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New Wheelchair Keeps People on the Move
Imagine losing use of your legs, and still
being able to stand up. It's possible, with a new self-propelled wheelchair
that knows how to keep its balance.
The Independence iBOT 3000 Mobility System is
a battery-operated wheelchair that will enable people with mobility
impairments to go up and down stairs, reach high shelves, climb curbs,
travel over a wide variety of terrain, negotiate uneven or inclined
surfaces, and hold eye-level conversations with others who are standing.
The Food and Drug Administration expedited
review of the iBOT because it represents a breakthrough technology with the
potential to benefit people with disabilities. "Its approval is emblematic
of FDA's commitment to help innovative medical technologies reach patients
promptly," says FDA Commissioner Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. According to
the FDA, which approved the device in August 2003, an estimated 2 million
Americans use wheelchairs.
Powered by a rechargeable battery that can
operate up to a full day on a single charge, the wheelchair uses an
integrated system of software, sensors, and electronics to automatically
adjust itself according to the seat's movement and the user's center of
gravity.
To select the mode of operation, the user
pushes a button to command either standard, 4-wheel drive, balance, stair
climbing, or remote functions. A joystick controls the speed and direction
of travel. The iBOT can be easily converted from a standard chair, with four
wheels in contact with the ground, to an elevated chair balanced on only two
wheels. This allows the user to reach high objects or to be at eye level for
conversations. The user shifts his or her weight over the back wheels and
the iBOT system responds by lifting one pair of wheels off the ground, while
balancing on the other pair of wheels. |
