A Study of Designing Lightweight Recreational Wheelchair Used by Spinal Cord Injury Patients as an Example

• Main Authors: Man-Chun Wang, 王嫚君
• Other Authors: Wei-Ko Chiou
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2005
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/56045242265763660681

碩士 === 長庚大學 === 工業設計研究所 === 93 === This study focuses on the practice of design of recreational wheelchairs for spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries are often occurred in the younger age groups which possesses the urges and the abilities for outings. In spite of the needs, the lacking of recreational outdoor wheelchairs is still emerged in the domestic market. Lightening the weight makes it easy for people with spinal cord injuries to go on their outing; however, most importantly, it could reduce the secondary functional impairment that is caused by operating the wheelchair. In addition, outdoor recreational activities would also effectively minimize the occurrence of cardiopulmonary complications. This study intends to take into considerations, during the process of the wheelchair design, the physiological and psychological needs of the spinal cord injuries. Based on the theory of medical therapeutics, it also aims to achieve rehabilitation and to reduce the occurrence of complications. From the viewpoints of spinal cord injury patient, it provides the users convenience in their daily lives and to preserve their dignity. Using lightweight wheelchairs as a cut-in point, this study takes the people with spinal cord injuries of the 6th cervical vertebra (C6) and below as its user group. From the point of medical therapeutics, it targets to reduce the secondary functional impairment and the occurrence of cardiopulmonary complications. Moreover, by using the adjustable mechanisms that increase the resistance at the rear axle, it also aims to exam the cardiopulmonary system. As for the medical aids products, this study proposes an R&D procedure using the analytical approach of User-Tool-Task. It first aims at the mechanical functional design, followed by the industrial design and the verification of the final product. The study utilizes the User-Tool-Task interfacing analysis method. Through interviews with users, it analyzes and induces the functional requirements of a recreational wheelchair. Two types of experiment were conducted in this study: functional tests on the lightweight wheelchair, and the tests on the adjustable weight training mechanism. Finally, the effectiveness of both the lightweight products and its weight training mechanism were approved in this study. The results obtained in the study were applied into the design of wheelchair. Additionally, the concept suggested at the expert evaluation was designed into the fabrication prototype, and final mockup, which was re-evaluated by experts and users to verify the effectiveness of the design. In addition to the testify of R&D procedure in the practical results of the study, it also approved that it is effective to be lightweight and to include the weight training mechanism on recreational wheelchairs. Therefore, the design of the lightweight recreational wheelchair fulfills the functional requirements of the medical rehabilitation and the needs of our people.