He's motivated instead by the memory of his aunt who died two years ago with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a debilitating disease that gradually robs its victims of muscle strength and independence.

"A device like this would allow someone suffering from ALS to lift a quart of milk or a glass of water," Christiano said. "There are devices available now, but they cost too much."

Christiano sponsored the design of the arm-lifting device, which was carried out by undergraduate students in a senior design class taught by mechanical engineering professor Elwyn Roberts. The challenge for the student design team was to develop a prototype that could be adjusted to fit different arm lengths, and light enough and powerful enough to be useful. Their final design met all those requirements.

"The other challenge, of course, is to make it as inexpensively as possible. I think this one was built for about $500. This device would be used for a relatively short time -- it's intended to improve a person's quality of life until they succumb to the disease," Christiano said.

Christiano hopes to refine and streamline the student-designed apparatus, then develop a more user-friendly means for donning the device.

"This won't ever be a commercial success, but that's not the point -- I just want to help those with ALS or with similar diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis," he said.