A Universalist strategy for the design of Assistive Technology

Assistive Technologies are specialized products aiming to partly compensate for the loss of autonomy experienced by disabled people. Because they address special needs in a highly-segmented market, they are often considered as niche products. To improve their design and make them tend to Universality, we propose the EMFASIS framework (Extended Modularity, Functional Accessibility, and Social Integration Strategy). We first elaborate on how this strategy conciliates niche and Universalist views, which may appear conflicting at first sight. We then present three examples illustrating its application for designing Assistive Technologies: the design of an overbed table, an upper-limb powered orthose and a powered wheelchair. We conclude on the expected outcomes of our strategy for the social integration and participation of disabled people

A novel target following solution for the electric powered hospital bed

© 2015 IEEE. The paper proposes a novel target following solution for an electric powered hospital bed. First, an improved real-time decoupling multivariable control strategy is introduced to stabilize the overall system during its operation. Environment laser-based data are then collected and pre-processed before engaging a neural network classifier for target detection. Finally, a high-level control algorithm is implemented to guarantee safety condition while the hospital bed tracks its target. The proposed solution is successfully validated through real-time experiments

Southwest Research Institute assistance to NASA in biomedical areas of the technology utilization program Final report, 1 Feb. 1969 - 24 Aug. 1970

Research progress in technology transfer by NASA Biomedical Application Tea

Problematic clinical features of powered wheelchair users with severely disabling multiple sclerosis

This article is made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund. Copyright @ 2014 Informa UK Ltd.Purpose: The aim of this study is to describe the clinical features of powered wheelchair users with severely disabling multiple sclerosis (MS) and explore the problematic clinical features influencing prescription. Method: Retrospective review of electronic and case note records of recipients of electric-powered indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs (EPIOCs) attending a specialist wheelchair service between June 2007 and September 2008. Records were reviewed by a consultant in rehabilitation medicine, data systematically extracted and entered into a computer database. Further data were entered from clinical records. Data were extracted under three themes; demographic, diagnostic, clinical and wheelchair factors. Results: Records of 28 men mean age 57 (range 37–78, SD 12) years and 63 women mean age 57 (range 35–81, SD 11) years with MS were reviewed a mean of 64 (range 0–131) months after receiving their wheelchair. Twenty two comorbidities, 11 features of MS and 8 features of disability were thought to influence wheelchair prescription. Fifteen users were provided with specialised seating and 46 with tilt-in-space seats. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that people with severe MS requiring an EPIOC benefit from a holistic assessment to identify problematic clinical features that influence the prescription of the EPIOC and further medical and therapeutic interventions

Screening of energy efficient technologies for industrial buildings' retrofit

This chapter discusses screening of energy efficient technologies for industrial buildings' retrofit

Product development approach for a stabilized ambulance stretcher

The level of vibrations that a patient experiences during ambulance transport is often too high. The ambulance crew must take measures to reduce the effects of vibration. Currently, they do it by reducing the speed at which the ambulance transports the patients or by deviating from the shortest routes to routes that have better conditions for transport. The deviation in the route is required to avoid speed bumps, potholes and other obstacles that cause high vibration peaks. These vibrations are most severe in the vertical direction. The human body is most sensitive to vibrations in the range from 0.1 to 80 Hz, and it is within this range that the dominant vertical vibrations of an ambulance stretcher occur. The vibrations experienced can be reduced by placing an active stabilization unit in between the stretcher mattress and the legs of the stretcher. This active system performs vibration compensation in real time. The system is controlled with a data logger which collects the vibrational information from the road and transfers that data to the control system. The system is based on a spring-motor configuration. The springbased systems help to keep the mattress in position thereby reducing the effects of vibration and improving the comforts of patient transport. Since the stabilization unit increases the weight of the stretcher, currently this device cannot be employed for nonpowered stretchers. A business plan for the product launch is analyzed. The business plan provides the information to make this product market ready. A financial analysis is also performed to support the claims of the business plan. The business plan is focused on launching the stabilization device and then provides insight into developing stretcher solutions for the market.O nível de vibrações que um paciente experimenta durante o transporte de ambulância é muitas vezes demasiado elevado. O pessoal da ambulância tem que tomar medidas para reduzir os efeitos da vibração. Atualmente isso é feito reduzindo-se a velocidade com que a ambulância transporta os pacientes ou desviando-se das rotas mais curtas para as rotas que têm melhores condições de transporte. O desvio na rota precisa ser feito para evitar lombas, buracos e outros obstáculos que causam altos picos de vibração. Essas vibrações são mais severas na direção vertical. O corpo humano é mais sensível a vibrações na faixa de 0,1 a 80 Hz, e é dentro dessa faixa que ocorrem as vibrações verticais dominantes numa maca de ambulância. As vibrações no transporte de pacientes podem ser reduzidas colocando uma unidade de estabilização ativa entre o colchão da maca e a estrutura da maca. Este sistema ativo realiza a compensação de vibração em tempo real. O sistema é controlado por um processador de dados que coleta informações vibracionais da estrada e transfere esses dados para o sistema de controlo. O sistema atua através de uma solução dinâmica com um motor passo a passo. Os sistemas baseados em motores passo a passo ajudam a manter o colchão em posição, reduzindo assim os efeitos da vibração e melhorando o conforto do transporte do paciente. Como a unidade de estabilização aumenta o peso da maca, atualmente este dispositivo não pode ser empregado para macas não motorizadas. Com base na proposta de produto concebido, um plano de negócios para o lançamento do produto desenhado. O plano de negócios fornece as informações para preparar o lançamento deste novo produto no mercado. Também foi realizada uma análise financeira para validar os pressupostos do plano de negócios. O plano de negócios foi construído com o foco no lançamento do dispositivo de estabilização e, em seguida, pressupõem extensões assentes no posterior para o desenvolvimento de soluções de maca integral a colocar no mercado

The Use of Turning and Repositioning Versus Pressure Redistributing Support Surfaces in the Prevention of Pressure Ulcers

Currently, 1.3-3 million adults in the United States are affected by pressure ulcers, costing $37,800 to$70,000 per ulcer (Smith, 2013). This costs the United States 11 billion dollars annually (Smith, 2013). This review’s PICO question is “In hospitalized critically ill patients, how does turning and repositioning every two to four hours compared to the use of pressure redistributing support surfaces prevent the occurrence of pressure ulcers?” For this review, the articles found were rated as excellent (n=7), good (n=2), and fair (n=1). Appendix A shows the critical appraisal of all pertinent articles used. Findings suggest that there is minimal statistically significant evidence that the use of one intervention is more effective than another (pressure redistributing support surfaces versus turning and repositioning every two to four hours) (Bergstrom, 2013; Chou, 2013; Huang, 2013; Manzano, 2013; Manzano, 2014; Rich, 2011b; Smith, 2013). Furthermore, findings indicate that when both interventions are used together, pressure ulcer prevention is increased (Chou, 2013; Rich, 2011a; Smith, 2013)

Project Omoverhi : low-cost, neonatal incubator

Project Omoverhi, since its beginning in 2010-2011, has been focused on creating an incubator that has the capability of operating completely off grid. This year the project has been focused on redesigning the original system to reduce the cost to approximately $1000. In addition to this we have designed and implemented a control system that enables the user to set a desired temperature which can be maintained to within 1 degree Celsius. Before the project is able to be completed further work must be done. The thermal storage system that was initially proposed by the original team still needs to be completed. Additionally the current prototype needs to be further tested and worked into a product that can easily be manufactured. Once the project is completed, hopefully it can be taken up by a non-profit organization to allow this product to be distributed to those in need of it