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A Manual Standup Wheelchair

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: 1R43HD044271-01A3
Agency Tracking Number: HD044271
Amount: $197,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: PHS2005-2
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2005
Award Year: 2005
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
Green Technologies, Inc. 13387 Green Rd
West Fork, AR 72774
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 STEVE GREEN
 (479) 839-3454
 SGREEN@GREENTECHNOLOGIES.COM
Business Contact
 STEVE GREEN
Phone: (501) 839-3454
Email: SGREEN@GREENTECHNOLOGIES.COM
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Current conventional manual standup wheelchairs have serious drawbacks: propulsion requires suboptimal arm ergonomics, they are biomechanically inefficient, and they only allow manual mobility in a sitting position. We propose the development of a manual wheelchair that will allow the user to be manually mobile in a sitting position, a standing position, or any intermediate position. The functional benefits of such a wheelchair are obvious since the user will have a greatly increased reach and functional workspace. Such a wheelchair will also have a number of physiologic benefits and, perhaps most importantly, a significant psychological benefit. Additionally, since the chair is manually propelled in both sitting and standing positions, the user will retain the cardio-vascular benefits of manual propulsion. The manual standing wheelchair is based on a simple, strong, and lightweight four-bar linkage system that uses the armrests as lever inputs for a ratchet mechanism that erects the chair to a standing position. Anti-tip wheels lower automatically to extend the wheelbase and allow safe operation of the chair while erect. The wheelchair will use a lever drive that will allow better ergonomics and more efficient propulsion. To accomplish our objectives we have assembled an experienced multi-disciplinary team that includes expertise in machine design, mechanism design and testing, biological and mechanical testing of wheelchairs, the prescription of wheelchairs and wheelchair seating, and rehabilitation medicine.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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