Abstract
| Grant Number: | 5R43HD044271-02 |
| Project Title: | A Manual Standup Wheelchair |
Abstract: DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Current conventional manual standup wheelchairs have serious drawbacks: propulsion requires suboptimal arm ergonomics, they are biomechanically inefficient, and they only allow manual mobility in a sitting position. We propose the development of a manual wheelchair that will allow the user to be manually mobile in a sitting position, a standing position, or any intermediate position. The functional benefits of such a wheelchair are obvious since the user will have a greatly increased reach and functional workspace. Such a wheelchair will also have a number of physiologic benefits and, perhaps most importantly, a significant psychological benefit. Additionally, since the chair is manually propelled in both sitting and standing positions, the user will retain the cardio-vascular benefits of manual propulsion. The manual standing wheelchair is based on a simple, strong, and lightweight four-bar linkage system that uses the armrests as lever inputs for a ratchet mechanism that erects the chair to a standing position. Anti-tip wheels lower automatically to extend the wheelbase and allow safe operation of the chair while erect. The wheelchair will use a lever drive that will allow better ergonomics and more efficient propulsion. To accomplish our objectives we have assembled an experienced multi-disciplinary team that includes expertise in machine design, mechanism design and testing, biological and mechanical testing of wheelchairs, the prescription of wheelchairs and wheelchair seating, and rehabilitation medicine.
Thesaurus Terms:
assistive device /technology, functional ability, technology /technique development
person with disability, spinal cord injury
behavioral /social science research tag, clinical research, human subject, medical rehabilitation related tag
| Institution: | GREEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC. |
| 13387 GREEN RD |
| WEST FORK, AR 727749377 |
| Fiscal Year: | 2006 |
| Department: | |
| Project Start: | 15-APR-2005 |
| Project End: | 31-MAR-2008 |
| ICD: | NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT |
| IRG: | ZRG1 |
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