Leveraging the brainstorm session that we did with the different types of elements that we can potentially include in the device and our analysis of the free wheelchair, we used this week to think about how we want to implement these elements into a design.

As mentioned in one of the blogs above, the wheelchair spooks are flimsy, there is no attachment point at the center of the outer wheel and there is no space in between the wheels and the chair. Because of this, we decided to attach the lever to the bolt from the inner side of the wheel; the lever would be L-shaped.

For the breaking system, we plan to use bike brakes and we will fasten them to the part of the lever furthest back along the wheel rim so that it does not hit the chair frame. We are still deciding whether to put the bike brake clutch on the handle, facing the patient or on the opposite side. The benefit to putting the brake clutch facing the patient is that as the patient moves the lever forward, he or she can push the clutch forward in a natural motion. This would make it easier for the patient. However, the patient must be able to slide his arm back and forth on the lever to engage and release the brake clutch. If we put an arm brace on the lever to help the patient, our placement of the brake clutch would not be ideal.

Next week, we plan to buy cardboard boxes and use the sheets of cardboard to make a rough prototype of the device.

Lawrence Hipolito
MPOWRD