Abstract
| Grant Number: | 5R44HD035793-03 |
| PI Name: | MEGINNISS, STEVE M. |
| PI Email: | megtron@oz.net |
| PI Title: | PRES / CEO |
| Project Title: | TWO-SPEED MANUAL WHEELCHAIR WHEEL |
Abstract: DESCRIPTION (Applicant's Abstract): Phase I of the
Two-Speed Manual Wheelchair Wheel project proved the feasibility of
making a unique hypocycloidal 2-speed wheel incorporating important
features aimed at enabling greater mobility, safety and comfort for
wheelchair users. 100 percent of the prototype 2-speed wheel test
subjects' felt these features would significantly improve their
everyday mobility. A quick release axle mounting system allowed
installation of Magic Wheels on 50 percent of the test subjects'
personal wheelchairs without an adapter or modification. Phase II will
allow us to bring the 2-speed wheels closer to market. This funding
will cover the redesign of the product to optimize manufacturability,
functionality and user friendliness. Additional wheel mounting adapters
will be designed to accommodate a large number of existing wheelchair
models. Computerized Finite Element Analysis (FEA) will be used to
minimize component weight. Bridge tooling will be used to build 50 sets
of 2-speed wheels for extensive clinical testing I evaluation. The
clinical test program (in year two) will: 1) measure attributes of the
two-speed wheels in every day living situations and 2) demonstrate,
both quantitatively and qualitatively, improved mobility in ramp
climbing / descending from 1:12 slope (normal wheelchair ramp) to 1:4
slope (very steep, not climbable with standard wheelchair). PROPOSED
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Our goal is to greatly enhance the mobility of
the over 1.2 million people (US) who live in manual wheelchairs and to
have our two-speed manual wheels become the preferred wheel for special
grade wheelchairs. The demonstrated ability of Magic Wheels to be
installed easily on most existing manual wheelchairs should allow fast
penetration of the wheelchair wheel market through a multi-level sales
program (including Internet sales). Market research indicates a 5 year
potential to grow a $30-50 million per year company (employing over a
hundred people) selling the two-speed wheels and related products.
Thesaurus Terms:
assistive device /technology, biomedical equipment development
evaluation /testing, person with disability
bioengineering /biomedical engineering, clinical research, human subject
| Institution: | MAGIC WHEELS, INC. |
| 3434 10TH AVE W |
| SEATTLE, WA 98119 |
| Fiscal Year: | 2002 |
| Department: | |
| Project Start: | 29-SEP-1998 |
| Project End: | 28-FEB-2004 |
| ICD: | NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT |
| IRG: | ZRG1 |