RESEARCH DEVICE TO PREPRODUCTION PROTOTYPE - A CHRONOLOGY

This paper describes the evolution of the Wheelchair Aerobic Fitness T rainer (WAFT), a wheelchair ergometer developed for determination of a erobic capacity and the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in lower limb disabled persons whose mobility depends primarily on the manual w heelchair. The device was originally developed for use in research stu dies to determine peak exercise capacity in persons with spinal cord i njuries and other lower limb disabilities and to formulate associated graded exercise stress test protocols. In subsequent research, the dev ice was incorporated into a specially designed testing station for the detection of coronary artery disease in persons who cannot adequately undergo treadmill or cycle ergometry testing because of lower limb di sabilities. Based on the usefulness of the device for both rehabilitat ion and diagnostic purposes, the WAFT has been brought into the techno logy transfer process of the Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilita tion Research and Development Service. Under a contract with Packer En gineering, Inc., Naperville, IL, development of a preproduction versio n of the device and six units for field evaluation has commenced. The preproduction prototype of the WAFT has incorporated numerous improvem ents over the original device and promises to expand the potential for future research, rehabilitation, and diagnostic applications.