UC Davis Biomedical Engineering Project

Four students from the UC Davis Biomedical Engineering class of 2009 were given a design project to develop an adaptive device to be used for adults with disabilities at the Easter Seals Warm Water Therapy Pool.  The students were asked to build a wheelchair that is 24-26 inches wide, can hold up to 800 pounds, and will not rust with continued pool use.

Melanie Forsythe, Avi Goodman, Caton Mande and Adán Roa were assigned to this project.  The project carried a unique set of engineering requirements because the chair will be used multiple times per day to transport obese clients along an access ramp into and out of the pool.  Due to the relatively low cost, high availability, non-corrosive and mechanical properties of stainless steel, the team decided to utilize this material. To keep the design practical, traditional bearing and axel housings were used in the wheels. Nylon was chosen for the seat and seat belt material because it retains its strength and integrity under rigorous chlorinated conditions.  Pictured is the bariatric water wheelchair in action at the Easter Seals pool.