Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have developed a lightweight sensor, SENSEIWheel, designed to be attached to the wheels of various wheelchairs to determine key wheelchair motion parameters including speed, direction, push-angle, and distance travelled.
Description
Manual wheelchairs (those propelled by the user) are not only an important means of mobility and function but viewed by many as an extension of themselves and a vital tool in competitive and recreational sport. Different wheelchairs exist for different purposes including, racing, tennis, or basketball. It is vital to design wheelchairs personal to the user and optimize their use and fit through an understanding of ergonomics, design, and particular activity. SENSEIWheel uses a modular design to measure key propulsion parameters to allow for the design of more personalized wheelchairs to match the users’ needs for daily use, sport, and recreation.
Applications
• Ergonomic personalization of wheelchair design
• Biomechanical analysis of wheelchair users to prevent upper body injuries
• Research to optimize performance and coaching in para-sport
Advantages
Previously, SMARTWheel, developed in the 1980s, was used to study the biomechanics and ergonomics of wheelchair activity. Despite becoming a commercial product in early 2000s, it was discontinued following acquisition by Permobil as it did not closely relate to their core business. While some SMARTWheels are still in use in clinical and research facilities, it is not suitable for many of the features required on a modern-day wheelchair.
SENSEIWheel is designed to be used on wheels of various diameters, styles, and camber angles. Additionally, the modular designs allow for usage on various pushrim sizes and styles (e.g., racing, standard, ergonomics). With lightweight carbon-fiber mounting brackets and covers to protect measurement equipment, SENSEIWheel is designed with a total mass to minimize the impacts on propulsion dynamics, a high sampling rate and long-lasting batteries.
Invention Readiness
Three versions have been fabricated, two for racing wheelchairs and one for ultralight wheelchairs. Included in the design is a lightweight, high strength titanium alloy mounting plate and electronic components mounted on a single carbon fiber baseplate; held in place with custom 3D printed nylon brackets propulsion dynamics can be measured and transmitted wirelessly to external devices for storage and real-time analysis.
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2024148344A1
