1. Up-Down Wheelchair
2.009 Silver A

2. 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

3. 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
2. National Center for Health Statistics

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

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

6. 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

7. Wheel Movement Coupling

8. Lifting Mechanism Options

9. 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

10. Up-Down Wheelchair: Appendices

11. 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

12. Sketch Model Drawings

13. 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, 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

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