Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

The wheelchair is among the most recognizable forms of assistive technology, and arguably the mostimportant. Over 60% of Canadian wheelchair users are older adults, a demographic expected to double by theyear 2050, according to Statistics Canada. Efforts are continuing in the field of assistive technology to movetechnology-related prototypes, resulting from development in the academic sector, to productcommercialization within this business sector. In this context, MacKenzie Atlantic (MA), a NS-based companyspecializing in manufacturing a highly diverse set of products ranging from steel stampings, precisionmachined products, as well as fixtures and gauges used in the aerospace, defence, marine and renewable energyindustries, is looking to expand its business into assistive devices in long-term care facilities. For this purpose,the company has designed a slouch correction aid that can benefit from research collaboration with NovaScotia Community College (NSCC). In the medium-term, this will spin off a new business creating aids andsupportive technologies for the healthcare industry, particularly in relation to the needs of our aging populationand injury prevention.NSCC will contribute its expertise and facilities in bio-mechanics, suited for validation design improvement aswell as laboratory and field data collection. The proposed device is anticipated to enhance the independence ofwheelchair users who are not able to correct their slouching posture, and help reduce back injuries amongwheelchair users as well as workplace injuries for caregivers, in long term care facilities. This will translateinto an increased workers' productivity in long-term facilities and a better condition in the growing agingpopulation. Nonetheless, the proposed device also helps preventing sores while sitting. Knowing that the costof treating a pressure sore is about $5,000 per month for each person living in the community, and that mostpeople get multiple sores at one time, this quickly becomes a challenge in the health care system. The proposeddevice therefore represents a new product line for MA with markets across North America and beyond.