WHEELCHAIR CUM STRETCHER

PRASANT PARAMATMUNI
NETTUR TECHNICAL TRAINING FOUNDATION, BANGALORE, INDIA
E-mail: paramatmuni_prasanth@yahoo.com

SURAJ S PARIKH
NETTUR TECHNICAL TRAINING FOUNDATION, BANGALORE, INDIA
E-mail: surajs_parikh@yahoo.com

SHRIKANT RAVAJI BHURE

NETTUR TECHNICAL TRAINING FOUNDATION, BANGALORE, INDIA
E-mail: shri_bhure1986@yahoo.com

CHRISTU RAJ
NETTUR TECHNICAL TRAINING FOUNDATION, BANGALORE, INDIA
E-mail: blackhawk619@gmail.com

DENNY V JOHNY
ENVENTURE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES PVT Ltd.
E-mail: dennyvj@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION

DISABILITY is the term which is in use from many

decades now. As per Oxford Etymology, DISABILITY
is used in many contexts viz, it was a sport in 1650s
with the name CAP IN HAND, it was used in horse
races in 1750s, in 1870s it is Any race or competition
in which the chances of the competitors are sought to
be equalized by giving an advantage to the less
efficient or imposing a disadvantage upon the more
efficient. Finally, the first use of handicap to designate
mental or physical impairment is recorded in a 1915
photo caption: The Handicapped Child. From 1915 the
word DISABILITY/HANDICAP has become the brand name for the people who are
physically or mentally challenged.

Disabilities is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and

participation restrictions. An impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an
activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or
action; while a participation restriction is a problem experienced by an individual in
involvement in life situations. Thus disability is a complex phenomenon, reflecting an
interaction between features of a persons body and features of the society in which
he or she lives
World Health Organization
Types of Disability:
Disability is caused by impairments to various subsystems of the body - these can be
broadly sorted into the following categories.

1. Physical Disability
2. Sensory Disability

a. Visual Impairment
b. Hearing Impairment
c. Olfactory and gustatory Impairment
d. Somatosensory Impairment
e. Balance Disorder
3.
4.
5.
6.

Intellectual Disability
Mental health and emotional disabilities
Developmental Disability
Nonvisible Disability

Physical Disability

Sensory Disability

MOBILITY AID:
A mobility aid is a device designed to assist walking or otherwise improve the
mobility of people with mobility impairment.
There are various walking aids which can help with impaired ability to walk and
wheelchairs or mobility scooters for more severe disability or longer journeys which
would otherwise be undertaken on foot. For people who are blind or visually impaired
the white cane and guide dog have a long history of use. Other aids can help with
mobility or transfer within a building or where there are changes of level.
Traditionally the phrase "mobility aid" has applied mainly to low technology
mechanical devices. The term also appears in government documents, for example
dealing with tax concessions of various kinds. It refers to those devices whose use
enables a freedom of movement similar to that of unassisted walking or standing up
from a chair.
Technical advances can be expected to increase the scope of these devices
considerably, for example by use of sensors and audio or tactile feedback.
Types of Mobility Aid
1. Walking aids
a. Cane
b. Crutches
c. Canes, crutches, and forearm crutch combinations
d. Walkers
e. Walker Cane Hybrid
f. Gait Trainers
2. Wheelchairs and Scooters
3. Stairlifts and similar devices
4. Others
a. Sling lifts
b. Lift chairs
c. Knee scooters
PROBLEM DEFINITION

The percentage of patients in India is increasing day by day. In hospitals patients

need to be shifted from wheelchair to stretcher, stretcher to beds, bed to wheelchair,
or vice versa; which creates unsafe conditions for patients. Transferring patients in
hospitals is a common problem for the caretakers
PROJECT SCOPE
Propose a design which will reduce the effort of the caretaker and provide a safer
transfer for the patients in hospitals.
LITRATURE STUDY
ABOUT THE PROBLEM
The problem of transfer patients exists from ancient times. People who got seriously
injured or ill, were carried by others by means of wooden stretcher with cloth or
leather tied to it. Later they were carried on wheels which reduced the effort of the
people carrying them. Today the problem still exists. Though we have evolved in the
field of healthcare and technology we are not yet able to address the problem
efficiently.
WHEELCHAIR
Wheelchairs have been around for hundreds of years, but early wheelchairs were
intended only to help a disabled individual move from point A to point B. As society
progressed and disabled individuals became more integrated, the role of the
wheelchair began to change as well. Wheelchairs are now considered not only a
means of transportation but also as a way to allow users to express their
individuality.

