Medical Design and Outsourcing

  • Home
  • Medical Device Business
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Financial
    • Regulatory
  • Applications
    • Cardiovascular
    • Devices
    • Imaging
    • Implantables
    • Medical Equipment
    • Orthopedic
    • Surgical
  • Technologies
    • Contract Manufacturing
    • Components
    • Electronics
    • Extrusions
    • Materials
    • Motion Control
    • Prototyping
    • Pumps
    • Tubing
  • Med Tech Resources
    • DeviceTalks Tuesdays
    • Digital Editions
    • eBooks
    • Manufacturer Search
    • Medical Device Handbook
    • MedTech 100 Index
    • Podcasts
    • Print Subscription
    • The Big 100
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Video
  • 2022 Leadership in MedTech
    • 2022 Leadership Voting!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
  • Women in Medtech

Wheelchair Allows Users to Stand, Lie Down, Tilt Up, Tilt Down

March 27, 2019 By Tierney King

As much value as wheelchairs bring to wheelchair users, they have quite a few limitations as well, such as keeping individuals in one up-right position. In an attempt to address this challenge, a team has created AbleChair on Kickstarter, which allows wheelchair users to switch up their positions via a wireless phone app.

The AbleChair promotes mobility, therapy, position control, and transfers, and contains a lift adjustment mechanism that hoists people in the air to adjust their position. By using a variety of brushless motors, and Arduino controllers and sensors, the chair can remain at ground level, or raise or drop the seat accordingly so users can stretch their bodies.

The chair also has a tilt function, which enables users to adjust the angle of the seat so they can recline slightly or be in a full, upright position. Both the tilt and lifting mechanisms are controlled via the smartphone app, and users can preprogram their favorite positions.

The entire reason the AbleChair was created was to provide greater health benefits to those who use a wheelchair and allow for more independence. For instance, if someone in a wheelchair cannot reach a cupboard to grab a cup, they could now raise themselves up independently and reach the cup using their app. Pertaining to health, the chair helps avoid ulcers, stretches muscles, improves bone density by shifting positions, increases blood circulation, and improves posture.

The chair also has another ability where it can act as a rehabilitation tool for gait therapy. The AbleChair can become an effective gait system so individuals can practice walking at home, rather than going into a clinic to practice. With the armrests and optional harness, the seat offers controlled weight bearing. It also can lie completely flat, so individuals can take a break when needed. A few gait training benefits include improved lung function, lower risk of pressure sores, improved visual awareness, better bowel and bladder function, and more.

Currently, the AbleChair can travel for 15 to 20 miles and can reach speeds of 4 mph—don’t expect to be zooming at tops speeds with this thin. The chair is starting at $7,995, and the company hopes to start shipping in October of this year.

Related Articles Read More >

DermaSensor skin cancer MedTech Innovator DeviceTalks Boston
DermaSensor wins MedTech Innovator Mid-Stage Companies Pitch Event
Product packaging for the Lucira combination COVID-19 and flu test
Lucira Health asks FDA for EUA on molecular at-home COVID/flu test
gBETA Medtech accelerator picks its next startups
Hologic
Hologic handily beats the Street with Q2 results

DeviceTalks Weekly.

May 20, 2022
DeviceTalks Boston Post-Game – Editors’ Top Moments, Insulet’s Eric Benjamin on future of Omnipod 5
See More >

MDO Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Subscribe to Medical Design & Outsourcing. Bookmark, share and interact with the leading medical design engineering magazine today.

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
DeviceTalks

DeviceTalks is a conversation among medical technology leaders. It's events, podcasts, webinars and one-on-one exchanges of ideas & insights.

DeviceTalks

New MedTech Resource

Medical Tubing

Enewsletter Subscriptions

Enewsletter Subscriptions

MassDevice

Mass Device

The Medical Device Business Journal. MassDevice is the leading medical device news business journal telling the stories of the devices that save lives.

Visit Website
MDO ad
Medical Design and Outsourcing
  • MassDevice
  • DeviceTalks
  • MedTech 100 Index
  • Medical Tubing + Extrusion
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World
  • R&D World
  • About Us/Contact
  • Advertise With Us
  • Subscribe to Print Magazine
  • Subscribe to E-newsletter
  • Attend our Monthly Webinars
  • Listen to our Weekly Podcasts
  • Join our DeviceTalks Tuesdays Discussion

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Medical Design & Outsourcing

  • Home
  • Medical Device Business
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Financial
    • Regulatory
  • Applications
    • Cardiovascular
    • Devices
    • Imaging
    • Implantables
    • Medical Equipment
    • Orthopedic
    • Surgical
  • Technologies
    • Contract Manufacturing
    • Components
    • Electronics
    • Extrusions
    • Materials
    • Motion Control
    • Prototyping
    • Pumps
    • Tubing
  • Med Tech Resources
    • DeviceTalks Tuesdays
    • Digital Editions
    • eBooks
    • Manufacturer Search
    • Medical Device Handbook
    • MedTech 100 Index
    • Podcasts
    • Print Subscription
    • The Big 100
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Video
  • 2022 Leadership in MedTech
    • 2022 Leadership Voting!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
  • Women in Medtech