Lever Propulsion Attachment for Pushrim Wheelchairs

用于推轮轮椅的杠杆推进附件

• 批准号: 7774322
• 负责人: Bart Kylstra
• 金额: $ 41.45万
• 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: 2005-09-26 至 2013-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7774322
• 关键词: Automobile Driving; Bicycling; Biomechanics; Castor; Categories; Country; Cumulative Trauma Disorders; Devices; Disadvantaged; Elbow; Ensure; Exertion; Goals; Health; Industry; Injury; International; Knee; Left; Leg; Life; Life Style; Manual wheelchair; Manuals; Marketing; Phase; Physical therapy; Positioning Attribute; Power stroke; Powered wheelchair; Rehabilitation therapy; Safety; Shapes; Shoulder; Side; Stroke; Survivors; System; Techniques; Testing; Time; Traction; United States; Weight; Wheelchairs; Wing; Wrist; cost; design; experience; foot; innovation; meetings; product development; prototype; public health relevance; sedentary; success

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A simple innovative lever propulsion attachment for pushrim wheelchairs will be developed that can bring the advantages of lever propulsion to wheelchair users. The majority of 1.4 million manual wheelchair users in the United States suffer from Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) of the shoulders, elbows, and wrists due to the awkward biomechanics of pushrim propulsion. These injuries force users to transition prematurely into power wheelchairs. Disadvantages of power wheelchair use include high cost, reduced transportability, and, most importantly, the loss of therapeutic physical exertion. The health problems of a sedentary lifestyle result. Independent studies have consistently shown that lever propulsion is significantly more efficient than manual pushrim propulsion and avoids the injury mechanisms that result in RSI. However, no lever design has had significant success in the market because they do not have all the features and capabilities required by users. The proposed design utilizes a single lever in front of the user's knees to drive a wheel directly in front of the user's feet. Steering and braking is by a modified bicycle-style interface, with the entire drive unit including the lever and handlebar rotating for steering similar to handcycle attachments for wheelchairs. The device attaches and detaches easily to virtually any wheelchair. The single lever design and interface design will be especially useful for users with limited strength and dexterity. Users with a left/right imbalance, such as stroke survivors, can utilize this design in the rehabilitation of their weaker side. The attachment is fully adjustable to most users. In Phase I, maneuverability, gear change, stability, traction, reliability, weight, cost, and attachment feasibility were successfully demonstrated. Phase II will include the implementation of a gear shifting and forward-reverse shifting system. The steering, drive, control, and attachment systems will be refined. There will also be comprehensive industry standard International Standards Organization (ISO) testing to certify the reliability and safety of the design. Finally, thorough user testing will be performed to verify functionality compared to manual wheelchairs. The simple, inexpensive, and innovative design in combination with the use of existing components, materials, and fabrication techniques will combine to create an entirely new product category. The company also has experience commercializing innovative mobility products. With a strong market position the lever attachment is poised to capture a significant market share of the $800 million dollar wheelchair market. Introduction of this innovative product in the market will stimulate further technical innovation in an industry constrained by antiquated structural and technological paradigms. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: PROJECT NARRATIVE Most of the 1.4 million manual wheelchair users in this country will suffer from Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) due to the awkward and inefficient biomechanics of propulsion. Independent studies have consistently shown that the natural and efficient biomechanics of lever propulsion avoids these injury mechanisms. The proposed revolutionary lever drive attachment for manual wheelchairs would be the first practical and affordable product that meets all the maneuverability and functional requirements as defined by users.

描述（由申请人提供）：将开发一种用于推轮轮椅的简单创新杠杆推进附件，可以为轮椅使用者带来杠杆推进的优势。美国 140 万手动轮椅使用者中的大多数因推轮推进的生物力学不便而遭受肩部、肘部和手腕的重复性劳损 (RSI)。这些伤害迫使使用者过早过渡到电动轮椅。使用电动轮椅的缺点包括成本高、可运输性降低，最重要的是，失去治疗性体力消耗。久坐的生活方式会导致健康问题。独立研究一致表明，杠杆推进比手动推轮推进更有效，并且避免了导致 RSI 的损伤机制。然而，没有一种杠杆设计在市场上取得了巨大的成功，因为它们不具备用户所需的所有特性和功能。所提出的设计利用用户膝盖前面的单个杠杆来驱动直接位于用户脚前面的轮子。转向和制动是通过改进的自行车式接口实现的，整个驱动单元包括旋转控制杆和车把，用于转向，类似于轮椅的手轮附件。该设备几乎可以轻松地安装和拆卸到任何轮椅上。单杆设计和界面设计对于力量和灵活性有限的用户特别有用。左右不平衡的用户，例如中风幸存者，可以利用这种设计来康复其较弱的一侧。该附件对于大多数用户来说都是完全可调的。在第一阶段，成功论证了机动性、换档、稳定性、牵引力、可靠性、重量、成本和附件可行性。第二阶段将包括实施换档和前进-倒档系统。转向、驱动、控制和附件系统将得到改进。还将进行全面的行业标准国际标准组织（ISO）测试，以证明设计的可靠性和安全性。最后，将进行彻底的用户测试，以验证与手动轮椅相比的功能。简单、廉价和创新的设计与现有组件、材料和制造技术的使用相结合，将创造出一个全新的产品类别。该公司还拥有创新移动产品商业化的经验。凭借强大的市场地位，该杠杆附件有望在价值 8 亿美元的轮椅市场中占据重要的市场份额。在市场上推出这种创新产品将刺激受过时结构和技术范式限制的行业的进一步技术创新。公共健康相关性：项目叙述 该国 140 万手动轮椅使用者中的大多数将因推进生物力学的笨拙和低效而遭受重复性劳损 (RSI)。独立研究一致表明，杠杆推进的自然且高效的生物力学避免了这些损伤机制。所提议的用于手动轮椅的革命性杠杆驱动附件将是第一个实用且价格实惠的产品，可以满足用户定义的所有可操作性和功能要求。