Other

University of Pittsburgh

Todd Hargroder

Scott Sledge

Rory Alan Cooper

Jonathan Lee Pearlman

Hongwu Wang

Eun-Kyoung Hong

Benjamin Arthur Salatin

Hsin-Yi Llu

The present invention discloses a surgical traction system with a hand gripped tension adjustment device that slidably mounts onto a boom structure. When activated the tension adjustment device moves down the boom structure and incrementally adjusts the tension in a traction rope. The boom structure attaches to a bracket assembly that mounts onto the short end of a surgical table.

Surgical traction system

Surgical traction tension adjustment device

Mounting bracket for use with a surgical table

The disclosure describes an improved apparatus for converting a manually-powered wheelchair into an electrically powered wheelchair. The apparatus comprises a frame, at least one powered drive wheel, at least one motor powering said drive wheel, and at least one power base axle receiver capable of connecting with an existing axle receiver of a manually powered wheelchair. The apparatus further includes an anti-tip/counterbalance mechanism to prevent a user from losing control and falling backward when the power base attachment is connected. The apparatus uses the existing axle receiver of a manual wheelchair as a universal connection point and to maintain the center of gravity for a user.

Power base attachment

Angle adjustable backrest made of a lightweight, durable, adjustable, backrest for ultralight manual wheelchairs. Light-weight material can include composites for a rigid backrest for promotion of healthier and functional interface. Angle adjustment can be any desired range such as a range from &#x2212;5 degree to 55 degrees (i.e. 85 degrees to 145 degree with respect to horizontal with the seat). No tools are necessary for any of the angle adjustments. The backrest has a horizontal adjustment (fore-aft) that can be any desired range such as 1 inch. The height selection depends on the length of the wheelchair frame tubes. The present invention improves the ease and simplicity of adjusting the backrest by or for the user, as well as enhances the aesthetic appearance and adds features necessary for achieving commercial readiness. The present invention can be retro fit onto a wide range for ultralight wheelchairs.

User adjustable wheelchair backrest mounting hardware

Manual braking system with a variable braking force for a wheelchair. Caliper type brakes positioned to mount on and exert braking force on disks mounted to interior 'disk' hubs rotatably mounted to the wheelchair frame wheel hubs are mated with the 'disk' hubs with a push button release pin allowing the wheel to be quickly removed without disturbing disk braking system. Caliper brakes are actuated by a manual lever arm, cable and pulley combination mounted to the frame of the wheelchair. The lever is provided with and without a plunger mechanism. A plunger mechanism allows the user to maintain the manual braking force exerted on lever without hands. The plunger mechanism is fixably mounted and positioned to insert a plunger head into notches on the lever. The force exerted by the plunger head is sufficient to hold the plunger head within the notch and prevent movement of the lever without manual force.

Manual brake for a wheelchair with a variable braking force

A quick release detachable wheel hub assembly is shown for a lightweight manual wheelchair. The wheelchair wheels mount on exterior hubs and rotate therewith. The inner face out of each of the exterior hubs mates with an opposing outer face of interior hubs. One of the opposing faces on the hubs has a projection or a plurality of projections which fit snugly into corresponding openings on the opposing face of the other hub when the opposing faces of the hubs are mated. The interior hubs are mounted and rotate on detachable axles which screw into the wheelchair frame. A quick release, removable locking pin is inserted through the center of the hubs and into detachable axle and locked in place and thereby causing the hubs to be locked and rotate together. The wheels are quickly detached by simply removing the locking pins and pulling apart the hubs.

Quick release detachable wheels

An electrical braking system is shown for a lightweight manual wheelchair. A rechargeable battery source on the wheelchair connects through a switch to a linear actuator for operation of an actuator rod. The actuator rod connects through a pulley to a single braking cable that connects to left and right caliper brakes mounted on the left and right wheels. Moving the center OFF switch a first direction will move the actuator rod, pull the braking cable, and apply both brakes. Moving the center OFF switch a second direction will move the actuator rod the opposite direction which releases the braking cable and hence the brakes. As soon as the switch returns to OFF, the linear actuator maintains the same amount of braking pressure, if any. A limit switch prevents too much braking pressure from being applied and protects the linear actuator.

Electric brake system for manual wheelchairs

An improved shower/bathtub transfer chair that is capable of disassembly into five basic components. The chair seat and back structures, separable from each other and from the support frame for the device, serve as two of the five components. The remaining three components include an inside leg frame component, an outside leg frame component, and a cross frame component. When disassembled through the use of locking pin mechanisms, each of the five components described provide a generally planar geometry that can be stacked and arranged within a rectangular, suitcase-styled enclosure, for transport and/or storage.

Growing community of inventors

San Antonio, TX, United States of America

Todd Hargroder