Sam BarclayTanya Holubiak

Jordan Landreth

Using a walker to navigate inclines can be hard for patients.  Walking up stairs has always been a challenge with the best method being to turn the walker sideways and manage with one handle and the stairwell's handrail.  Some stairwells do not have handrails through which can make traversing the stairwell nearly impossible for patients (especially pediatric or weakened ones).

There isn’t a ramp in every facility

Very unstable to use a walker on its side

All sets of stairs are not the same size

Detrimental socially

Having limited mobility can be a burden, especially for adolescents and youthsDependent on someone to aid going up and down

stairs Confidence plummets

Lack of independenceLead to defeatist attitudeCurtail physical therapy

Having a walker that increases mobility up and down stairs will increase a sense of independence, which will lead to an increase in confidence

Design a walker for children, adolescents, and adults to be used on level surfaces and on stairs.

The walker designed must be stable to ensure comfort going up and down stairs.

Devices on walker must not require large amounts of strength nor be too complicated that a child could not operate.

•Develop a functional prototype •Prototype helps disabled users easily transverse stairs•Must be affordable •Prototype must support up 300 lbs for adults•Prototype must be easily adjustable & lightweight

Conclusions from market research:

No similar products generally available Strong need for patients with walkers who encounter stairs Prototype can be created at reasonable cost 0ver 6 million people per year use walkers

Positive trends in healthcare for our product:

1. increasing chronic health conditions, 2. aging of the baby boomers3. consumer driven healthcare

Construction Costs: Ed medical standard walker at wholesale price: $ 60.00 Additional walker legs and pipes (aluminum) = $33.00 Industrial Springs = $6.00 each (2 per walker) Pins for walker legs = $1.00 each (2 per walker) Plastic pivoting break system = $13.00

Total production cost: $120

Ancillary Costs:

Medical Mobility parts catalog = $14.99 Research Materials: $ 5.00 Gas, shipping, ect.

Brainstorming, analysis of current walker, background research, consideration of alternatives, advisors, ….

First Design Idea: Adjustable parallel column for back legs Utilizing hook-locking system with hand brake Industrial springs used to power

Adjustment mechanism Hand brake mechanism similar to bike

brake with high gauge wire

We decided against first design schematic because:

• Too many moving parts ( system looks bulky and ugly)• Problems acquiring materials:• stress & strain Calculations, weight requirements

New Approach:

• Adjustable legs without exterior column system•Industrial spring inside column for adjustment•Perforated metal mold with pin locking system

Use second set of detent buttons higher up to allow for more variability

Use only 2 heights to account for ADA ruling on stair height

Allow for spring to push back to full length

More aluminum for testing Dented buttons – one sided 10 lb resistant spring Drill to make new holes in aluminum Plastic pivoting rear “ski” break

Analyze for safety issuesLook at support of thinner tubePerform mechanical testingLook for failure points in locking mechanism

Look into alternative breaking systems from detent buttons

Do intensive cost analysis

Questions?