8 replies to this topic

[HullMedStudent]

Hello everyone, my name is Jack

I'm a medical engineering student at the university of Hull and for my final year project I've been asked to design a product.

I've chosen to develop an alternate wheelchair propulsion attachment in an attempt to reduce effort for those who push the wheelchair themselves.

For the project I am required to perform some market research to gain a sense of what wheelchair users would want from such a device and how it could be design in the most beneficial manner.

Below is a link to a short survey that should only take about 2 minutes to complete, if you have a spare moment I would greatly appreciate it if you could fill it out.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LHT6MGW

If you have any other comments please feel free to share them!

Thankyou for your time

Jack

[Muskie]

Hi Jack,

My son is newly injured so I don't know if my opinion counts but if it was multifunctional sort of a cross between a wheel chair, a standing frame and a segway(I think that's what is called.) It would be awesome if it could climb stairs and handle uneven terrain. So I guess I am asking you to build a transformer

Muskie

[Vanessamaee]

Muskie, on 10 November 2011 - 06:02 PM, said:

Hi Jack,

My son is newly injured so I don't know if my opinion counts but if it was multifunctional sort of a cross between a wheel chair, a standing frame and a segway(I think that's what is called.) It would be awesome if it could climb stairs and handle uneven terrain. So I guess I am asking you to build a transformer

Muskie

A transformer suit would be AWESOME! Like on the movie Avatar (: I'm newly injured too and dont experience to much shoulder pain. However I constantly crush my fingers against doorways and walls. They do make power assist wheels which are adpated to a wheelchair to help. However these generally run around 25lbs ea (per wheel) and only last a couple of hours. If you could design a lighter weight/longer lasting power assist, thatd be pretty cool!

[Charlie-boi]

Yea what v said realy!

I think your main focus should be on the users haveing reduced shoulder injury risk!
Many long term chair users can run their shoulders out! Because the pushing movement and transfers realy wear on the deltoids! this could eventually be the difference between being independant and full time care!
So if your looking into something to help propulsion of a chair you could try to focus on makeing the wheelchairuser do a pushing movement less stressfull on the shoulder which usually would not give enouf propulsion but with your aid would?? That make sence lol??

Other ideas I think would be interesting is if the on manual chairs could some how alter Seat Hight or position to help those who are shit at transfers?

Good luck bud

Edited by Charlie-boi, 10 November 2011 - 11:06 PM.

[tsh3406]

Something like this could be very useful to us outdoorsmen.... with a target price of around $15,000.... that'd be ideal


http://www.rickhendr...ack1-747784.JPG

[paul1404]

tsh3406, on 10 November 2011 - 10:50 PM, said:

Something like this could be very useful to us outdoorsmen.... with a target price of around $15,000.... that'd be ideal


http://www.rickhendr...ack1-747784.JPG

i will have one too

[wheeliebear75]

The biggest problem that wheelchair users face in regard to joints is not HOW we use the arms/hands but the mere fact that we DO now use our arms in place of our legs....the human body was designed to walk on 2 legs not our arms, we just weren't given the choice.

[HullMedStudent]

Thanks everyone for your input!

I think a transformer chair might be a little out the question I'm afraid I'm fresh out of sparks!

With the budget and time constraints of the project I'm trying to develop something reasonably simple with decent effectiveness; my main goal being to reduce shoulder and wrist injuries from the motion of movement.

As for hand crushing I'm doing my best to add features to reduce it!

The survey is still ongoing so any additional comments will really help!

Thanks again everyone

Jack

[Izziwhizzi]

A portable, easy to use by one person, personal hoist would be a great idea too if any class mates were short of ideas.

Hoist technology is so far behind with the times and H&S legislation has changed care/lift methods

I