PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT

WHEELCHAIR LANDSCAPER

Currently, individuals in wheelchair who wish to undertake yard work must purchase expensive wheelchairs with special functionality for this purpose. A QL+ student team is currently engineering an adaptive device that attaches quickly and easily to an electric wheelchair, allowing the user to undertake a range of yard work, including mowing the lawn, raking leaves and shoveling snow.

 

 

 

MOTORCYCLE STABILIZER

This project is addressing the issues faced by those with lower limb impairment when deploying the kickstand and bringing a motorcycle to rest. A QL+-sponsored student team are currently developing special supports that can be deployed when the motorcycle slows down or comes to a stop.

 

BODY TEMPERATURE
REGULATING VEST

QL+ is developing a light, non-bulky, cooling vest to benefit soldiers serving in harsh climates, as well as individuals with spinal cord injuries or other disorders that inhibit body temperature regulation. The vest will stabilize core body temperature at around 98°F. The temperature will be moderated by a thermostat.

 

 

JUNCTIONAL BLEED DEVICE

Advances in tactical combat casualty care include improvements in the design and deployment of systems to control bleeding. However, hemorrhaging from non-compressible truncal injuries and from groin and shoulder injuries remain the major cause of death from otherwise potentially survivable combat injuries. The QL+ Program is addressing this urgent need by engineering a junctional bleed device that is lightweight, portable, and robust.

 

 

 

MYOELECTRIC MOUSE CONTROL

This project is developing a myoelectric-based interface to enable upper limb amputees to control a standard PC mouse using a USB interface. The interface will initially attach to the bicep region for control, but ultimately will have a universal design, allowing operation of the device by any residual limb. Functions will include movement in the x-y plane, left and right mouse clicking, and scrolling.

 

WHEELCHAIR DOORKEEPER

Wheelchair users often struggle to hold open a door while simultaneously maneuvering their wheelchair. A QL+-sponsored student team is researching and developing a simple, yet effective, hands-free device. The device will attach to a wheelchair and will hold open any door, allowing the individual to safely and easily pass through. When not in use, the device will fold away.

 

PORTABLE TENS MACHINE

TENS machines reduce pain by using electrical stimulation, delivered to nerve endings via adhesive pads attached to the skin. However, these pads easily become detached during rigorous exercise – precisely when pain levels can increase for athletes with neuropathic injuries. This project continues to refine the design of the QL+ portable, sweat-resistant TENS machine.

 

SONAR FOR THE BLIND

The traditional white cane has significant limitations, offering only one footfall of clearance in any direction. In addition, it cannot detect everyday obstacles like low-hanging tree branches or rope dividers at banks and movie theaters. This project will build on advances previously made by QL+ in the research and development of a sonar-type system to provide a wider scope and more detailed level of feedback for the blind or visually impaired individual.

PROSTHETIC KNEE LEG LIFT

Bilateral, above-the-knee leg amputees must ascend stairs one at a time, using upper body strength to haul themselves upwards. This significantly impacts their quality of life, limiting access to retail, leisure, private and work premises. QL+ continues to perfect a device that attaches to an existing prosthesis and provides both knee flexion and extension capability. The independent system will be lightweight and quiet, with ample power supply. The device will not impede the normal walking motion of the user and can be quickly and easily detached when not in use.

 

ERGO KNIFE MANUFACTURE

The Ergo knife is an ergonomically-designed cutting instrument, developed by an Occupational Therapist from the US Army for use by those with diminished hand, wrist or arm functions. Building on advances made by previous QL+ Projects, this student team will focus on the manufacturing process necessary to produce a limited run of the knife in its current format. The process will focus on reducing unit costs in order to maximize the product’s commercial viability.

ERGO MULTI-FUNCTIONAL TOOL

This QL+ Project will modify the Ergo knife, a specialized cutting utensil intended for use by those with diminished hand, wrist or arm functions, as a multi-functional tool. The QL+-sponsored student team will design a device with interchangeable attachments such as a screwdriver head and scissors. It will also consider options for individual customization of the grip via a postage-paid, mail-in molding kit.

 

HEAVY EQUIPMENT
MODIFICATION

A key focus of the QL+ Program is integrating injured Veterans into the civilian workforce. This project will open up employment opportunities in construction, waste management and transportation by developing a hoist system to enable quadriplegics, paraplegics, leg amputees and others with mobility issues to safely and easily enter and exit the operating cabs of various models of heavy equipment. The cabs of these machines are often several feet off the ground, with limited ingress and egress options.

ERB PROSTHETIC HAND

A previous QL+-sponsored student team has already produced a successful prototype that closely mimics the functionality and appearance of a natural hand. Building upon these advances, a second team will refine the design, incorporating additional technology such as myoelectric controls that allow the prosthesis to be operated using muscles from the residual limb.