Abstract
This work presents a design for an automatized multiposition dynamic wheelchair used to transport quadriplegic patients by reconfiguring a manual wheelchair structure. An electric actuator is attached to a four-bar mechanism fixed to each side of a wheelchair’s backrest to reach multiposition. The entire device is actuated through a PID controller. An experimental test is carried out in a simplified wheelchair structure. Finally, the structure of the wheelchair is evaluated through the Dynamic analysis and Finite Element Method under the payload computed with the most critical position reached by the mechanism.
Highlights
In recent years Research Institutes around the world have been looking to increase the quality of life of spinal cord injury (SCI) people by the development of different devices like assistive robots, the design of a mechanism for therapies and devices to transport patients between different zones of the hospital or house [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
Shirogane has shown that the force applied on the foot support accounted for 70–80% of the total load in wheelchair structures [21]
One fact to consider regarding the design of this multiposition wheelchair is that it may facilitate the disabled patient to be transferred to the bed, since when the chair takes the position of a stretcher, the height of this is similar to a standard bed, and the armrest can be removed
Summary
In recent years Research Institutes around the world have been looking to increase the quality of life of spinal cord injury (SCI) people by the development of different devices like assistive robots, the design of a mechanism for therapies and devices to transport patients between different zones of the hospital or house [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. Quadriplegic people need constant postural changes to reduce skin injuries like an ulcer. Those injuries arise due to skin contact with rough surfaces, inadequate vents, and a lengthy period in the same position. Most of the designs are only used to adopt one fixed position and transport the patient or assume a lay-down position Those imply the use of two different devices to satisfy both necessities. The present work shows the design of a wheelchair that achieves various positions by using only a four-bar mechanism attached to the mainframe of the wheelchair. The main contribution of this work consists of the mechanical design and control of a wheelchair that is capable of taking multiple positions until it becomes a stretcher. One fact to consider regarding the design of this multiposition wheelchair is that it may facilitate the disabled patient to be transferred to the bed, since when the chair takes the position of a stretcher, the height of this is similar to a standard bed, and the armrest can be removed
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