Developing instrumentation and techniques to assess the biomechanical performance of SideStix high-performance crutches and other commonly used upper body ambulatory aids

Sidestix Ventures Inc.是一家总部位于不列颠哥伦比亚省的公司，致力于开发移动技术。其旗舰产品系列SideStix高性能前臂拐杖的开发旨在通过使用正在申请专利的动态轴、拐杖脚处的球窝关节以及符合人体工程学设计的手柄和袖口来改善手部和手臂的力传递，从而减少拐杖步态对身体的影响。 SideStix产品针对的是越来越多的下肢残疾人，他们尽管有残疾，但能够利用上肢助行器来追求身体活跃的生活方式。该项目的重点是开发一种仪器，用于在相关（实验室外）环境中量化SideStix拐杖独特功能的生物力学性能。作为该项目的一部分，SideStix Ventures将与多伦多大学生物材料和生物医学工程研究所的Jan Andrysek博士合作开发仪器，利用他和他的团队在生物力学，仪器步态评估和移动辅助步态评估领域的丰富经验。 结合来自仪器化人体运动实验室的数据，将开发和调整的仪器将提供有关步态期间身体和拐杖之间的界面力的关键信息。对于Sidestix Ventures来说，获得这些信息非常重要，因为它将有助于指导SideStix产品的进一步技术开发。它还将帮助他们更清楚地界定和宣传产品的有益功能属性，从而增加竞争优势。 SideStix拐杖是一种瑞士制造的产品，通过促进身体活动的生活方式和减少与拐杖步态相关的继发性健康并发症，有可能改善个人的健康。

Sidestix Ventures Inc. is a company based out of British Columbia that develops technologies to enable mobility. Its flagship product line, the SideStix high-performance forearm crutches has been developed to reduce the physical impact of crutch gait through the use of a patent pending dynamic shaft, ball-and-socket joint at the crutch foot, and ergonomically-designed handles and cuffs to improve the transmission of forces to the hands and arms. The SideStix product is targeted at a growing population of individuals with lower-limb impairments who, despite their disabilities, are able to utilize upper-limb walking aids to pursue physically active lifestyles. The focus of this project is to develop an instrument to quantify the biomechanical performance of the unique features of the SideStix crutches, in relevant (out-of lab) environments. As part of this project, SideStix Ventures will work with Dr. Jan Andrysek at the University of Toronto Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering to develop the instrumentation, drawing from his and his team's extensive experience in the area of biomechanics, instrumented gait assessments, and evaluation of mobility-aid assisted gait. In combination with data from an instrumented human movement laboratory, the instruments that will be developed and adapted will provide key information about the interfacial forces between the body and crutches during gait. For Sidestix Ventures, gaining this information is important as it will help guide further technical development of the SideStix products. It will also help them to more clearly define and advertise the beneficial functional attributes of the product, thus increasing the competitive advantage. The SideStix crutch is a Canadian-manufactured product that has the potential to improve health of individuals by facilitating a physically active lifestyle and decreasing secondary health complications associated with crutch gait.