Context/Objective

There are no wheelchair products designed to allow users to dynamically control trunk posture to both significantly improve functional reach and provide pressure relief during forward lean. This pilot study sought to (1) gather stakeholder desires regarding necessary features for a trunk control system and (2) subsequently develop and pilot test a first-generation trunk control prototype.

Design

Multi-staged mixed methods study design.

Setting

Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN.

Participants

Eight people with spinal cord injuries were recruited to participate in a focus group. Five participants returned to discuss, rate, and select a design concepts for prototype development. Two participants returned to test the first-generation trunk control prototype.

Interventions

The focus group members selected a trunk control device design that uses backpack straps with a single cable as the most desired option. Our design team then manufactured the first-generation prototype at the Minneapolis VA.

Outcome Measures

Bimanual workspace capabilities (n = 1) and pressure map relief changes (n = 2) during supported forward lean were measured. Both participants also provided feedback on the trunk control devices usability.

Results

Bimanual workspace (for Participant 1) was increased by 311% in the sagittal plane with use of the trunk control device as compared to without. Pressure relief during a forward lean was increased with an overall dispersion index reduction of 87.6% and 27.7% for Participant 1 and Participant 2 respectfully.

Conclusion

This pilot study successfully elicited desired features for a trunk control device from stakeholders and successfully developed and tested a first-generation trunk control prototype.

中文翻译：

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以用户为中心的脊髓损伤患者躯干控制装置的设计与开发：一项初步研究

背景/目标

没有任何轮椅产品旨在让用户动态控制躯干姿势以显着提高功能范围并在前倾时提供压力缓解。该试点研究旨在 (1) 收集利益相关者对干线控制系统必要功能的期望，以及 (2) 随后开发和试点测试第一代干线控制原型。

设计

多阶段混合方法研究设计。

环境

明尼阿波利斯 VA 医疗保健系统，明尼苏达州明尼阿波利斯。

参与者

八名脊髓损伤患者被招募参加一个焦点小组。五名参与者返回讨论、评价和选择原型开发的设计概念。两名参与者返回测试第一代后备箱控制原型。

干预措施

焦点小组成员选择了一种行李箱控制设备设计，该设计使用带有单根电缆的背包带作为最理想的选择。然后，我们的设计团队在明尼阿波利斯 VA 制造了第一代原型。

结果测量

测量了支持前倾期间的双手工作区能力 ( n  = 1) 和压力图释放变化 ( n  = 2)。两位参与者还就后备箱控制设备的可用性提供了反馈。

结果

与不使用躯干控制装置相比，使用躯干控制装置的双手工作空间（参与者 1）在矢状面上增加了 311%。前倾期间的压力释放增加，参与者 1 和参与者 2 的总体分散指数分别降低了 87.6% 和 27.7%。

结论

这项试点研究成功地从利益相关者那里获得了行李箱控制设备所需的功能，并成功地开发和测试了第一代行李箱控制原型。