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

Primary Purpose

Blindness, Spinal Cord Injury

Status
Completed
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Smart Power Assistance Module (SPAM)
Smart Wheelchair Component System (SWCS)
Sponsored by
VA Office of Research and Development
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional prevention trial for Blindness focused on measuring aging, blindness, wheelchairs, spinal cord injury

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - undefined (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesAccepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Sites / Locations

  • Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur
  • VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm Type

Experimental

Arm Label

SPAM and SWCS

Arm Description

Smart Power Assistance Module (SPAM) Smart Wheelchair Component System (SWCS)

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Time to Complete Trial Wheelchair Course
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.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Full Information

First Posted
June 2, 2006
Last Updated
October 30, 2015
Sponsor
VA Office of Research and Development
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT00333762
Brief Title
Use of "Smart Wheelchairs" to Provide Independent Mobility to Visual and Mobility Impairments
Official Title
Use of "Smart Wheelchairs" to Provide Independent Mobility to Visual and Mobility Impairments
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
October 2015
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
June 2006 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
May 2008 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
May 2008 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
VA Office of Research and Development

4. Oversight

Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
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.
Detailed Description
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?

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Blindness, Spinal Cord Injury
Keywords
aging, blindness, wheelchairs, spinal cord injury

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Prevention
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Single Group Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
N/A
Enrollment
4 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
SPAM and SWCS
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Smart Power Assistance Module (SPAM) Smart Wheelchair Component System (SWCS)
Intervention Type
Device
Intervention Name(s)
Smart Power Assistance Module (SPAM)
Intervention Description
Experimental Power wheelchair utilized to traverse prescribed course
Intervention Type
Device
Intervention Name(s)
Smart Wheelchair Component System (SWCS)
Intervention Description
Experimental power wheelchair utilized to traverse prescribed course
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Time to Complete Trial Wheelchair Course
Description
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.
Time Frame
Two years

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Eligibility Criteria
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
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Richard Simpson, PhD
Organizational Affiliation
VAPHS
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur
City
Decatur
State/Province
Georgia
ZIP/Postal Code
30033
Country
United States
Facility Name
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA
City
Pittsburgh
State/Province
Pennsylvania
ZIP/Postal Code
15240
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Links:
URL
http://www.herl.pitt.edu
Description
Click here for more information about this study: Use of "Smart Wheelchairs" to Provide Independent Mobility to Visual and Mobility Impairments

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

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