Wheelchair Lever (Oval) - DL-09

For (With Whom)

People who cannot reach the existing wheelchair lever.

Why

The user has hemiplegia and uses a wheelchair at home. However, because of the home environment, it is difficult to move around the house by self-propelling. Even so, the user wanted to release the brake and change direction by themselves, pick up what they wanted to take, look at what they wanted to see, widen the range of choices in their actions, and act at their own timing, and consulted us about whether they could operate the brake by themselves.

How

First, we visited the user's home and observed how they operated the brake. The brake lever on the paralyzed side had to be operated with the non-paralyzed side, so it was out of reach and difficult to operate. We inferred that operation would be possible with a lever 5 cm longer than the existing brake. After securing the necessary length, we designed bumps and dips so that it catches the fingertips more easily and gave the tip an angle, which led to the current shape.

Outcome

Being able to operate the brake by themselves gave the user freedom of action in their surroundings. They commented, "If it's this, I can do it myself, so that's good." The user needs assistance in daily life overall, and so wants to do even the small things of daily life by themselves. Their desire to do what they can on their own, without troubling their family any more than necessary, has grown stronger.

Materials Used

Body: PLA

Approximate 3D Print Weight

81g

Print Settings Overview

Body: Nozzle diameter = 0.4mm, Layer height = 0.2mm, Infill = 50%, Temp = 200°C, Speed = 50mm/s, Supports = No

Accessory Information

None