Some Information About Power Wheelchairs
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The electric wheelchair was discovered by the greatest Canadian inventor of all time, George Johann Klein in the 1950s. The electric powered wheelchair came as a great aid to quadriplegics whereas normal wheelchairs were useful only to paraplegics. This instrument was the result of Dr. Klein’s work with a lot of medical specialists, patients, scientists and engineers.
Dr. Klein integrated the opinions of patients, doctors, electronic engineers and scientists, before making this useful invention. His efforts were supported by the National Research Council of Canada, Canadian Paraplegic Association and the state’s Department of Veteran Affairs.
Wheelchairs before electric wheelchairs were mainly designed for paraplegic persons. But Dr. Klein’s creation had so many more features than a normal wheelchair. This wheelchair not only works for paraplegic people but it can also be used by quadriplegics. Its invention was very near to World War 2 so it made a great contribution to the Red Cross, and helped thousands of injured people.
The electric wheelchair is controlled by electronic devices operated by computer devices such as joysticks. There are some chairs regulated by puff/sip scanners or chin controls. These devices monitor the speed and direction of the chair as well as make it perform the functional motions and activities including tilting, stretching out, seat elevation and so on and so forth.
The main functions of an electric wheelchair are to help in movement. Besides going forward and backwards, movements like stretching and titling can also be done. Its movement is controlled by joy sticks; chin controls or sip/puff controls. We can control the wheelchair’s direction, speed or other parameters by these joysticks.
These wheelchairs have some disadvantages too. Repairing an electric wheelchair consumes money and time. Another drawback is its price. It is not affordable for a common man. The price starts from $1000 to $3000 for an ordinary one and can cost around $10,000 for an advanced model.