Therapeutic Aid Projects
- Bocce Ball Ramp
- Dog Ball Launcher
- Customized Dog Leash Clip
- Fitness Inspiration Tool (FIT)
- Lateral Rocking Horse
- Gripping bar
- Developmental coordination disorder diagnostic tool
- Saddle Seat Wheelchair
- Amusing Footsteps
- Radio Drum/Music Therapy
Bocce Ball Ramp
The Bocce Ball Ramp was created for wheelchair users who had limited use of their upper body. This device was designed so clients could use their heads to trigger a mechanical switch that would prompt the bocce ball to move. The ball would then roll onto a ramp—that was height adjustable—and roll down to the playing field.
Dog Ball Launcher
This device was designed for a wheelchair user who liked playing fetch with his dog but had limited use of his arms. To aid him, UVATT designed a dog ball launcher that could attach to the side of his wheelchair and be easily loaded with a ball. Essentially, the launcher is like a cannon where pressurized air shoots the ball from a tube with just a simple push of a lever.
Customized Dog Leash Clip
This device was created for a quadriplegic that had limited use of his arms. On conventional dog leashes, the clip needs to be held open in order to slip the hook of a dog collar in. However, that type of motion was a difficult task for the client so UVATT created a dog leash clip that opened with a simple insertion of a thumb.
Fitness Inspiration Tool (FIT)
UVATT is currently modifying exercise bikes for the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health. These bikes are being developed for children with cerebral palsy or for children undergoing physiotherapy. The purpose of these bikes is to motivate the user to exercise. They are highly stable and include a programmable device that allows users to activate a peripheral device (cd player, radio, television, etc.) when they have achieved a certain pace or speed.
Lateral Rocking Horse
UVATT has developed a lateral (side to side) rocking horse for the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children's Health. This is used to develop a sense of balance for children with developmental and/or physical disabilities. Often children with disabilities have difficulty developing their motor skills and balance. An area of concern for these children is their abdominal/trunk muscle development and their balancing reactions. The lateral rocking horse helps kids develop these muscles and improve their balancing skills.
Gripping bar
This device was developed for a little girl with Angelman Syndrome. It is designed to play music when she grips both handles. The idea is that she will learn how to sustain a grip on a bar and eventually learn how to use a walker. This device is programmable and provides a measure of the pressure exerted on the grip. UVATT is developing this device so that physicians and caregivers can accurately measure the gripping power of patients who have degenerative disorders such as ALS or Multiple Sclerosis. An additional application is to assess the damage and recovery of stroke patients.
Developmental coordination disorder diagnostic tool
This device is being developed for the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children's Health. It is an electronic device that objectively tests a child's ability to balance a horizontal bar. It times how long it takes the user to maintain a level state, and is capable of giving auditory or visual feedback when levelness has been achieved.
Saddle Seat Wheelchair
Anecdotal evidence suggests that equestrian activity helps wheelchair users improve their posture and breathing. Therefore, a group of mechanical engineering students built an experimental "saddle seat wheelchair" to encourage better posture and to help evenly distribute body pressure.
Amusing Footsteps
The goal of this project was to build a device that could make an interesting noise or sound when a child stepped on it. The device acts as a tool to both encourage and reward children for taking proper footsteps. This device is currently being used by occupational therapists at the Queen Alexandra Center for Children’s Health. It is being used to aid children who have difficulty learning how to walk.
Radio Drum/Music Therapy
The Radio Drum is an electronic musical instrument that is used in music therapy. The radio drum can detect the position of the sticks above the drumhead and create sounds based on its different positions. This allows users with autism to create more complex rhythms and patterns that are not possible with conventional drums. This device has been used at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.
