This project involved designing and fabricating an assistive device. The client served by the device has a neurological disorder called dystonia that has rendered her arms and hands essentially useless for functional activities and has confined her to a wheelchair. The client uses her feet to perform daily tasks including writing and typing on a computer keyboard. To accommodate such activities, the client needs a work surface at her foot level. The goal of this project was to design a work surface that is both retractable and detachable from the user's powered wheelchair and can be operated independently by the user. The team designed and built a portable foot tray system that is attached to the undercarriage of the client's electric wheelchair. To date, the client has used the device at home, school, and physical and occupational therapy sessions. She is able to operate the device independently and it has proven to increase her self-reliance and functional independence.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Belliveau, Kenneth Daniel
• Carreau, Melissa L.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 00D053M

Advisor

• Hoffman, Allen H.
• Ault, Holly Keyes

Year

• 2000

Sponsor

• National Science Foundation

Date created

• 2000-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright