Power Propulsion Attachment for Manual Wheelchairs

手动轮椅的动力推进装置

• 批准号: 6994112
• 负责人: Bart Kylstra
• 金额: $ 9.99万
• 依托单位: DAEDALUS WINGS, INC.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-07-22 至 2006-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6994112
• 关键词: assistive device /technology; bioengineering /biomedical engineering; biomedical device power system; biomedical equipment development; energy source; functional ability; medical rehabilitation related tag

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A power propulsion attachment design concept for manual wheelchairs has been developed that can successfully bridge the gap between manual and power wheelchairs for the majority of users. Manual wheelchair users benefit from the simplicity, reliability, and transportability inherent to these designs. But for all users there are situations where the strength and endurance required is unacceptable and detrimental to their health. At some point this occurs frequently enough that the user is forced to transition to a power wheelchair. While power wheelchairs can liberate the user from their physical limitations there are the disadvantages of high cost, reduced transportability, and the total loss of therapeutic physical exertion. The success of pushrim-controlled power assist devices, the latest entry into this market, have been limited by their high cost, high weight, and difficulty in installing or returning to the original manual configuration. The proposed design replaces one of the front castor assembles and with an efficient and lightweight single motor drive system steered with a manual joystick. The user can easily switch between manual and power wheelchair functionality without having the major disadvantages of either. In Phase I an existing motor, controller, and battery system will be adapted to the prototype steering system. Fundamental stability and maneuverability criteria will be evaluated. In Phase II a custom drive system will be developed and steering refined. Complete functional and user testing will then take place at an established wheelchair test facility. The proposed simple and innovative attachment allows the wheelchair user to switch easily between power and manual propulsion on any manual wheelchair. This inexpensive design allows the user themselves to choose which is appropriate for their current condition and situation they face.

描述（由申请人提供）：已经开发出一种用于手动轮椅的动力推进附件设计概念，可以成功地为大多数用户弥合手动轮椅和电动轮椅之间的差距。 手动轮椅使用者受益于这些设计固有的简单性、可靠性和可运输性。但对于所有用户来说，有些情况下所需的力量和耐力是不可接受的，并且对他们的健康有害。在某些时候，这种情况发生得足够频繁，以至于用户被迫过渡到电动轮椅。虽然电动轮椅可以将使用者从身体限制中解放出来，但其缺点是成本高、可运输性降低以及治疗性体力消耗的完全丧失。 最新进入该市场的推轮控制助力装置的成功受到其高成本、高重量以及难以安装或恢复到原始手动配置的限制。 所提出的设计取代了其中一个前脚轮组件，并采用高效且轻便的单电机驱动系统，通过手动操纵杆进行转向。用户可以轻松地在手动和电动轮椅功能之间切换，而不会出现两者的主要缺点。 在第一阶段，现有的电机、控制器和电池系统将适应原型转向系统。将评估基本稳定性和可操作性标准。在第二阶段，将开发定制驱动系统并改进转向系统。然后，完整的功能和用户测试将在已建立的轮椅测试设施中进行。 所提出的简单而创新的附件允许轮椅使用者在任何手动轮椅上轻松地在动力和手动推进之间切换。这种廉价的设计允许用户自己选择适合他们当前状况和面临的情况的设计。