Dynamic Seating System

About

Summary: High muscle tone is a common sequelae of certain neuromuscular disorders including cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury. Extensor thrust is an episodic event that causes the body to straighten via full body extension. For wheelchair users, an extensor thrust episode hinders function, impacts posture and can lead to injury. The common clinical intervention used to prevent wheelchair users from sliding out of wheelchairs and injuring themselves, are restraints such as belts, supports and harnesses. This approach has several limitations, including loss of postural alignment, breakage of wheelchair and seating system components and discomfort for the user. An active, dynamic wheelchair seating system has been designed that moves with the person during an extensor thrust. Such a seat can reduce the occupant forces during an extensor thrust and improve function throughout the day by maintaining proper postural alignment. This technology is designed to improve function, comfort and safety of wheelchair users with high extensor tone. This group includes (but is not limited to) people with spinal cord injury, aquired brain injury, multiple scelerosis, and cerebral palsy. This device decreases the potential for injury and wheelchair damage while allowing people to maintain a more functional posture throughout the day. Currently, no active systems are available on the market. Furthermore, this is the only design that seeks to differentiate volitional from involuntary tone which has significant functional impact. The system consists of 4 components, 3 mechanical systems consisting of the backrest, seat and legrest assembly and a control system consisting of sensors and a microprocessor. differentiate volitional from involuntary tone which has significant functional impact.