Up-Down Wheelchair 2.009 Silver A

Customer Need Ability to reach objects that are low to the ground or above the seated position Standard mobility of a wheelchair Low-cost solution

Market and Benchmarking 1.6 Million Americans use wheelchairs (1.5 million manual wheelchair users).1 15 Million adults unable to walk a quarter mile.2 1. University of California Disability Statistics Center http://dsc.ucsf.edu/publication.php?pub_is=1 2. National Center for Health Statistics http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/disable.htm

Customer Needs MGH telephones and ATMs designed lower than standard Little Sisters of the Poor asked for retrofitted kitchen

Up-Down Wheelchair Gives the user the ability to reach the ground and the top shelf Low cost

Sketch Model Goals To see the volume available for the lifting mechanism To observe the interference with regular wheelchair use To investigate the coupling of the leg rests to the lifting mechanism To determine the potential hazards at the high and low positions

Wheel Movement Coupling

Lifting Mechanism Options

Lessons from the Sketch Model Do not reinvent wheelchair Respect personal space Power interface; decouple standard hydraulic jack Minimum height will be obtainable (3”piston acheives 15” lift) Up-down stability; couple linkages Leg positioning; couple height w/ legs Locking wheels

Up-Down Wheelchair: Appendices

The Hydraulic Jack Reservoir, lever, and pumping piston can be decoupled from the jack and attached to the moving portion of the seat Flexible hydraulic tubing connects the pumping lever to the jack

Sketch Model Drawings

Market and Benchmarking IBOT Mobility System Pride Go-Chair Travel Powerchair Flw-Weight Transport Wheelchair Invacare Tracer IV Custom Wheelchair Picture Rise-ability Yes No Lower-ability Climb stairs Seat to Floor Height 21.5” 20.5” 19” 20” Overall Length 42.9 – 46.9” 30” 40” 36” Overall Width 25.2 – 28.7” 18.5” 20 – 22” when open, 9” when collapsed 26.5” Battery Two x 67.2 volt; Weight 24 lbs each; Two x 12 volt.12Ah, 12260 Sealed Gel Battery N/A Weight 289 lbs 110 lbs (including batteries) 19 lbs 51 lbs Off-road Yes, curbs upto 5” high Price $23,900 (promotion) $26,100 (regularly) $1,449 $2,550 regularly $145 $310 regularly $285 $830 regularly Source http://www.ibotnow.com/ibot/index.html http://www.1800wheelchair.com/asp/view-product.asp?product_id=1317 http://www.1800wheelchair.com/asp/view-product.asp?product_id=870 http://www.1800wheelchair.com/asp/view-product.asp?product_id=123

Contacts Mike Verdi, Camden County Dept. of Health and Senior Services Seth, Komfort & Kare Medical Equipment & Supplies Vito Politano, Little Sisters of the Poor