A third world wheelchair

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Global Health Technology

Background:

• Limited access to appropriate mobility devices in developing countries.
• Challenges in manufacturing, maintenance, and usability of standard wheelchairs in resource-limited settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design a wheelchair optimized for Third World countries.
• To ensure ease of manufacture, maintenance, and user-friendliness in diverse environments.

Main Methods:

• Conceptualization and design of a novel wheelchair.
• Construction and rigorous testing of an experimental prototype.
• Iterative design modifications based on prototype performance and feedback.

Main Results:

• Successful development of a functional wheelchair prototype.
• Identification of key design modifications for improved production viability.
• Manufacturing of a production model incorporating design enhancements.

Conclusions:

• The designed wheelchair is suitable for production and use in developing countries.
• The study demonstrates a viable approach to creating accessible and sustainable mobility solutions.