Innovation Detail

Innovation Description

Profile
Innovator Mrs. Durga Devi (22) is a physically challenged housewife, who is motivated to improve her life by overcoming her limitations.

Purpose
She used to slip and fall often on a wet floor while doing daily household tasks. She realized that normal crutches performed well at roads or rough surfaces, but while using them on a smooth floor or low friction surfaces, they were prone to slipping causing the user to also slip and fall. Further, she found that crutches also had a tendency of slipping away from the underarm. 

Technical Specifications
She added three features to the crutches i.e. a shoulder belt that keeps the crutches in contact with the body, a shock absorber, which absorbs vibrations or shocks while using the crutches and a clutch lever-operated vacuum cup placed in the base/leg of the crutches. This arrangement prevents the crutches from slipping on slopes as well as on the wet and smooth floor. After tying the shoulder belt it can be used as a normal crutch. While using the crutch on a wet/smooth floor, the vacuum cups stick to the floor upon pressing. When the user has to move again, the clutch lever can be pulled, which releases air into a cup, making movement possible.

Benefits
The Baisakhi's grip is better and provides better support to the user.

Suggested reading(s):

Andrews, B. J., Granat, M. H., Heller, B. W., MacMahon, J., Keating, L., & Real, S. (1994). Improved harness crutch to reduce upper limb effort in swing-through gait. Medical engineering & physics, 16(1), 15-18.

Shortell, D., Kucer, J., Neely, W. L., & LeBlanc, M. (2001). The design of a compliant composite crutch. Journal of rehabilitation research and development, 38(1), 23.