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A
motorized wheelchair, powerchair, electric wheelchair or
electric-powered wheelchair (EPW) is a wheelchair that is propelled by
means of an electric motor rather than manual power. Motorized
wheelchairs are useful for those unable to propel a manual wheelchair or
who may need to use a wheelchair for distances or over terrain which
would be fatiguing in a manual wheelchair. They may also be used not
just by people with 'traditional' mobility impairments, but also by
people with cardiovascular and fatigue-based conditions.
The electric Power Wheelchair
was invented by George Klein, who worked for the National Research
Council of Canada, to assist injured veterans after World War II.
Design
Powerchair design may be categorized by drive system/chassis, battery, controller, seat, and use.
Drive System/Chassis
Powerchairs
are generally four-wheeled or six-wheeled and non-folding, however some
folding designs exist and other designs may have some ability to
partially dismantle for transit.
Four
general styles of powerchair drive systems exist: front, centre or rear
wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Powered wheels are typically somewhat
larger than the trailing/castoring wheels, while castoring wheels are
typically larger than the castors on a manual chair. Centre wheel drive Folding Power Wheelchair have castors at both front and rear for a six-wheel layout.
Former President Clinton, Dean Kamen and the iBot
Powerchair chassis may also mount a kerb-climber, a powered device to lift the front wheels over a kerb of 10 cm or less.
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Some
manual wheelchairs may also be fitted with an auxiliary electric power
system. This can take one of three forms: integrated with the hub of
hand-propelled wheels, so that any force on the pushrims is magnified by
the drive system, or mounted under the wheelchair and controlled as for
a Power Wheelchair Zip Lite,
but with the motive force either transmitted to the main wheels via a
friction drive system, or delivered directly through an auxiliary drive
wheel.
Some
experimental all-terrain powerchair designs have been produced with
tracks rather than wheels, but these are not in common use.
Other
experimental designs have incorporated stair-climbing abilities and
Dean Kamen's iBOT design featured both stair climbing and the ability to
'stand' on its upended chassis via the use of advanced gyroscopic
sensors. The iBOT was at one time a production model, but is no longer
marketed.
Battery
The
electric motors of powerchairs are usually powered by 12 to 80
ampere-hour rechargeable deep-cycle batteries, the smaller batteries are
used in pairs to give the chair enough power to last at least one day
between charges. These are available in wet or dry options. As wet-cell
batteries may not legally be carried on an aircraft without removing
them from the wheelchair and securing them in a shipping container,
dry-cell batteries are preferred for powerchair use. Many powerchairs
carry an on-board charger which can be plugged into a standard wall
outlet; older or more portable models may have a separate charger unit.
Controller
A typical joystick controller
Controller |
Controllers
are most commonly an arm-rest mounted joystick which may have
additional controls to allow the user to tailor sensitivity or access
multiple control modes. The controller may be swing-away to aid in
side-transfers. For users who are unable to use a hand controller
various alternatives are available such as sip-and-puff controllers,
worked by blowing into a sensor. In some cases the controller may be
mounted for use by an aide walking behind the chair rather than by the
user. Capabilities include turning one drivewheel forward while the
other goes backward, thus turning the wheelchair within its own length.
'Thought-control'
of powerchairs, actually working by the detection of brainwaves or
nerve signals via sensors on the scalp or elsewhere, has been
demonstrated in the laboratory environment.
Seat
The
seating on a powerchair can vary in design. Starting with a basic sling
seat and backrest made of vinyl or nylon, some chairs have an optional
padding, some have more comfortable cushion and backrest options which
may include a head rest. There are companies which can fit their own
backrests and seat cushions for people with increased need for stability
in the trunk, or at increased risk of pressure sores from sitting out.
Finally, specialist seating solutions are available for users who need
individually tailored support. Leg rests may be integrated into the
seating design and may have powered adjustment for those users who need
to vary their leg position. Power chairs may also have a tilt-in-space,
or reclining facility for users who are unable to maintain an upright
seating position indefinitely. This function can also help with comfort
by shifting pressure to different areas for a while, or with positioning
in a wheelchair when a user needs to be hoisted in.
Certain
high-end powerchairs feature a 'standing' capability in which either
the entire seat elevates to bring the user to standing height or the
seat-base, seat-back and leg rests move in conjunction to bring the user
into an upright position. The powerchair may or may not be able to move
while in the elevated position.
Transportation
Most
wheelchairs are crash tested to standards 7176, and ISO 10542. These
standards mean that a wheelchair can be used facing forward in a vehicle
if the vehicle has been fitted with an approved tiedown or docking
system for securing the wheelchair, and a method of securing the
occupant of the wheelchair.
Use
Powerchairs
are generally prescribed for use by users who are unable to use a
manual wheelchair. However, in both the US (Medicare and some private
insurers) and the UK (National Health Service) powerchairs are generally
not prescribed to users who have any ability to walk within the home,
even if that ability is so functionally constrained as to be practically
useless and where the user is unable to use a manual wheelchair
independently. If in doubt, contact your doctor who may refer you for an
assessment. Disability rights activists are campaigning for
prescription procedures to focus on an individual needs based assessment
rather than on inflexible application of prescription rules. The
restricted prescribing leads to many users being forced to procure a
solution privately, in some cases settling for a powerchair or a
mobility scooter that is less than ideal to their needs but which falls
within their budget. In the UK, under the NHS, patients are assessed
individually and the criteria for prescription are used to guide the
assessment process to help achieve a fair and equitable assessment.
The
use of Powerchairs is not restricted solely to users unable to use
manual chairs. Any disabled person with a mobility, fatigue or
pain-based impairment or cardio-vascular issues may find a powerchair
advantageous in some circumstances, however existing prescription
practises generally means that powerchairs for such use must be
privately procured or hired for the occasion. Consult your doctor or
local wheelchair service if you are not sure.