Design and manufacture of walking devices for people with mobility impairment.
Our Work
We design and manufacture a unique style of walking device, aimed at children and smaller adults who have the ability or potential to step, but who are unable to walk unaided.
Our walkers feature a dynamic 4-wheeled base to provide a user with stability while standing, and an articulated exoskeleton which provides a minimum amount of support to provide a user with the optimal stance to initiate a stepping action.
The exoskeleton is designed to eradicate unnatural movements and encourage natural motion.
The base and exoskeleton are adjustable to allow for growth and changes in walking needs over time.
Users of our walkers have cerebral palsy, or other conditions, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, resulting in mobility difficulties.
Exoskeleton.
We offer two different styles of exoskeleton; Regular and Heavy-Duty. Both are functionally identical, however the Regular exoskeleton is lighter weight and designed for smaller and lighter children.
The Heavy-Duty exoskeleton is designed for taller and heavier users, from teenager to small adult, although some children as young as 6 have benefited from the Heavy-Duty exoskeleton, for example if they have good ability, are active and intend to use their walker regularly and outdoors.
Both exoskeletons are telescopically adjustable for height and width, so a growing child should be able to get several years of use from an exoskeleton without the need for replacement parts or a minimal number of replacement parts if they experience a significant growth spurt.
Our walkers are precision engineered in the UK, and made from high quality materials and components. Parts rarely break when the walker is used for it's intended purpose.
Dynamic, 4-wheeled base
Our new range of open fronted, easier to access, dynamic 4-wheeled bases retain all of the functionality of the base they replace, however they are modern in appearance and manufacturing techniques and have some great enhancements and improvements.
The open front with splayed arms means that as the arms extend forwards, they also widen, which is ideal for a wide size range of clients.
Some users can step straight into the open straps of the exoskeleton. Others can be manually lifted, or if a manual lift is not possible, can be hoisted into the exoskeleton.
Alternatively, if it's not possible to hoist into the exoskeleton, the exoskeleton can be detached from the base and the user can be fitted into the exoskeleton while laying down.
The base is dynamic in that it has a suspension spring mechanism at the rear which partially compresses when the user is attached to the device. When the user starts stepping, the base rises and falls, in synchronisation with the stepping action of the user.
Reciprocating shock cord system
Shock cords are connected from the base to the exoskeleton above the ankles to the front and above the knees to the rear. The shock cords have 3 functions:
- They help to synchronise the stepping action of the user.
- They hold the users feet centrally within the 4 wheels of the device, which helps to maintain stability by ensuring the user's centre of gravity is held centrally within the footprint of the base.
- They help to propel the base forwards.
Connector catch spindle and housing
It may not be possible for a user to step or be lifted into the exoskeleton while the exoskeleton is attached to the base and in the vertical position.
The design allows for the exoskeleton to be easily detached from the base and laid down on the floor or a plinth or bed for a user to then be placed on top of the open exoskeleton.
Then the user can be strapped into the exoskeleton and lifted or hoisted onto the base.
