IIT-Madras launches indigenously designed 'standing wheelchair'
It was designed and developed by TTK Center for Rehabilitation
Research and Device Development (R2D2) at IIT-M, headed by Sujatha
Srinivasan of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. (Photo | EPS)
source NEW INDIAN EXPRESS 06 11 19
CHENNAI: A new affordable 'standing wheelchair' that enables persons
with disabilities to shift between standing and sitting positions
independently, has been indigenously designed by IIT-Madras in
collaboration with Phoenix Medical Systems (PMS).
Called 'Arise,' the standing wheelchair costs Rs 15,000, V Sashi
Kumar, MD, PMS, told Express. Arise comes in four sizes: small,
medium, large and extra-large and can be customised to suit users'
body type by making simple adjustments, he said. The wheelchair was
launched in the presence of Thawar Chand Gehlot, Union Minister for
Social Justice and Empowerment, researchers, students, staff and
faculty of IIT-M besides other stakeholders.
"In the last five years, I have seen a lot of modern technologies, but
have not seen such a good standing wheelchair anywhere. I am very
happy and impressed and I congratulate IIT-M and its partners for
coming up with the wheelchair, which is multipurpose besides being
cost-effective," said Gehlot.
It was designed and developed by TTK Center for Rehabilitation
Research and Device Development (R2D2) at IIT-M, headed by Sujatha
Srinivasan of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Users of
conventional wheelchairs face a host of difficulties. Being seated for
long periods can lead to secondary health problems. Now, the users
can, by themselves, use standing wheelchairs to arise from the seated
position. They will not have mobility in the standing position.
"The feature was not added as we kept safety as a priority. If a user
tried to stand and move on a slope, it may lead to instability," said
Sujatha Srinivasan, adding Arise can be most efficiently used by
people with spinal cord injuries.
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