A Little About Electric Wheelchairs
Perhaps the greatest scientific contribution that Canada has made to the entire world is that of the electric wheelchair. Developed by Dr. George Johann Klein in the 1950s, this has been considered as a wonder invention in the field.
There are plenty of advanced wheelchairs available in the market today. But all these are the variants of this electric powered wheelchair that was discovered five decades ago. It was the second World War that had necessitated the invention. The combined effort of the National Research Council of Canada, the state’s Department of Veteran Affairs and the Canadian Paraplegic Association had resulted in the development of the electric wheelchair. Dr. Klein had consulted a lot of patients, physicians, scientists and electronic engineers before making this ingenious invention.
Until the coming of the electric wheelchair, the existing chairs catered only to the needs of paraplegic individuals. But Dr. Klein’s invention stands apart in that it can also be used by quadriplegics. The wheelchair had benefited thousands of Second World War veterans and will hence be remembered forever.
Users of electric wheelchairs do not bound within the limit of quadriplegics and paraplegics, many doctors have suggested it for patients with cardiovascular issues. One desirable feature of the wheelchair is that any one can customize it with their use. They can use it indoor and outdoors as well. Some of them can port easily.
The electric wheelchair is regulated by means of joysticks; puff/sip controls or chin controls. Besides controlling the speed, direction and such other parameters, the electric wheelchair can be made to perform the essential functional motions and movements such as tilting and stretching out which would not have been possible otherwise.
But electric wheelchairs are very expensive with the prices ranging between 1000 and 3000 dollars. Advanced models can cost up to 10,000! They may also require constant servicing. However, transporting someone on a non-powered wheelchair can be quite a task, so in cases where the person needs extra help from a motor to move along, an electric powered wheelchair is great to have.
Are you shopping for a powered wheelchair? If so, head over to the electric powered wheelchairs web site. This and other unique content ” articles are available with free reprint rights.
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