Andrew RosenbergUniversity of Rhode IslandBME 281 First Presentation

How Many People Need a Wheelchair?

An estimated 100 million people worldwide

Up to 6% of the population in developing countries

That number is much higher in war-torn nations•20% of the population in Angola (12 million people)

Handicapped Accessible?

America Tanzania

- Accessible Doorways

- Paved Roads

- Handicapped Accessible Buses, Taxis, & Cars

- Accessible Ramps

- Narrow Doorways

- Bumpy & Muddy Roads

- Long Distances to Destinations

- No Handicapped Accessible Transportation

How Does the Conventional Push-rim Wheelchair Work?

How Does the Lever Propelled Wheelchair Work?The Leveraged Freedom Chair® (LFC) by Global Research Innovation & Technology (GRIT)

- Created by Amos Winter, PhD et al. (MIT’s Mobility Lab)

How is it Made?

The Leveraged Freedom Chair® is Made From Simple Bicycle Parts•Frame (Aluminum)•2- Chain & Chain ring•2- Tire with Conventional Push rim•2- Axles (Aluminum & Water Pipe)•2- Levers (Aluminum)

This wheelchair is made with bicycle parts because:•They are inexpensive and easy to find•Local bicycle mechanics with limited knowledge can fix any problem with the chair

Alternatives

Hand-Powered Tricycle Conventional Chair All-Terrain Chair

$1,525.74 $1,640.56 $2,519.00

ResultsLever Propelled Wheelchair Compared to the Conventional Wheelchair

Speed:•76% faster (on Tarmac)•34% faster (on Pavement)

51% more Torque•Easier to use on hills and in mud

41% more Efficient•Delays fatigue•Improves posture•Prevents upper limb joint pain

Cost

Leveraged Freedom Chair® - $150•MIT funded research and design with production through Continuum and Pinnacle Industries

Donations help send new chairs around the world

Today (2013)• Pinnacle Industries in India produce 500 Leveraged Freedom

Chairs a month

• Over thousands of wheelchairs since the summer of 2011 have been produced and given to undeveloped countries

• Other Companies such as NuDrive and Quantum Runner have been producing similar versions of the Leveraged Freedom Chair®

Future Outlook

GRIT will release a developed world Leveraged Freedom Chair® version in 2014•Official price not yet released •For every 1st world chair purchased 3 undeveloped world chairs will be donated

• The GRIT team is constantly looking for inexpensive and readily available materials to bring down the cost of each chair.

References

1. Ahmad Rifai Sarraj, Ahmad R., and Raphael Massarelli. "Design History and Advantages of a New Lever-Propelled Wheelchair Prototype." Intechopen.com. 13 May 2013. 15 Oct. 2013

2. "Leveraged Freedom Chair (LFC) / India." D-Lab. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2013. Blake G, Bly RW. The elements of technical writing. Longman, 1993.

3. Winter, A., et al. (2010). LEVERAGED FREEDOM CHAIR: A Wheelchair Designed for Developing Countries. In Rehabilitation: Mobility, Exercise and Sports: 4th International State-of-the-Art Congress (Vol. 26, p. 54). IOS Press, Incorporated.

4. Van der Woude, et al. (1993). Physiological evaluation of a newly designed lever mechanism for wheelchairs. Journal of medical engineering & technology, 17(6), 232-240.

5. <www.quantumrunner.com>6. <www.inhabitat.com>7. <www.mansionathletics.com>8. <www.nymedicals.com>9. <www.spinlife.com>10. <www.nu-drive.com>11. <www.innovationsupplychain.com>12. <www.wheelchairfoundation.org>