Looking for feedback for designing a wheelchair to bed transfer device
Hi, I am a student studying mechanical engineering. I am starting work on my senior capstone project which is to design a system to help people move between their wheelchairs and bed.
Right now, my team and I are simply trying to get information about what products already exist, what is the most favored type of system, and what people would like to see added or changed. We are looking to design something that can be operated by the person in the wheelchair themselves, or operated by a separate person helping with the transfer.
From what we have been able to find so far, it would seem that a form of transfer board is the favorite system. If there is any sort of feedback that you could give us it will be greatly appreciated. Hopefully we will be able to design something that works well and addresses the issues that exist in this type of movement today.
If anybody can suggest other subreddits to post in that would also be great.
Posted Sep 6, 2014, 3:22 AM UTC
Well yes, the preferred method for those who need an aid is the straight or banana boards - simple and relatively cheap.
The only other method is the hoist, which always requires another person to ensure the sling is properly underneath you, and to do the actual transfer movement.
I'm not entirely sure whether you're trying to reinvent the wheel here; between the boards and the hoist pretty much all eventualities are covered; unless there's something I'm missing. Anyone?
(Saying that I did get to see a prototype of a new catheter last week which is simply amazing…and something which was so "why hasn't anyone thought of that before" that OP may come up with something.)
Edit: word wrong.
[deleted]
I'm under a strict NDA, but they're doing worldwide interviews (for money) so enquire here.
Can you give me a direct link because I can't find it. I would really appreciate it !
I actually found them on Facebook, so I think a general email to then about it might work, failing that I'll check with them if it's okay for me to PM you (or post publicly) an email address - they certainly want as many people on board with this as possible.
Right now we are probably just going to try and improve on the design of a transfer board. Are there any issues that you have with using transfer boards? Not necessarily major design flaws, but even something that can be annoying over time.
The only issue I've had with the transfer board is that on a very uneven transfer you can start to slide back down when transferring up. Making the board have more friction would rip up clothes. The boards also take up room, making them annoying to transport (ie I don't toss one in my bag for everywhere travel)
The only other thing I would like solved is when transferring to a soft bed like a foam bed, the bed height drastically compresses when you put weight on it, which causes issues. Yes I could sleep in a hard bed, but I simply love my old bed.
The last thing to make life easier would be a cheap and efficient way to even the height from my chair to wherever I'm transferring too. Even height transfers are 1million times easier than uneven transfers for newbies like myself.
Personally, I don't have any problems with the transfer board aside from getting into / out of different level cars; but if push comes to shove I use one of these.
I didn't realise until I had a look, that there are actually quite a lot of different boards already on the market.
Maybe you could also ask this question in r/wheelchairs which is probably a better subreddit than general disability.