This is a reality experienced by all manual wheelchair users. To slow down the movement of their mode of transportation, they must hold on to the handrail with their hands, the ring attached to the wheel of the chair. Quite a challenge when facing a descent or when the ground is wet. Above all, this process is a source of discomfort as it causes burns and requires significant effort from the upper part of the body. It is based on this observation that the startup Eppur invented a braking system that allows you to slow down without injuring yourself.
“The solution we have developed is called Dreeft. It is a pair of wheels that can be installed on any manual wheelchair and that replaces the original wheels”, explains Lancelot Durand, General Manager of Eppur, at Tech&Co this Wednesday, January 25.
The braking system is integrated into the hub connected to the wheel. To activate it, the user must pull back slightly on the wheelchair’s handrail, which remains fixed. This solution also has the advantage of dividing the effort required by five, says Lancelot Durand.
An alternative to electric wheelchairs
For good reason, according to Eppur, 35% of manual wheelchair users suffer from shoulder musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) after six months of use. In particular due to the fact that they have to push themselves or are sometimes forced to move their chair.
According to Eppur’s CEO, many of the startup’s customers are complete or incomplete quadriplegics. And these individuals often have difficulty holding hands. However, “all these people want to stay in a manual wheelchair and not an electric one. We are giving them a solution that may help some of them,” says Lancelot Durand.
Source: BFM TV
