Rehabilitation engineering as the crow flies. Part IV--Criteria and constraints

When engineers function in a biomechanics clinic team, collecting information for the definition and solution of problems, and developing solutions in a logical pattern, then establishment of criteria by which to judge actions and results at various stages are essential. In our procedures, we make the most general statement we can which will indicate the goal we have for the patient or the type of patient being considered. Based on this, we proceed with a breakdown of the goal into increasingly explicit statements keeping the objective in focus. Eventually, with the criteria we need in order to decide "yes or no" to any aspect of the solution developing, we consider the constraints. These we see as imposed by the life-requirements of the patient, the effects of the physical environment, the limitations imposed by the social environment, and the limits of available technology including the skills of the designers, the manufacturing capabilities and the distribution system with which the designers must cope. When a "checklist" of requirements and limits has been established, the "critical eye" watches over the rehabilitation engineer as he in effect watches over himself!