next morning. This would help me figure out what they needed the most out of a therapy and subsequently features of Suth ecosystem.
Literature Research
An interesting article on Parkinson’s caught my attention. The article mentioned the reduction of tremors in legs of Parkinson’s patients after a period of biking exercise.
Interview with Subject Matter Expert
I validated my hypothesis with a sleep therapist with over 20 years of experience treating people with RLS.
“Unfortunately there is no cure for RLS.”
“A device that would stimulate and override sensory systems may help mitigate symptoms.”
- Dr. Robert Hooper, Sleep Medicine Specialist, Mayo Clinic
Tried and Tested
I researched ways to artificially contract and expand muscle and came across EMS. Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is the elicitation of muscle contraction using electric pulses.
I asked Becca and Andy to try an off-the-shelf EMS massager with conductive pads placed on their thighs and hamstrings. I had them test out the massager for a week before they went to sleep. These were their statements.
Becca, RLS for 4 years
Relaxing sensation and fell asleep quickly.
Usually takes me 2 to 3 hours to fall asleep, with therapy it only took me 30 minutes.
Andy, RLS for 6 years
My legs started resting in 20 minutes.
I was in the zone after just 10minutes of the EMS on.
Design
Prototyping and Testing
Paper mock-ups were tested on 23 users to learn how Suth would be worn on the leg and to gain anthropometric data.
Proof is in the Puddin’
A working prototype was developed and coded on an Arduino platform consulting with an engineer.
The prototype consisted of an accelerometer, a gyroscope and batteries connected to EMS system. This was to check and confirm if movement of legs could power up the system.
Mobile App
The accompanying app was designed by laying out the information architecture (IA) and then wireframes. The app was tested out with few users to gain feedback.
Insights from Usability Study
Form Development
Inspiration
Suth was inspired by massage stones, soft forms, slow eroded shapes and the night sky.
