Walker Redesign: Redesigning a W alker that C an Easily Ascend and Descend Stairs
description
Transcript of Walker Redesign: Redesigning a W alker that C an Easily Ascend and Descend Stairs
Sam BarclayTanya Holubiak
Jordan Landreth
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).
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
Having limited mobility can be a burden, especially for adolescents and youthsDependent on someone to aid going up and down
stairs Confidence plummets
Lack of independenceLead to defeatist attitudeCurtail 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
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.
•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
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 boomers3. consumer driven healthcare
Construction Costs: Ed medical standard walker at wholesale price: $ 60.00 Additional walker legs and pipes (aluminum) = $33.00 Industrial Springs Double detent buttons Grabber = $17.03 (2 needed) Bike brake system = $40.00
Ancillary Costs:
Medical Mobility parts catalog = $14.99 Research Materials: $ 5.00 Gas, shipping, ect.
Brainstorming, analysis of current walker, background research, consideration of alternatives, advisors, ….
Final 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
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
More aluminum for testing Dented buttons – double sided 40 lb resistant spring Drill to make new holes in aluminum Plastic pivoting rear “ski” break
Completed Work E-mailed Phil Davis for advise on building our
prototype Talked to a senior undergraduate mechanical
engineering student for help with ProE Talked to local bike shop about braking system Looked up pricing in McMaster catalog for
project components Found website to obtain springs for our specific
purpose Discussed with Dr. King our design Met with advisor Teresa Decided on a final design and discussed the
steps to make prototype
Analyze for safety issues Look into putting on breaking systems
Do intensive cost analysis Contact other machinists for aid in
constructing our prototype Make ProE drawing of the double
detent button we wanted Have prototype finished by mid to end
of March
Questions?