Jaco – A robotic arm to attach to wheelchairs

Jacques was confined to a power wheelchair and could only control his left thumb. Being an inventor, and because he wanted to have some more independency, he built a robotic arm which allowed him to perform simple tasks previously rendered impossible by his physical state.

The inventor died in 1999, but his nephew Charles Deguire continued his uncle’s work. In 2006, he and a friend founded Kinova Robotics, a company that produces advanced assistive robotic devices.

In 2008, an experienced manufacturer, Richard Garon, joined them as chairman and CEO, and together they grew Jaco from an advanced prototype into the most advanced assistive robotic device ever made.

Jaco is an assistive robotic device that allows the user to perform a wide variety of tasks without assistance, such as eating or drinking. It attaches to nearly any power wheelchair, and allows the user to retrieve objects from nearly any angle, even from the floor.

Conditions and disease states that indicate use of Jaco include, but are not limited to:
• Tetraplegia
• Cerebral Palsy
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Parkinson’s
• ALS
• Upper Limb Reductions
• Other or a combination of conditions that prevent use of arms and hands.

Adapted from: http://bit.ly/2dpI7az

What about you, do you have any solutions? Please share them with the Patient Innovation community!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bBCosuHnf8