1. Abstract In recent years, a compliant mechanism has been paid to attention as a new mechanism to replace a traditional rigid link mechanism and the use of compliant mechanisms in mechanical products, medical instruments and MEMS can be expected to increase. In our previous research, we focused on a vehicle suspension as a promising application target of a compliant mechanism and proposed an ...

In this paper we propose a new solution which utilizing the Gyro Sensor and Tilt Sensor in real-time controlling the balance of wheelchair seat. The existing wheelchair systems have the risk of falling when users go uphill because of the uneven weight allocation. But when applying our new method, the wheelchair seat can automatically adjust to maintain the balance therefore provides a safer and...

BACKGROUND In many countries, availability of basic training and continued professional development programmes in wheelchair services is limited. Therefore, many health professionals lack access to formal training opportunities and new approaches to improve wheelchair service provision. To address this need, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the WHO Wheelchair Service Training of Tr...

To date, no published data exists on distances and speeds traveled by rugby or basketball players during game play. The purpose of this study was to provide quantitative information of selected characteristics of wheelchair basketball and rugby game play. A miniaturized data logger was used to collect the distance traveled, average velocity, activity time, and number of starts and stops during ...

OBJECTIVE Wheelchair athletes often select a percentage of their top speed (%TS) to determine training intensity. The aim of the study was to determine whether choosing a %TS corresponds to the physiological concept of relative exercise intensity (% peak oxygen uptake: %VO2 peak) and to examine selected physiological and metabolic responses of a group of wheelchair athletes to 60 minutes' exerc...

UNLABELLED Wheelchair propulsion plays a significant role in the development of shoulder pain in manual wheelchair users (MWU). However wheelchair propulsion metrics related to shoulder pain are not clearly understood. This investigation examined intra-individual kinematic spatial variability during semi-circular wheelchair propulsion as a function of shoulder pain in MWU. Data from 10 experien...

Wheelchair-bound patients suffer from a number of constraining ailments that affect the digestive, respiratory, circulatory, and integumentary system. The increased risk of pressure ulcers in wheelchair users can be attributed to the combination of consistent single-point pressure and lack of regional movement for an extended period of time, leading to reduced blood circulation to the lower ext...

BACKGROUND Approximately 95 million children worldwide are disabled; 10 % use a wheelchair. In the UK, an estimated 770,000 children are disabled. National Health Service Wheelchair Services are the largest provider of wheelchairs in the UK; however, recent reports have highlighted issues with these services. This study explores the use of discrete choice experiment methods to inform wheelchair...

Service robotics is a new, emerging domain in robotics, characterised by enthusiasm, diverseness, and emerging industry. The paper presents modular and interacting obstacle avoidance, and navigation subsystems. The obstacle avoidance system is older, so there are practical experiences of its application to electric wheelchairs, which are explained. Ongoing work with the navigation unit is revie...

Assistive technology (AT) devices enable people with disabilities to function in multiple contexts and activities. The usability of such devices is fundamentally indicative of the user's level of participation in multiple roles and occupations. Seventy people who used power wheelchairs were interviewed using a novel tool, the Usability Scale for Assistive Technology (USAT). The USAT uses a huma...