Development of a modular postural support system (backrests) for disabled clients in wheelchairs and other mobility equipment

世界人口正在老龄化，体重也在增加，人们患病的时间也在增加。随着年龄的增加，行动能力下降，这可能会对健康和福祉产生重大影响。不断改进的健康技术也让残疾人(无论是后天的还是遗传的)活得更长，并为他们创造了更多的机会和机会。保持坐姿需要能量，如果人没有得到充分的支持，他们将在努力保持稳定的过程中增加额外的能量。他们身体任何部位的不对称性都会增加他们的不稳定性，从而增加他们的能量输出。改善座椅和支撑面之间的接触将有助于他们的稳定性，从而减少他们的疲劳感，减少不适，并增加他们能够在设备中度过的时间。所有这些身体上的好处都会转化为更好的情绪健康。他们能够专注于完成任务(而不是保持平衡)和向外看而不是向内看。专注于优化轮椅使用者的靠背系统的适合性，将确保它满足他们的个人需求和临床需求：a，离散的最小材料将确保系统不笨重，并将视觉干扰降至最低。b，临床有效的内置调整将确保与身体的良好匹配，允许姿势控制，以适应或纠正使用者的肌肉骨骼力量。c.，持续变化--随着病人的姿势随时间改变，重新修改接触区域的能力，目前市场上的大多数轮椅靠背系统都是由一个预制的金属外壳和一个泡沫插件组成的，以联系用户。为了覆盖人口所需的不同宽度、高度和深度，必须制造和储存大量不同的炮弹。通过开发模块化的轮椅靠背系统，可以由少量关键部件组装的相同系列。因此，前期模具成本被保持在最低水平，库存显著减少，供应时间得到改善。保持客户最佳姿势的持续成本将会降低，因为相同的靠背系统可以进行调整，也可以通过更换单个组件来满足重大变化，而不是更换整个系统(就像今天市场上的许多靠背一样)。

The world's population is both ageing and gaining weight and the period of time that people live with morbidity is increasing. With increased age comes reduced mobility which can have significant impact on health and well-being. Improving health technologies are also allowing people with disabilities (both acquired or genetic) to live longer and generating increased chances and opportunities for a productive life.Maintaining a sitting posture requires energy and if the person is not supported fully, they will expand additional energy in trying to remain stable. Asymmetry in any part of their body will add to their instability and therefore their energy output. Improving the contact between the sitter and their support surfaces will aid their stability, so making them less tired, reducing discomfort and increasing the time they are able to spend in the equipment. All of these 'physical' benefits translate into better emotional well-being. They are able to focus on completing tasks (rather than maintaining balance) and looking outward rather than inward.Focusing on optimising the fit of the backrest system to the wheelchair user will ensure that it meets their personal wants as well as their clinical needs:a, Discrete - minimal material will ensure the system is not bulky and be minimally visually intrusive.b, Clinically Efficacious - built-in adjustment will ensure good fit to the body allowing postural control to accommodate or correct the muscular-skeletal forces of the user.c, Continuing alterations - the ability to re-modify the contact areas as the client's posture alters with time,Most wheelchair backrest systems currently on the market consist of a single pre-formed metal shell with a foam insert to contact the user. In order to cover the various widths, heights and depths required by the population, a huge number of different shells have to be manufactured and held in stock. By developing a wheelchair backrest system that is modular, the same range that can assembled from a small number of critical components. Therefore, the up-front tooling costs are kept to a minimum, the held stock is significantly reduced and the supply time is improved.The ongoing costs to maintain a client's optimum posture will be reduced as the same backrest system can be adjusted and also 'improved' by swapping out individual components to meet a significant change - rather than replacing the complete system (as is the case in many backrests on the market today).