India Chair Project

Principal Investigator/s: Rory A. Cooper, PhD

Co-Investigator/s: Clifford E. Brubaker, PhD; Rosemarie Cooper, MPT, ATP; Emily Zipfel, BFA; Jonathan Pearlman, MSc

2003-Ongoing

In 2000, the Indian government and the Artificial Limb Manufacturing Company (ALIMCO), the largest wheelchair manufacturer in South Asia, established a relationship with the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) to improve their wheelchair design. The results of the ALIMCO-HERL relationship so far are ISO-ANSI/RESNA wheelchair testing and a new manual chair design. In 2001, representatives from HERL visited the Indian Spinal Injury Center (ISIC) and the ALIMCO manufacturing plant to establish the relationship and begin the design process. They informally evaluated ALIMCO’s current wheelchair design, and established priorities for collaboration.  In 2002 ALIMCO engineers visited HERL to further collaborate and attended the International Seating Symposium.  The new manual wheelchair design stemmed from this collaboration. User needs, context of use and ALIMCO’s manufacturing capabilities, cost bracket and available materials were considered as the basis for the design. In 2004, the final prototype chair and aluminum quick-release welding and drill jigs were delivered to India and members of the HERL design team traveled to India. While there, the team visited the ISIC where they demonstrated the prototype chair to Indian therapists and wheelchair users and ALIMCO where they worked with ALIMCO engineers and machinists to begin production of the new design. Additionally the team discussed plans for future collaboration including wheelchair test equipment for ALIMCO, a children’s tilt- in- space wheelchair and a power wheelchair.  Design of the children's tilt-in-space wheelchair began in April 2004 with a team of engineers, designers, and clinicians.   In March, 2005, this pediatric wheelchair was demonstrated at ISIC and delivered to ALIMCO.  Design upgrades are ongoing, and the product is likely to be produced in both India and in the US.

A power wheelchair design, the last phase of the HERL-ALIMCO partnership, is currently being designed and prototyped.  Design began in the summer of 2005, and a working prototype will be demonstrated at ISIC and ALIMCO in March 2006.  Focus groups will be held in both of these locations so feedback and subsequent design upgrades can be made.