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Ana Duarte

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Woman creates walker stabilizer for her grandfather

Alexandra’s grandfather’s walker tipped as he was trying to use it. A nurse rushed over to show him the correct way to use, and she said that many patients are not able to use the walker properly and, because of that, they have near falls, and there was no solution for this.

So Alexandra created Get Up ‘N’ Go, a non-tip attachment that is added to a standard walker, that allows the user to rely on the walker to sit/stand. The inventor used aluminum tubing to develop a stabilizer that slides into a standard walker frame.

Girl invents headphones to help people with disabilities

The headphones only play music when the user has the head straight up, and stop when the user let his head down. "I wanted to help people who have cerebral palsy at the Stan Cassidy Centre to lift their heads up. It would motivate them to lift their heads up and not keep their heads down, because that would hurt a lot then”, the inventor explained.

Grandfather creates chair for his disabled grandson

Using metal, boards and wheels, Roger invented a structure that adapts to the wheelchair, and helps Wout to be at the same height as his friends.

The grandfather developed a mobile structure adapted to accommodate Wout’s seat, at a total cost of about 70€.

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

Disabled guitarist invents plastic and leather finger tip covers to play the guitar

Tony is the Black Sabbath band guitarist, and by the time he had the accident, he considered quitting, as at the hospital he was told he would never play again. But a friend showed him a Django Reinhardt record and encouraged him not to give up.

After attempting to learn to play right-handed, Tony strung his guitars with extra-light strings (using banjo strings, which were a lighter gauge than even the lightest guitar-strings of the time) and wore plastic covers over the two damaged fingers. He down-tuned his strings to ease playing and bending.

Patient invents voice synthesizer software

This system allows people with language disabilities to convert their texts into audio via Skype, allowing people to speak with anyone in any part of the globe, in real time, via audio.

The Civil Government of Faro has been using this technology in some public services, such getting you passport, identity card, etc, allowing speaking disabled patients to be better understood.

“It’s important to get to know the difficulties disabled people face on their daily lives. I want to help to develop science so it can help with social integration”, the engineer observed.

Father builds bed protection for his son

Olivier was driven to create this product because they weren’t able to find a solution for Gilles’ safety when they went on vacation.

"When we went on vacation, we put Gilles in a double bed, we moved the bed against the wall then we put bags on the other side to secure it as much as possible, before my wife or I join him to serve as a bed guard”, explained the inventor. Gilles had extremely restless nights, and his parents slept little during their holidays.

Students create 3D printed arm for boy

Although Caleb was offered a basic prosthetic arm from the National Healthcare System when he was seven, and had learned how to get by without his right hand.

Caleb’s mother, Lynsey, was informed that a fully bionic arm would cost more than £30,000. It was too expensive, so the mother started searching online for another solutions. While searching, she found a group of students from USA who had already made a 3D printing hand for a girl in the USA, using their printer.

Patient makes cape for wheelchair users

Since it rains a lot in Belgium, where the inventor lives, she had to find a solution to protect herself.

Because she was unhappy with the solutions offered on the market, and as she is a talented seamstress, Valerie made a protective cape in measure in a waterproof cloth. The cape is easy to produce, and can fold or unfold depending on the weather.

A drawing with the cape’s measurements can be found attached.

Adapted from: http://bit.ly/2o0jVQW

ALS Patient builds electronic automation system for houses

The PEAC system uses a wireless signal which allows its users to perform house tasks such as opening and closing doors, calling an elevator, and operating the TV and lights. They carry out these tasks with small movements of their eyes - or, for some patients, using brain waves.

When Steve was diagnosed, in 2006, the doctors told that he had three to five years to live. The patient was not willing to accept this, so he began researching his options to determine the best approach to surviving his incurable condition.

Patient invents system to heat the floor

Because these patients are susceptible to temperature fluctuations, that can result in a spastic reaction, bend the leg in a snap and cause a heavy fall, so it can be dangerous to put a heater in the ground near the water outlets.

The inventor developed a system that heats the bathroom tile through the shower water.

In order to create this system he fixed a 5 cm diameter PVC pipe system, drilled the last hose with small holes and placed the shower head in the hose. Hot water heats the floor before the person takes a shower.

Amputee develops 3D printing prosthetics cover

Manuel is the Chief Creative Officer of Unyq, a Spanish company that produces customized 3D printing solutions – cover prosthetics - for amputees and Scoliosis patients.

Manuel, an engineer and robotics expert, became an amputee when he was 16 years old. Because he also wanted people to stop feeling ashamed of wearing prosthetics, he co-founded Unyq, in 2014, in order to develop 3D printing covers.

Patient replaces his clothing buttons with Velcro to help dress himself

Karel was always asking for help to closing and opening his shirt. Suffering from Parkinson's Disease, his condition was getting worse as he was getting older, and his hands were shaking more and more.

Despite of his increasing physical limitations, the patient, who is over 80 years old, has a clear mind.

So Karel had the idea of using Velcro, which is also a cheap solution, to help him be more independent when he dresses himself. He asked his daughter Ria to replace all of his clothing buttons with Velcro.

Girl creates device to help paralyzed grandmother read books

App to help increase blood donations

The app developer realized that in Ghana people are not aware of the blood transfusion need in Ghana, so he and his team created a solution for this problem.

Disabled man develops autopilot wheelchair system

It was hard for Valery to use the wheelchair indoors and avoid obstacles. So he started thinking about a solution.

"If you use an electric wheelchair, then you understand how frustrating it can be to avoid obstacles, make constant adjustments and generally devote all of your concentration into controlling the wheelchair", he said.

Man builds adapted pet feeder

The DinnerUp consists of a tray attached to a column which, itself, is fixed to a wall or kitchen cabinet. The tray is then wound up and down the column by turning a handle which includes a clutch device. This way he can reach the cat’s bowls more easily and in an independent way.

"I love my cat Sylvester, but I do have difficulties looking after him. I cannot bend down to put his food on the floor and obviously, it is unhygienic to encourage him onto the kitchen work surface", Ray described.

Cyclist builds foldable helmet

The inventor, who is a cyclist, had an accident and got in bad shape. He was also driven to develop this product because his daughter couldn’t fit her helmet into a school rucksack.

“Some years back, I was involved in an accident. I was hit by a car and thrown off my bike at pretty high speed. I flew through the air (stylishly) and landed head first on a kerb stone (a bit less stylishly). I broke my shoulder, smashed my chin, broke a couple of ribs... and if it wasn't for my helmet I would almost certainly have died... or been seriously brain damaged”, he explained.

Tetraplegic invents Portable bottle holder system

Oliver must drink very often. But due to his condition, it was impossible for him to keep himself hydrated without risking tipping the bottle and without having to be dependent on someone.

The patient designed a portable bottle holder system which works by blocking the bottle using wooden supports fixed on a planchette, to pierce the stopper of the bottle and to insert a plastic tube that will act as straw. They fixed the anti-slip to the corners.

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

Paraplegic man builds scuba wheelchair

Igor became disabled in 2007, after a cervical spine injury.

The scuba wheelchair works thanks to attached engine-powered propellers to both wheels of his chair as Igor wanted to cover more distance underwater. The oxygen tank is mounted onto the back of the wheelchair which is also fitted with special straps to keep the diver safely in place.

"I thought that if I could just find a way of mounting some engines onto my wheelchair I would be able to move so much further underwater”, the patient explained.

Man invents Diabetes gadget inspired by his parents

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