The earliest records of wheeled furniture was an inscription found on a stone

slate in China and a childs bed depicted in a frieze on a Greek vase, both dating
back to the 6th century B.C.E. The first records of wheeled seats being used for
transporting the disabled date to three centuries later in China; the Chinese used
their invented wheelbarrow to move people as well as heavy objects. A distinction
between the two functions was not made for another several hundred years until
when images of wheeled chairs made specifically to carry people begin to occur in
Chinese art. There were many attempts to connect furniture to wheels dating back to
the time of Christ. But perhaps the first wheelchair was invented for King Phillip II of
Spain. A drawing of the King dated 1595 shows him in a chair with wheels, armrests
and footrests. However, he needed assistance to propel it. In 1665 one of the first
self-propelled vehicles was invented by Stephan Farfler. Harry Jennings and his
disabled friend Herbert Everest, both mechanical engineers, invented the first
lightweight, steel, collapsible wheelchair in 1933. Mr. Everest had broken his back in
a mining accident. The two saw the business potential of the invention and went on
to become the first mass-manufacturers of wheelchairs: Everest and Jennings. Their
"x-brace" design is still in common use, albeit with updated materials and other
improvements. In the 1950s the first powered wheelchair was developed. It used a
motor to power the wheelchair. It was around the same time that wheelchair sports
were first started. In the year 1964 the first Paralympics games were held in Tokyo,
Japan.
Modern day wheel chairs contain light materials, microprocessor controlled
and many more sophisticated systems. There is a revolution of wheelchairs available
today driven by needs and desire or man today. The future expects a better range of
wheelchairs that could suit the imagination of the human mind and serve the needy.
The basic structure of the wheelchair contains various parts. In simple words
its nothing but a set of wheels attached to a chair. There are some important things a
wheelchair must contain. A seat must be comfortable, so that the person does not
get tired sitting on it for a long time. It must contain a backrest that provides a good
lumbar support. It must have an arm rest at an optimum height and a also a foot rest.
The most important think is it must have brakes for the wheels.

Since the birth of the wheelchair there have been many modifications in its design.
Today there exists a huge variety of wheelchairs- manually, electric, or self propelled,
foldable or rigid. Apart from these they are classified based on their usage, standing
wheelchair, sports wheelchair, mobility scooters, bathroom wheelchair, steps
climbing wheelchair etc. The range of wheelchairs reflects the demand to meet
individual needs.

TYPES OF WHEELCHAIRS
Some of the types of wheelchairs are discussed below :

Manual wheelchairs
Manual wheelchairs are those moved by the user or an attendant. By controlling the
push rims, users can travel forward and backward at speeds dictated by the amount
of force they are able to apply, they can also turn left or right and negotiate small
dips and rises that lie ahead.
.
Manual Transit wheelchairs
Manual transit chairs generally have small rear wheels without push rims. These
wheelchairs are most likely to be seen in buildings such as airports and hospitals
where porters act as attendants. These are also called manual transfer chairs.
Electric wheelchairs
Power (Electric) Wheelchairs are also called motorized wheelchairs and sometimes
abbreviated EPW (electric powered wheelchairs); are powered by an electric motor.
These chairs are navigated by controls systems. Individuals too weak to maneuver a
manually powered or standard wheelchair benefit from power chairs, as do
individuals with heart and/or breathing conditions.
Wheelbase
A wheelbase chair, otherwise known as a scooter, has four small wheels extending
from a low platform. The type of chair mounted on this platform varies according to
the disability and needs of the user; some are even molded from a cast taken of the
users most appropriate sitting position. The controls of the wheelbase chair are
mounted on a frame that curves upward from the front of the platform to a height and
position convenient for the user. A horizontal steering bar is attached across the top
of the frame.
Sports chairs
Since the 1970s, disabled athletes have had an increasing array of specialized
wheelchairs to help them achieve the most from their chosen sport. These chairs can
look very different from each other, but what they usually have in common is
lightweight frames made from composite material; solidity (which means that they do
not fold); and enhanced stability for sudden turns (this is achieved by using angled
wheels).Sports wheelchairs or recreation wheelchairs are specially designed for

athletes with disabilities who are competing in sports that require agility and speed
such as basketball, tennis, rugby or racing.
Stand-up
Stand-up wheelchairs are fitted with a hydraulic pump that lifts and tilts the seat,
thereby enabling the user to "stand up" and yet be fully supported. This is an
invaluable feature if the user needs to reach an item on a shelf either at home or
while out shopping
Stair-climbing wheelchairs
Climbing stairs is the ultimate test for a wheelchair, and there are a number of
solutions available. Battery-operated supports at the back that act as stabilisers as
the chair climbs.
A series of flexible wheels turning within rubber tracks that grip the steps.
.
STRETCHER
A stretcher is a medical device to carry patients for a short duration of time. A
stretcher contains a surface which support for carrying patients, and has handles on
either side along its length to help carry it.
Stretchers have been used since antiquity, on battlefields and in emergency
situations, where wheeled vehicles are hindered by rough terrain. In their simplest
form, they generally consisted of a canvas sling with long edges sewn to themselves
to form pockets through with wooden poles could be slid. Today there are a wide
variety of stretchers available, involving light weight materials, attachments so that it
can be fitted to other contraptions.
TYPES OF STRETCHERS
Some of the types of stretchers are explained below :
Basket stretcher
A basket stretcher is used in situation when an injured person needs transportation
by foot to medical attention. The stretcher disassembles in two halves, and if needed
for rescue assembles in seconds.

