A motorized wheelchair, powerchair, electric wheelchair or electric-powered wheelchair (EPW) is a wheelchair that is propelled by means of an electric motor rather than manual power. Motorized wheelchairs are useful for those unable to propel a manual wheelchair or who may need to use a wheelchair for distances or over terrain which would be fatiguing in a manual wheelchair. They may also be used not just by people with 'traditional' mobility impairments, but also by people with cardiovascular and fatigue-based conditions.
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The electric Power Wheelchair was invented by George Klein, who worked for the National Research Council of Canada, to assist injured veterans after World War II.
Design
Powerchair design may be categorized by drive system/chassis, battery, controller, seat, and use.
Drive System/Chassis
Powerchairs are generally four-wheeled or six-wheeled and non-folding, however, some folding designs exist and other designs may have some ability to partially dismantle for transit.
Four general styles of powerchair drive systems exist front, center or rear wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Powered wheels are typically somewhat larger than the trailing/castor wheels while casting wheels are typically larger than the castors on a manual chair. Center wheel drive Economy Folding Power Wheelchair has castors at both front and rear for a six-wheel layout.
Former President Clinton, Dean Kamen and the iBot
Powerchair chassis may also mount a curb-climber, a powered device to lift the front wheels over a curb of 10 cm or less.
Some manual wheelchairs may also be fitted with an auxiliary electric power system. This can take one of three forms: integrated with the hub of hand-propelled wheels, so that any force on the pushrims is magnified by the drive system, or mounted under the wheelchair and controlled as for a Invacare Power Wheelchair, but with the motive force either transmitted to the main wheels via a friction drive system, or delivered directly through an auxiliary drive wheel.
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Some experimental all-terrain powerchair designs have been produced with tracks rather than wheels, but these are not in common use.
Other experimental designs have incorporated stair-climbing abilities and Dean Kamen's iBOT design featured both stair climbing and the ability to 'stand' on its upended chassis via the use of advanced gyroscopic sensors. The iBOT was at one time a production model but is no longer marketed.
Battery
The electric motors of powerchairs are usually powered by 12 to 80 ampere-hour rechargeable deep-cycle batteries, the smaller batteries are used in pairs to give the chair enough power to last at least one day between charges. These are available in wet or dry options. As wet-cell batteries may not legally be carried on an aircraft without removing them from the wheelchair and securing them in a shipping container, dry-cell batteries are preferred for powerchair use. Many powerchairs carry an onboard charger which can be plugged into a standard wall outlet; older or more portable models may have a separate charger unit.
Controller
A typical joystick controller
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| Controller |
Controllers are most commonly an arm-rest mounted joystick which may have additional controls to allow the user to tailor sensitivity or access multiple control modes. The controller may be swing-away to aid in side-transfers. For users who are unable to use a hand controller, various alternatives are available such as sip-and-puff controllers, worked by blowing into a sensor. In some cases, the controller may be mounted for use by an aide walking behind the chair rather than by the user. Capabilities include turning one drivewheel forward while the other goes backward, thus turning the wheelchair within its own length.
'Thought-control' of powerchairs, actually working by the detection of brainwaves or nerve signals via sensors on the scalp or elsewhere, has been demonstrated in the laboratory environment.
Seat
The seating on a powerchair can vary in design. Starting with a basic sling seat and backrest made of vinyl or nylon, some chairs have an optional padding, some have a more comfortable cushion and backrest options which may include a headrest. There are companies which can fit their own backrests and seat cushions for people with an increased need for stability in the trunk, or at increased risk of pressure sores from sitting out. Finally, specialist seating solutions are available for users who need individually tailored support. Leg rests may be integrated into the seating design and may have powered adjustment for those users who need to vary their leg position. Powerchairs may also have a tilt-in-space or reclining facility for users who are unable to maintain an upright seating position indefinitely. This function can also help with comfort by shifting pressure to different areas for a while, or with positioning in a wheelchair when a user needs to be hoisted in.
Certain high-end powerchairs feature a 'standing' capability in which either the entire seat elevates to bring the user to standing height or the seat-base, seat-back and leg rests move in conjunction to bring the user into an upright position. The powerchair may or may not be able to move while in the elevated position.
Transportation
Most wheelchairs are crash tested to standards 7176, and ISO 10542. These standards mean that a wheelchair can be used facing forward in a vehicle if the vehicle has been fitted with an approved tiedown or docking system for securing the wheelchair and a method of securing the occupant of the wheelchair.
Use
Powerchairs are generally prescribed for use by users who are unable to use a manual wheelchair. However, in both the US (Medicare and some private insurers) and the UK (National Health Service) powerchairs are generally not prescribed to users who have any ability to walk within the home, even if that ability is so functionally constrained as to be practically useless and where the user is unable to use a manual wheelchair independently. If in doubt, contact your doctor who may refer you for an assessment. Disability rights activists are campaigning for prescription procedures to focus on an individual needs based assessment rather than on the inflexible application of prescription rules. The restricted prescribing leads to many users being forced to procure a solution privately, in some cases settling for a powerchair or a mobility scooter that is less than ideal to their needs but which falls within their budget. In the UK, under the NHS, patients are assessed individually and the criteria for prescription are used to guide the assessment process to help achieve a fair and equitable assessment.
The use of powerchairs is not restricted solely to users unable to use manual chairs. Any disabled person with a mobility, fatigue or pain-based impairment or cardio-vascular issues may find a powerchair advantageous in some circumstances, however existing prescription practices generally means that powerchairs for such use must be privately procured or hired for the occasion. Consult your doctor or local wheelchair service if you are not sure.
