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Evaluation of scooters using ANSI/RESNA standards. Ana E. Souza, PhD, PT; Jonathan L. Pearlman, PhD; Rosemarie Cooper, MPT; Annmarie Kelleher, OTR/L, MS; Benjamin Gebrosky, BS; Rory A. Cooper, PhD. Aim
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Evaluation of scooters using ANSI/RESNA standards Ana E. Souza, PhD, PT; Jonathan L. Pearlman, PhD; Rosemarie Cooper, MPT; Annmarie Kelleher, OTR/L, MS; Benjamin Gebrosky, BS; Rory A. Cooper, PhD
Aim • Evaluate and compare scooter model performance on American National Standards Institute/ Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (ANSI/RESNA) tests. • Relevance • Absence of objective test reports and evidence of high rate of wheelchair breakdowns in community have led to speculation that not all commercially available devices meet ANSI/RESNA standards.
Method • Tested 12 three-wheeled scooters according to ANSI/RESNA wheelchair standards. • Scooter models • Victory, Gogo, Golden Companion (GC) I, and GC II. • Tests • Static stability; dynamic stability; effectiveness of brakes; energy consumption; maximum speed, acceleration, and deceleration; climatic; static, impact, and fatigue; power and control systems; tiller.
Results • Stability • Most: Victory and GC II. • Least: Gogo. • Environmental conditions • 3 Gogo, 1 GC I, 1 GC II failed. • Power and control systems • All GC I and II scooters failed parts of. • Static and impact • All scooters passed. • However, all Gogo scooters and one GC II scooter had structural or motor failure during durability tests. • Survival life • 62,512 to 1,178,230 cycles out of 400,000 needed to pass. • Tiller failures • Occurred with average 1,483 N applied force.
Conclusion • Results showed inconsistent responses from scooter models within each standard test. • Suggests current models on market: • Are not as reliable as they should be. • May be putting users at risk of injuries. • Results provided quantitative data that will: • Benefit quality of future scooters developed. • Help clinicians and users identify appropriate device for specific user.