NCIIA GRANT PROPOSAL

PROPULSIOMETER INSTRUMENTED WHEELCHAIR WHEEL

SERI MASTURA MUSTAZA SITI NOR WAHIDA FAUZI AHMAD SHAHIR ISMAIL HAFIZUL ANWAR RADUAN

Project Description
There is a high incidence of upper extremity repetitive stress injuries among manual wheelchair users. One way to solve this problem is to analyze the arm behavior and force applied to it. For wheelchair propulsion, the propulsive forces are applied to the hand-rim, a tubular hoop mounted just to the side of the wheel. There are currently some solution developed by biomechanics labs in measuring these loads but all the solutions have been very expensive. The purpose of this design is to create an innovative propulsiometer design that promises to provide this technology at an affordable cost. This project will continue the electronics and instrumentation development since the one currently used, MiniDAT, has been discontinued. Besides, the currently computer system is not that user friendly. This design also will provide visual feedback information including graphically displayed such as stroke length and peak force. This real-time feedback can assist wheelchair users to reduce the stress on their arms during manual handling of the wheelchair. Upon this analysis, we will make modifications or redesign the device as necessary until the most ergonomic combination is found and hope to improve the data analysis technique of the device.

Market potential
The propulsiometer instrumented wheelchair wheel is marketed primarily to clinical researches to resolve injuries among wheelchair users by improving the currently used system. In a study of 239 manual wheelchair users, it was found that 64 percent of patients with paraplegia reported upperlimb pain. Repetitive arm movement can also cause the Carpal Tunnel Syndrom. Our target also including hospitals for their patient comforts and convenience since we are introducing wheelchair that will minimize ergonomic injuries. The advantage of our design compared to the currently available device in the market is that it can be used in different size of wheelchair's wheel. As we know, wheels of the wheelchair come in different sizes. But with this design, we do not need to have different sizes of the propulsiometer to suite these different sizes of wheels. Instead, we just need to adjust the screw location to fit this into bigger wheel which is lower in cost compared to having to design a new and bigger propulsiometer.

Social impact
A social impact would be seen especially in the disabled community. We are trying to reduce the percentage of users experiencing shoulder and wrist pain and dramatically alter the quality of life of people who use wheelchairs. Our device will also have an impact on clinical research that is currently trying to improved wheelchair setup.

E-Team Members and Personal Skills

Name Skills : Seri Mastura Mustaza : Microsoft Office Suite, MatLab, LabView, Thermal Physics, Civil Name Skills : Siti Nor Wahida Fauzi : Microsoft Office Suite, MatLab, LabView, SHARC Processor Biomechanics, Civil Name Skills : Ahmad Shahir Ismail : Microsoft Office Suite, MatLab, C & C++, SHARC Processor, HTML, DOS, Macromedia Flash, PSpice, Core, Computer Hardware Name Skills : Hafizul Raduan : Microsoft Office Suite, MatLab, C & C++, SHARC Processor, HTML, DOS, PSpice, Mathematica, Motorola HC11, Adobe Photoshop, Computer Software

Education : Biomedical Engineering Major

Education : Biomedical Engineering Major

Education : Electrical Engineering Major

Education : Computer Engineering Major

Advisors

: W. Mark Richter, Ph.D o Director of Research and Development of MAXMobility Paul H. King, Ph.D., P.E. o Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering o Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering o Associate Professor of Anesthesiology

Timeline

November & December 2005

o o o o o

Load testing of current device Researches on rival product - SmartWheel Propose goals for each 2-week period Bi-weekly meetings for about hour Preparing and presenting NCIIA grant proposal

January 2006
o o o

Designing and testing prototype Device modifications and redesign as necessary Weekly meetings for about 1 - 2 hour

February 2006
o o o

Testing of new device Changes to prototype Weekly meetings for about 1 - 2 hour

March 2006
o o o

Changes to prototype (continued) Weekly meetings for about 1 - 2 hour Improve overall appropriateness of wheelchair set-up and its function ergonomically

April 2006
o

Compile and present design poster and final results

Resources
o MAX-Mobility Laboratory o Computer/Electronics Laboratory, Featheringill Hall at Vanderbilt University

Materials
o Materials from MAX-Mobility Laboratory and Outside Contractors

Budget
Category Item Load Cell Wireless Router Wireless Motion Sensor (Qty. 2) Cables and Wires Onboard Memory (Flash Card) Analog to Digital Converter Onboard Power Supply 24/25 Wheelchair Wheel Computer with Internet Equipment Program Software (NI LabView, C/C++, etc) Data Acquisition Software Total Costs ELVIS, Cost $395 $200 $200 $100 $75 $70 $30 Provided by MAX-Mobility Provided by department Provided by department Provided by MAX-Mobility $1070

Prototype