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

这个小企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是一种新型的机械系统，它提高了老年人和残疾人在水平表面和楼梯上行走时的安全性。这种新颖的壁挂式系统将在截肢、康复和最终的家庭步态辅助期间通过机械支持个人来降低受伤的风险。该系统旨在通过防止家庭中的福尔斯跌倒来减少急诊室（ER）就诊的主要原因之一（美国每年近3,000次ER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性护理患者，特别是在楼梯上。除了降低患者直接受伤的风险外，该技术还通过减少治疗师/护士、亲属和护理残疾人或有福尔斯风险的人的支持人员的数量来提高经济和生产力。这个STTR第一阶段项目将展示一种新颖的机械式壁挂式步态辅助装置，可以安全地减少在平坦表面和楼梯上行走时受伤和摔倒的风险。将完成一个带类弹性系绳、移动的推车和机械制动机制的安全带，以维护患者安全。该个体被连接到沿沿着壁侧轨道行进的手推车，该壁侧轨道提供支撑患者重量所需的可变力，以最小化受伤的风险。在跌倒的情况下，手推车的制动器自动激活，用背心/系绳吸收震动，以防止用户摔倒在地板上。在设计工程和原型完成后，将在第一阶段进行一项试点概念验证研究，以证明患者安全行走而不会摔倒和造成伤害的潜力。该奖项反映了NSF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.