An innovative walking frame for children with brittle bones has been designed by two Sheffield Engineering students in their spare time.Masters graduates Barry Tan and Lim Ji Hui hope it will help young children who are too small to use conventional walking aids at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Sheffield disabled product manufacturer KingKraft Ltd made a prototype of the walker for free and tested it at Sheffield Children’s Hospital last week.
It was tried out by Meleah Pegg, a four-year-old with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI).
Her mother, Abi Pegg, said: "She was given a walker, which was too big for her, but was the smallest available.
"The walker did help her but it was still difficult for her as she would lean awkwardly on the walker to support her weight."
OI, more commonly known as Brittle Bone Disease, is a rare genetic condition which makes sufferers extremely vulnerable to bone fractures and deformities.
Children face extra difficulties when learning to walk because their limbs are much smaller than usual, and the slightest pressure may cause their leg bones to fracture.
Many children with OI cannot sit up until they are nine months old as their spines are so fragile.
The two students were told about problems faced by toddlers with the condition by their lecturer, Elena Rodriguez-Falcon.
Barry and Lim decided to take on the walker project as well as their coursework and exams.
Lim said: "I really enjoyed working on the project and although it involved balancing lots of
commitments it was well worth it.
"I just hope the hospital can get the funding they need to take our design forward."
Liz Knowles, an Occupational Therapist at Sheffield Children´s Hospital, said: "Tiny children who are severely affected with Brittle Bone Disease need support to get up and walk. They struggle with walkers too big and too wide for them."
Sheffield Children’s Hospital is the largest centre in the world for children with OI, with about 100 of its 270 patients severely affected.
There is lots of interest in the walkers by international OI groups, but the hospital needs a starting figure of around £10,000 to develop the prototype.
KingKraft Ltd Managing Director Nigel Harrison, also a University of Sheffield engineering graduate, said: "I had no hesitation in accepting the challenge, as I was very impressed by the design. Everybody in the company got behind the project and I am really pleased with the results."
Natalie Bowen
No comments:
Post a Comment