Dr. K’s Canes
By Sangha, Harpreet K.; RESNA 2010 Student Design Competition,Publication Date: May 9, 2010
Paper outlines the design and development of a pair of canes with adjustable height and angle features. The canes were to serve as a lightweight, compact substitute for a four wheeled walker for an 86-year-old client. The cane design comprises two aluminum rods connected by an adjustable angle feature, a forearm cuff, and a horizontal handgrip. The adjustable angle feature employs a pin and hole mechanism similar to one used to adjust the height of crutches. The cuffs, borrowed from forearm crutches, are made of malleable material allowing adjustment to the girth of the user’s forearms. With the pin and hole mechanism, the user is able to adjust the angle at which the two cane segments are connected to walk and to ascend stairs in a stooped position that is comfortable for him. The bottom segments of the canes are also height adjustable to aid in ascending and descending stairs. The canes can be folded completely in half to allow for storage in small spaces such as under a chair. The canes were designed and developed, guided by user input, by an engineering student at Stanford University and entered in the RESNA 2010 Student Design Competition.
Published by: Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) (Website:http://www.resna.org)
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Communication Enhancement (AAC-RERC) (Web Site: http://www.aac-rerc.com )
Link to text: http://aac-rerc.psu.edu/wordpressmu/RESNA-SDC/2010/05/09/dr-ks-canes-stanford-university/