Ambulance stretcher
An ambulance stretcher, also known as a little or gurney, consists of a solid frame
and a heavy-duty cloth that stretches across it. The ambulance often gives a rough
ride. This type of stretcher absorbs part of the impact to prevent further injury.
Ambulance stretchers often adjust in position, aiding the paramedic in tending to the
injured persons needs.
Folding stretchers
A folding stretcher is used to transport the injured from the inside of a building to an
ambulance stretcher. It is portable and folds in half for convent storage. This
stretcher is also light weight when carried, and made of high strength materials. They
are available in several sizes to fit people of various sizes.
Pole Stretcher
The military often used pole stretchers to transport the wounded to a medical facility.
The stretcher have heavy-duty poles that extend on each side so two men can carry
it. Pole stretchers also are lightweight, and have no-slip handgrips for firm control
while handling.

THEME BOARD

CONCEPTS

CONCEPT SELECTION
Various concepts were generated and selection was based on a matrix comparison
involving all the concepts and some parameters.

CONCEPT REFINEMENT
Based on the selection some refinements were made.

Above Fig depicts the folding mechanism of product. Link 1 is the back rest, link 2
is seating area, link 3 is leg support. Link a is perpendicular to link 1 and link e
is perpendicular to link 3. Link c is a ball screw which moves linearly to and fro on
the lead screw which is shown in dotted line. Link e and link a is connected to
link c by other links d and b respectively. Red arrow shows the ball screw moving to
the right of the reader upon which the product will become stretcher or bed and this
conversion is done when the desired entire platform is raised to desired position.
When the ball screw is moved to left of reader product becomes a wheelchair and
this conversion is done when the desired entire platform is raised to desired position.
Height adjustment is done with the help of pneumatic cylinder mechanism. There will
be totally 4 pneumatic cylinders which are at the 4 corners of the seating area which
are actuated to change the height.

ERGONOMIC DETAILS
We know that Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline
concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements
of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to
design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.
As our study is focused on handling of elderly people & patients in hospitals
during shifting from one mobility aid (wheelchair, stretcher)to another, we considered
Ergonomics involved &Indian Public Health Standards for design of proposed
concept.
As per Indian Public Standards every Hospital should have Barrier free
access environment for easy access to non-ambulant (Wheelchair, stretcher), semi
ambulant visually disabled & elderly persons as per Govt. of India guidelines.
Below fig. shows Anthropometric data of wheelchair user related to uses within easy
reach.

ANTHROPOMETRY DATA
Human dimensions are considered for both male and female and 95 percentile for
stature, maximum body breadth relaxed,

Stature
95th percentile
1771 mm
(combined)

Maximum body
breadth relaxed
95th percentile
619 mm (combined)

Hip
95th percentile
406 mm
(combined)

DETAIL DESIGN
Uniqueness of this design is when the product is in stretcher or bed mode height will
match the conventional stretcher or bed. Height is adjustable to bed or stretcher or
wheelchair or to any height desired. Conversion from wheelchair to bed or stretcher
or vice versa can be done by both the patient and handler. Below are the three
different platforms of product
g. Backrest
h. Seating Portion
i. Leg support

Ratchets are provided at the joint where these meet so that it will lock at each step of
conversion assuring the safety while converting. Ratchets are also provided to the
Upper legs so that those will be in locked position when the product is in wheelchair
mode. Detailed images are as below

LEVER WHEEL WHICH

HELPS IN
CONVERSIONPOSITIONS OF
RATCHETS

FINAL PRODUCT

CONCLUSION:
The main objective of this product is to make the helper life easy and to make sure
the patient is not hurt during the process of treatment. This product eliminates the
step of shifting patient from bed or stretcher to wheelchair and vice versa as handling
of old age people is very difficult.

REFERENCES:

An

Integrated

Decision

Making

Model

for

Evaluation

of

Concept

Design:http://ctn.cvut.cz/ap/, ActaPolytechnica Vol. 44 No. 3/2004, Czech

Technical University Publishing House

Bariatric Bed: http://www.camtecproducts.com/3954b.html, Camtec
Dr. S. Ray, Disabled Persons in India",
Spinal Cord Injury; Available from: www.apparelyzed.com, August 2007
Guidelines & Space Standards for Barrier Free Built Environment for

Disabled & Elderly People By Central Public Works Department of India

Indian anthropometric dimensions for ergonomic design practice, by NID