STTR Phase I: A novel wall-mounted gait assist system to reduce the risk of injuries on stairs and level surfaces

这项小型企业技术转移（STTR）第一期工程的广泛影响及商业潜力，是一套新颖的机械系统，可改善长者及残疾人士在平地及楼梯行走时的安全。这种新颖的壁挂式系统将通过在行走、康复和最终的家庭步态辅助过程中为个人提供机械支持，从而降低受伤的风险。该系统旨在通过防止家中跌倒来减少急诊室（ER）就诊的主要原因之一（美国每年有近3000例急诊室就诊）。该解决方案也可用于医疗设施，以安全地走动康复期或急症护理病人，特别是在楼梯上。除了减少患者直接受伤的风险外，该技术还通过减少护理残疾人或有跌倒风险的人的治疗师/护士、亲属和支持人员的数量，提高了经济和生产力措施。这个STTR一期项目将展示一种新型的、机械的、壁挂式步态辅助装置，可以安全地减少在平地和楼梯上行走时受伤和跌倒的风险。将完成具有弹性系绳、移动小车和机械制动机构的维护患者安全的安全带。这个人被连接到一个沿着墙边轨道运行的手推车上，提供支持病人体重所需的可变力，以尽量减少受伤的风险。如果发生坠落，手推车的制动器会自动启动，用背心/系绳吸收震动，防止使用者坠落到地板上。在设计工程和原型完成后，将在第一阶段进行试点概念验证研究，以展示患者在安全行走中使用而不会摔倒和造成伤害的潜力。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is a novel mechanical system which improves the safety of the elderly and disabled while walking on level surfaces and stairs. The novel, wall-mounted system will reduce the risks of injury by mechanically supporting individuals during ambulation, rehabilitation, and eventual in-home gait assistance. The system aims to reduce one of the top reasons for emergency room (ER) visits (nearly 3,000 ER visits in the United States each year) by preventing falls in the home. The solution may also be used in medical facilities to safely ambulate convalescent or acute care patients, especially on stairs. In addition to reducing direct patient injury risks, the technology improves economic and productivity measures by reducing the number of therapists/nurses, relatives, and support workers caring for people with disabilities or those at risk of falls. This STTR Phase I project will demonstrate a novel, mechanical, wall-mounted gait assist that can safely reduce injuries and the risks of falling while walking across flat surfaces and stairs. A harness with an elastic-like tether, mobile trolley, and mechanical braking mechanism for maintaining patient safety will be completed. The individual is connected to a trolley travelling along a wall-side rail providing the variable forces needed to support a patient’s weight in order to minimize risks of injury. In the event of a fall, the trolley’s brake automatically activates, absorbing the shock with a vest/tether to prevent the user from falling to the floor. Following design engineering and prototype completion, a pilot proof of concept study will be conducted during Phase I to demonstrate the potential for patient use in safely walking without falling and causing injury.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.