Mini Project Report 1

On

“Wheelchair Convertible To Crutches”

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements

For The Award of The Degree of

Masters of Business Administration

MBA 1st Sem

Section- A

Student ID - 23210018

Batch (2021-2023)

Submitted By: Submitted To:

Mitali Kesarwani Mr. Prakash Kundnani

UNITED INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

UPSIDC INDUSTRIAL AREA, NAINI, PRAYAGRAJ, U.P. , 211010

 *DECLARATION*

This is to certify that I have completed the major project titled “Wheelchair Convertible To

Crutches” Under the guidelines of Mr. Priyatosh Mishra in partial fulfillment of the

requirement for the award of degree of Master of business administration at UNITED

INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT,NAINI, PRAYAGRAJ.

This is an original piece of work and I have not submitted it earlier elsewhere.

NAME-Mitali Kesarwani

ID- 23210018

Date: 5-FEB-2022
 *ACKNOWLEDGEMENT*

I offer my sincere thanks and humble regard in united institute of management, AKTU

University Prayagraj for importing me very valuable professional project in MBA

I pay my gratitude and sincere regards to my Principal sir (Prof.K.K Malviya) and HOD sir

Dr Vishnu Prakash Mishra for giving me this wonderful opportunity. I would like to

thank my project guide Mr. Priyatosh Mishra for giving me the cream of knowledge. I am

thankful to him as he has been a constant source of advice, motivation and inspiration. I am

also thankful to him for giving suggestion and encouragement throughout the project work.

I take opportunity to express my gratitude and thanks to our computer lab staff and library

staff for providing me opportunity to utilize their resources for the completion of the project.

I am also thankful to my family and friends for constantly motivating me to complete the

project and providing me an environment which engaged my knowledge.

Mitali Kesarwani

23210018

MBA 1st Semester

 *TABLE OF CONTENTS*

S. No. Topics Page No.

1 Objective Of The Project

2 Review Of Literature

3 Generation Of Service Idea

4 Idea Screening Of The Service

5 Concept Development

6 Marketing Strategy Design

7 Product Development

8 Commercialization

9 Learning Outcomes

10 Bibliography
 *OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT*

For people disabled below the waist, mobility is a large problem. Over the years, technology

has led to the development of certain mobility assisting devices. Nowadays, people with

disabilities are using a crutches or a wheelchair to survive in their daily lives.

Disability is increasingly on the development agenda and is one of the major challenges to

be focused for the overall development of the society. Disability is one of the major causes

for dependency and deprivations throughout the world.

Crutches is wooden or metal vertical prop that helps support a disabled person while he or

she is walking. Crutches were used since ancient Egypt but it was commercially produced

in1917 by Emile Schlick, then wheelchair was invented. In 1783, John Dawson of England

the first one to create the said invention. A wheelchair is a wheeled mobility device in which

the user sits. The device is propelled either manually (by turning the wheels by the hand) or

via various automated systems. There are often handles behind the seat to allow for

different individuals to push.

As time goes by, technology affects these inventions. Technology is knowledge or a set of

tools that helps make things easier or resolve problems. So as technology arises, many

people demand more to make their life much easier and convenient especially for our PWD

(Person with disabilities). Many innovations of wheelchairs and crutches came. You can buy

it everywhere, you can also customize it. Thanks to technology, it makes our life easier.

Also, many inventions used different materials to be popular to the customers. Some used a

lightweight materials, or it can be an eco-friendly material, also it comes with a different

designs to make it pop to the people.

As we talk about “eco-friendly materials”, it means not harmful to the environment. Many

companies who make wheelchairs and crutches doesn’t care on what will be its effects on

the environment or nature, as long as they can produce and sell this products. Also as we

move on to our proposal you will see what are the materials we want for our innovation.

We want to create an innovation that can help the people but also reduce pollution and

help maintain the environment we live in.

 *REVIEW OF LITERATURE*

According to Yvonne Zimba (2015) people with disabilities have the same health needs as

non-disabled people – for immunization, cancer screening etc. They also may experience a

narrower margin of health, both because of poverty and social exclusion, and also because

they may be vulnerable to secondary conditions, such as pressure sores or urinary tract

infections. Evidence suggests that people with disabilities face barriers in accessing the

health and rehabilitation services they need in many settings.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 15 per cent of the world’s

population, or estimated 1 billion people, live with different disabilities. They are the

world’s largest minority. This figure is increasing through population growth, medical

advances and the ageing process, says the World Health Organization. In countries with life

expectancies over 70 years, individuals spend on average about 8 years, or 11.5 per cent of

their life span, living with disabilities, reports Disabled World. Eighty per cent of persons

with disabilities live in developing countries, according to the United Nations Development

Programme (UNDP).

Several studies have shown that both children and adults benefit substantially from access

to a means of independent mobility. While the needs of many individuals with disabilities

can be satisfied with traditional manual or powered wheelchairs, a segment of the disabled

community finds it difficult or impossible to use wheelchairs independently. To

accommodate this population, researchers have used technologies originally developed for

convenience.

