Force and Measurement Device - Phase II

由于轮椅推进对上肢造成的反复创伤，手动轮椅使用者的疼痛和受伤发生率高得惊人。通过了解手臂疼痛的发生机制，我们可以开始预防疼痛。SMART(车轮)是一种工具，可以直接测量轮椅用户施加到推圈上的力和扭矩。这种能力可以调查受伤的原因，并可以产生具体的建议，以提高效率和降低受伤的风险。本研究第二阶段的具体目标是：1)确定临床医生需要的力/力矩测量系统的其他特性(例如，显示内容和布局)；2)进一步优化临床智能(车轮)的设计(硬件和软件组件)，以最大限度地实现其商业用途；3)进行临床测试，以验证新设计的“临床智能(车轮)”的性能在临床上是有用的；4)对手动轮椅用户进行非现场试验，以展示临床智能(车轮)在临床或其他环境中的可用性和有效性。这项研究的最终结果将是一种商业上可行的产品，可供研究实验室、座椅/轮椅诊所、轮椅和配件制造商、ADA顾问和无障碍表面(如游乐场、公园等)制造商使用。拟议的商业应用：SMART(车轮)将成为康复研究实验室、座椅/轮椅诊所和轮椅制造商的宝贵工具。许多人已经购买了智能(车轮)S，尽管早期版本的智能(车轮)不太友好。由于SMART(车轮)还有助于评估表面的可访问性，因此它也将是ADA顾问、建筑师、区域规划师和无障碍表面(如游乐场、公园等)制造商的重要工具。

Because of the repetitive trauma to the upper extremities that results from wheelchair propulsion, the prevalence of pain and injury in manual wheelchair users is alarmingly high. By understanding the mechanisms in the development of arm pain, we can begin to prevent the pain. The SMART(Wheel) is a tool that enables direct measurement of the forces and torques applied by wheelchair users to the pushrim. This capability allows for investigations into the cause of injuries, and can lead to specific recommendations to improve efficiency and reduce the risk of injury. The specific aims in Phase II of this research are to: 1) Identify additional characteristics in a force/moment measure system (e.g., display content and layout) that are desired by clinicians; 2) Further refine the design of the Clinical SMART(Wheel) (both hardware and software components) to maximize its functionality for commercial use; 3) Conduct clinical testing to verify that the performance of the newly designed "Clinical SMART(Wheel)" is useful clinically; 4) Conduct off-site trials with manual wheelchair users to demonstrate the usability and effectiveness of the Clinical SMART(Wheel) in clinical or other environments. The culmination of this research will be a commercially viable product available to research laboratories, seating/wheelchair clinics, wheelchair and accessory manufacturers, ADA consultants, and manufacturers of accessible surfaces (e.g. playgrounds, parks, etc.). PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The SMART(Wheel) will be a valuable tool for rehabilitation research labs, seating/wheelchair clinics, and wheelchair manufacturers. Many have already purchased SMART(Wheel)s, even when earlier versions of the SMART(Wheel) were less user-friendly. Because the SMART(Wheel) also facilitates the evaluation of the accessibility of surfaces, it will also be an important tool for ADA consultants, architects, regional planners, and manufacturers of accessible surfaces (e.g. playgrounds, parks, etc.).