Use of "Smart Wheelchairs" to Provide Independent Mobility to Visual and Mobility Impairments

The goal of this project is to evaluate the Smart Wheelchair Component System (SWCS) for power wheelchairs and the Smart Power Assistance Module (SPAM) for manual wheelchairs in realistic indoor environments with target users performing realistic tasks. We will combine group trials involving individuals who have a visual impairment (but do not have a mobility impairment) with several single-case studio involving individuals who have a visual and mobility impairment. Our long-term objective is to provide independent mobility to veterans with mobility and sensory impairments.

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Key information

Conditions

Blindness Central Nervous System Diseases Eye Diseases Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Sensation Disorders Signs and Symptoms Spinal Cord Diseases Spinal Cord Injuries Spinal Cord Injury Trauma, Nervous System Vision Disorders Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, Decatur, Georgia, United States

About this study

There are currently very few mobility options for veterans who have a mobility impairment and visual impairment, and this population will grow as the number of older veteran's increases. The goal of this project is to evaluate the Smart Wheelchair Component System (SWCS) for power wheelchairs and the Smart Power Assistance Module (SPAM) for manual wheelchairs in realistic indoor environments with target users performing realistic tasks. We will combine group trials involving individuals who have a visual impairment (and may or may not have a mobility impairment) with several single-case studies involving individuals who have a visual and mobility impairment.

The key questions that will be addresses by the proposed research are:

Can smart wheelchair technology improve performance on realistic navigation tasks for individuals with visual and mobility impairments?

Will smart wheelchair technology increase the amount of independent travel by individuals with visual and mobility impairments?

Will using a smart wheelchair for an extended period of time diminish a person's ability to operate a "traditional" wheeled mobility aid?

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

All participants will be completely blind
Participants will be able to operate a power wheelchair with joystick control
Participants will be able to push a manual wheelchair a minimum of 300 yards

Exclusion criteria

Mobility impairment

Treatment and study plan

Smart Power Assistance Module (SPAM)

Device

Experimental Power wheelchair utilized to traverse prescribed course

Smart Wheelchair Component System (SWCS)

Device

Experimental power wheelchair utilized to traverse prescribed course

Primary outcomes

Time to Complete Trial Wheelchair Course

Time frame: Two years

Time to complete the course was recorded. The indoor course was set up in the research laboratory to include a straight path and 90 degree turns that included obstacles such as a cardboard box, a large orange cone, and a desk chair. The location of these obstacles were randomly placed in order to test whether or not the SPAM or SWCS was able to detect objects.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

VA Office of Research and Development

Fed

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2006
Primary completion: 2008
Study completion: 2008
First posted: Jun 6, 2006
Registry last updated: Dec 3, 2015

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed