Development and Validation of a Caster Data Logger for Quantitative Measurement of Electric Powered Wheelchair Usage

Electric powered wheelchairs (EPWs) are an important form of mobility for many persons with disabilities. However, little quantitative data exists on how much people use their EPWs in real-world environments. Previous devices have been successful at measuring EPW usage, but they have been limited by the size or the battery life of the device. This study describes the design, development, and validation of caster data logger (CDL) suitable for long-term collection of EPW usage data in real-world environments. Also included in this study is a description of EPW usage data collected during and after the National Veterans' Wheelchair Games (NVWG). Several device concepts for logging EPW usage were evaluated. A caster data logger concept was chosen and functional prototypes were fabricated. The prototypes were subjected to a variety of bench tests before being deemed suitable for field use. 10 CDLs were constructed of data collection at the NVWG. At the NVWG, subjects who used an EPW as their primary means of mobility were recruited for this study. In 5 days at the games the participants (n=5) traveled a distance of 7751 ± 3439m per day, while traveling 3397±1300 m (n = 4) per day during 5 days the following week. The results were limited due to small sample size; however, they could provide useful pilot data for future studies.Overall, the CDL showed potential as a useful tool for measuring EPW usage. Future development should focus making the device easier for researchers and clinicians to use.