Walker Redesign: Redesigning a W alker that C an Easily Ascend and Descend Stairs

1. Walker Redesign:Redesigning a Walker that Can Easily Ascend and Descend Stairs Sam Barclay Tanya Holubiak Jordan Landreth

2. Problem Statement 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).

3. Proof of Need • 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

4. Social Impact • Having limited mobility can be a burden, especially for adolescents and youths • Dependent on someone to aid going up and down stairs • Confidence plummets • Lack of independence • Lead to defeatist attitude • Curtail 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

5. How to Apply • 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.

6. Performance Criteria • 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

7. Market Potential 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: • increasing chronic health conditions, • aging of the baby boomers • consumer driven healthcare

8. Budget & Cost of Production Construction Costs: • Ed medical standard walker at wholesale price: $ 60.00 • Additional walker legs and pipes (aluminum) = $33.00 • Industrial Springs • Double detent buttons • Grabber = $17.03 (2 needed) • Bike brake system = $40.00 Ancillary Costs: • Medical Mobility parts catalog = $14.99 • Research Materials: $ 5.00 • Gas, shipping, ect.

9. First Approach • Brainstorming, analysis of current walker, background research, consideration of alternatives, advisors, …. Final 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

10. Design Components • 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

11. Materials • More aluminum for testing • Dented buttons – double sided • 40 lb resistant spring • Drill to make new holes in aluminum • Plastic pivoting rear “ski” break

12. Completed Work • E-mailed Phil Davis for advise on building our prototype • Talked to a senior undergraduate mechanical engineering student for help with ProE • Talked to local bike shop about braking system • Looked up pricing in McMaster catalog for project components • Found website to obtain springs for our specific purpose • Discussed with Dr. King our design • Met with advisor Teresa • Decided on a final design and discussed the steps to make prototype

13. Future Work • Analyze for safety issues • Look into putting on breaking systems Do intensive cost analysis • Contact other machinists for aid in constructing our prototype • Make ProE drawing of the double detent button we wanted • Have prototype finished by mid to end of March

14. The End • Questions?