AidMotion

Redesigning four-wheel walkers for improved manoeuvrability and user satisfaction in Australia.

Team Size:
1
Location:
Australia
Founders:
Tom Cronin
Program(s):

The Problem

I am looking to solve the problem of falls in Australia. Falls are widespread and can cause serious injuries which may result in death. Falls affect the person involved, their families, the healthcare system and the Australian economy. For those who recover from a fall, there is a high likelihood that their independence at home could be lost. The highest predictor of falls is a previous fall. This perpetuates a debilitating, negative cycle. Growing evidence highlights that some walker users are dissatisfied with their current walkers. These factors include walker handling, weight, outdoor use and servicing. These are preventable, improvable risk factors which may be currently contributing to Australians falling when using their walkers. These factors may also incite the falls which result from the disuse of the current walkers. Users often do not use the walker recommended to them because the current walkers must not aptly fit that user’s purpose, their goals and their needs.

The Solution

All current four-wheel walkers have two free-moving wheels at the front and two fixed wheels at the back, just like a car. This makes them very difficult to manoeuvre. The novel design of having four free-moving wheels provides the walker the same freedom of movement as a shopping trolley, and thus, fixes this problem. A widened wheelbase for the two wheels near the user’s feet reduce the risk of the sideways moving wheels getting in the way of the user's feet. A completely novel, hand-operated brake design to brake the rotation of a castor wheel and the spinning of the wheel was required and has been 3D printed. This new four-wheel walker provides a viable option for users deemed appropriate. The new walker obviously is less stable than the current walkers as it can generate sideways movement. However, it will address the gap in needs, goals and function for Australians who do not want the restrictions of the current walker but are not steady enough to use a walking stick.