The OEC 9900 Elite Mobile C-arm produced by GE Healthcare is a mobile x-ray machine used in hospital operating rooms. The C-arm incorporates a pivoting, rear-wheel steering mechanism to allow the operator to sweep the machine along the length of the operating table. This sweeping motion permits different anatomical areas to be imaged. The existing design employs a single steering handle and is entirely man-powered. As a result, the machine may be difficult for some people to operate. As a leader in the market for mobile C-arms, GE Healthcare strives to continually improve its products, and so identified the opportunity to reduce the steering effort necessary to operate the C-arm.

BYU Capstone Team 17 developed a design concept for the steering subsystem and built a functional prototype to test the design. The final solution proposes two changes to the existing design; one to the rear wheels themselves and a second to the spring in the handle's detent mechanism. The new wheels have a higher tread durometer and a tighter wheel crown to decrease friction at the floor. The new spring has a smaller rate, or spring constant, to lower the force required to unlock the handle. This solution is simple, inexpensive to implement, and reduces the torque by 37%. The final design is a drop-in replacement thus minimizing changes and cost to the C-arm.