1. Sam Barclay Tanya Holubiak Jordan Landreth

2. Using a walker to navigate inclines can be hard for patients. Walking up stairs has always been a challenge with the best method being to turn the walker sideways and manage with one handle and the stairwell's handrail. Some stairwells do not have handrails through which can make traversing the stairwell nearly impossible for patients (especially pediatric or weakened ones).

3.  There isn’t a ramp in every facility  Very unstable to use a walker on its side  All sets of stairs are not the same size  Detrimental socially

4.  Having limited mobility can be a burden, especially for adolescents and youths  Dependent on someone to aid going up and down stairs  Confidence plummets  Lack of independence  Lead to defeatist attitude  Curtail physical therapy  Having a walker that increases mobility up and down stairs will increase a sense of independence, which will lead to an increase in confidence

5.  Design a walker for children, adolescents, and adults to be used on level surfaces and on stairs.  The walker designed must be stable to ensure comfort going up and down stairs.  Devices on walker must not require large amounts of strength nor be too complicated that a child could not operate.

6. Develop a functional prototype Prototype helps disabled users easily transverse stairs Must be affordable Prototype must support up 300 lbs for adults Prototype must be easily adjustable & lightweight

7. Conclusions from market research:  No similar products generally available  Strong need for patients with walkers who encounter stairs  Prototype can be created at reasonable cost  0ver 6 million people per year use walkers Positive trends in healthcare for our product: 1. increasing chronic health conditions, 2. aging of the baby boomers 3. consumer driven healthcare

8. Construction Costs:  Ed medical standard walker at wholesale price: $ 60.00  Additional walker legs and pipes (aluminum) = $33.00  Industrial Springs = $6.00 each (2 per walker)  Pins for walker legs = $1.00 each (2 per walker)  Plastic pivoting break system = $13.00 Total production cost: $120 Ancillary Costs:  Medical Mobility parts catalog = $14.99  Research Materials: $ 5.00  Gas, shipping, ect.

9.  Brainstorming, analysis of current walker, background research, consideration of alternatives, advisors, …. First Design Idea:  Adjustable parallel column for back legs  Utilizing hook-locking system with hand brake  Industrial springs used to power Adjustment mechanism  Hand brake mechanism similar to bike brake with high gauge wire

10. We decided against first design schematic because: Too many moving parts ( system looks bulky and ugly) Problems acquiring materials: stress & strain Calculations, weight requirements New Approach: Adjustable legs without exterior column system Industrial spring inside column for adjustment Perforated metal mold with pin locking system

11.  Use second set of detent buttons higher up to allow for more variability  Use only 2 heights to account for ADA ruling on stair height  Allow for spring to push back to full length

12.  More aluminum for testing  Dented buttons – one sided  10 lb resistant spring  Drill to make new holes in aluminum  Plastic pivoting rear “ski” break

13.  Analyze for safety issues  Look at support of thinner tube  Perform mechanical testing  Look for failure points in locking mechanism  Look into alternative breaking systems from detent buttons  Do intensive cost analysis

14.  Questions?