WRHA MODULAR WHEELCHAIR SAFETY GUARDS
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Date
2016-12-07
Authors
Kimelman, Josh
Chunesingh, Jared
Hilderman, Brett
Timmerman, Brett
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Abstract
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) tasked BioTech Engineering Solutions & Technologies (BEST) with designing modular wheelchair safety guards for Personal Care Home (PCH) residents in Winnipeg. Some wheelchair-bound PCH residentsexperience gradual degradation of their trunk muscles over time, whichcauses them to slouch forward in their chair and leave their arms hanging over the sides. This condition increases the risk of catching hands, fingers or armsin the spokes of the wheelchair’s wheels.There are also other medical conditions that lead to the same increased risk of PCH residents injuring themselvesin the wheel area of their wheelchairs.Recently, a PCH resident sustained a hand injury due to getting caught in the spokes of their wheelchair, establishing the WRHA’s need for this project. Although the specific scenario from the recent injury can be used as a case study, the WRHA requested that BEST produce a solution that could protectother PCH residents in similar physical conditions in the future.To resolve this problem, BEST used an engineering design process that includedresearching existing products and patents, concept generation, concept selection, and detailed analysis. By following these steps in a timely manner,BEST was able to deliver a robust design solution to the WRHA.BEST’s solution to this problem is a Solid Hubcap Safety Guard that eliminates access to the spokes from the outer face of the wheel. This product is manufactured from a 1/8-inch thick ABS plastic sheet and, assuming the Solid Hubcaps are produced in batches of 100 units, the manufacturing cost is approximately $90 per pair of hubcaps. The product is attached to the wheelchair by securing Velcro®straps through the equally spaced slots about the front face of the hubcap and around the handrail of the wheelchair. As per the request of the client, this solution also includes a design for an optional Rear Safety Guard. The add-onis available for residents to purchase should they also require protection from accessing the spokes through the inner face of the wheel at the rear of the chair. BEST’s Solid Hubcap Safety Guard provides increased protection from hand injuries occurring in the spokes of wheelchair wheels at a lower cost...