In the USA, wheelchair manufacturers must meet the American National Standards

Institute/Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America (ANSI/RESNA) standards

before marketing their products. Wheelchair weight and the adjustable configurations can

dramatically affect the biomechanics of propulsion and users’ satisfaction. Wheelchairs are

classified based on their weight and adjustability into standard or depot, lightweight and

ultralight wheelchairs. Chair weight has been reported to be a reason for non-use among

older adults. Energy expenditure and kinematic measurements have been investigated in

correlation with wheelchair weight and floor surface. Weight addition in the range of 5 to10

kg has not been shown to significantly affect propulsion kinematics on a tiled surface, yet

weight-imposed differences might impact mobility over more fatiguing surfaces. According

to some studies, wheelchair confined individuals have rated ultralight wheelchairs as more

appropriate in providing a more comfortable ride due to superior ergonomic design.

Furthermore, some studies have observed a lack of interaction between axle position and

weight, suggesting reduction of peak propulsion force regardless of the axel position. The

optimal combination of lightest wheelchair possible and most anterior axle position

tolerated by the disabled person could provide efficiency while maintaining stability.

Endurance, durability, mass and stability of wheelchairs are dependent on the frame

materials used. Wheelchairs’ durability and fatigue life have been the subject of rigorous

investigations. Lightweight wheelchairs are typically made from steel, aluminum or a

combination, while alloy steel, aluminum, titanium or composites are usually used to make

ultralight wheelchairs. Studies indicate that frame material does not directly affect the

wheelchair performance in durability standard tests, and design based on standard

mechanical properties is more important. Existing literature suggests that despite their

higher price, ultralight wheelchairs are more cost-effective options compared with

lightweight and depot wheelchairs due to their longer fatigue life. In addition, the

adjustable components of the ultralight wheelchairs make it more flexible to meet the

users’ needs.
More aging, older people with various clinical conditions have much opportunity to

participate in society. It is important for them to acquire the means for mobility and to

encourage participation and independence from support. They are often required to go out

even if they use tools such as assisted mobility device. Among these tools, they can easily

use a cane or crutch. The cane and crutch help move about independently, maintain their

balance, reduce lower-limb loading and joint pain, and/or compensate for weakness or

injury. Therefore, older people with disabilities often use them, and physical therapists

consider use of cane for them.

On the other hand, there are innovative studies and proposals in which can help PWD’s to

ease the bored or feeling alone. According to the study of Harrison A., and Derwent G.,

(2009), indicated that the two virtual environments represent a potentially useful means of

assessing and training novice powered wheelchair users. The virtual environments however

must become less challenging if they are to represent a motivating and effective means of

improving performance. Further development of the way in which wheelchair movement is

controlled and simulated represents a key element in this multi stage project.

Crutches has also its own significance in any types of injury that a person had. It depends on

what crutch they use. In the past study of Dounis, E and G. K. Rose entitled “A Comparison

Of Efficiency Of Three Types Of Crutches Using Oxygen Consumption”, the results because

the axillary crutch can cause axillary artery thrombosis and crutch palsy, the elbow crutch is

more frequently used. Canadian crutches combine features of both the axilla and elbow

crutches. A previous study examined any advantages in terms of energy cost using heart

rate. The present study re-evaluates the energy cost by using the measurement of oxygen

consumption. The study further suggests that the Canadian crutches have advantages in

terms of energy cost. A wheelchair is chair with wheels, designed to help the disabled
individuals whereas walker is the stable device which is used by the patient to stand and

give support to the patient to walk and stretchers are mobility devices used to transport the

patients from one place to other. These medical mobility aids are used in hospitals and

clinics for helping the patients. Stretchers are simple in construction and the patient needs

the support of an assistant to transport from one place to other. Whereas walker is used by

patient to walk without any help of any assistance and wheelchair is designed in such a way

that either patient can control the device manually or with the help of someone’s

assistance. According to Peter Axelson[1], selection of an appropriate wheelchair will lead a

comfortable living to the user. Performance, safety and dimensions are the three categories

which have to be considered while selecting a manual or powered wheelchair. An excellent

approach to the wheelchair selection is to set priorities based on user’s mobility and seating

needs. It is highly recommended that a novice can consult with there habilitation specialists

in order to select the appropriate wheelchair. James Kauzlarich [2], says self excited

vibrations one of the most interesting topics in the field of vibrations and is the science

prevailing caster wheel shimmy. Self excited vibration is characterized by vibration that is

produced by the motion of the system like wheelchair speed. It can be observed that in

most of the cheapest wheelchairs, the design of the casters makes use of a sliding frictional

damper in the spindle support to improve the shimmy characteristics. Understanding the

theory of damping for the casters show how shimmy prevention works in ultra-light and

powered wheelchairs.