Improved wheelchair design utilizing linear rotary motion with enhanced efficiency and reduced injury and pain for users
WiSys is seeking a strategic partner in the Durable Medical Equipment industry interested in gaining a competitive edge in the marketplace. WiSys' new and improved wheelchair design is the first application developed using the patented linear rotary motion platform technology and is available for exclusive licensing. Additional fields of use are available for development and licensing.
WiSys Technology Number: T120022
Patent Number: 9,139,251
Patent Filed: May 4, 2011
Patent Issued Date: September 22, 2015 (PDF)
Patent Number: 9,139,251
Patent Filed: May 4, 2011
Patent Issued Date: September 22, 2015 (PDF)
Status
PatentedStage of Development:
A pre-production prototype chair has been manufactured and tested by users at veteran’s facilities throughout the Midwest.
Overview
In the US alone, it is estimated that around 3 million people use a manual push rim wheelchair for daily mobility. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of manual wheelchair users will suffer pain and injury in their shoulders, wrists, and hands as a result. While research has shown that lever propulsion systems could go toward reducing such injuries and pain, the industry has not successfully adopted a complete system capable of providing a solution that addresses the full needs of the user. As such, there is a clear and unmet need for the development of an improved wheel-chair design capable of providing better quality of life for wheelchair users.
Invention
An alumnus from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside has developed an alternative to the rim-driven manual wheelchair offering a new and improved mobility device for the physically disabled. T120022 uses lever inputs connected to a patented linear rotary motion (LRM) conversion mechanism providing highly efficient manual power to the wheels without the need of much force. The underlying LRM device is capable of converting a range of linear motion inputs into rotary motion in the chosen direction and efficiently transferring 90% of human biomechanical power to the driven wheels. In addition, the technology is mounted on the base on the wheelchair rather than the wheels, making it more versatile than other lever-drive systems.
Applications
Enhanced mobility for wheelchair users
Benefits
- Utilizes an innovative mechanism that efficiently converts bi-directional linear motion to continuous one-way rotary motion at a constant torque to power manual wheelchairs;
- Provides for enhanced propulsion and increased efficiency with independent right and left lever force inputs from the user;
- Eliminates painful repetitive stress injuries that rim-driven wheelchair users often face;
- More hygienic as compared to traditional push-rim wheelchairs as hands never come into contact with wheels;
- Smaller footprint, lightweight (e.g. <35lbs) and portable.
Inventor
James Maerkze