Help with 2 projects Walking & Wheelchair trainers

For over 40 years, I have maintained a physical therapy practice focused exclusively on the rehabilitation of patients with neurological injuries and diseases. Several years ago, I incorporated robotic devices and other emerging technologies into my practice and have seen life-changing results for many patients. Over time, I invented and developed several prototypes, including a gait trainer (“RoboTram”) to significantly improve patients’ walking ability and lower extremity strength, and a wheelchair trainer to replicate use of a wheelchair on varied terrains and under various conditions. While the gait trainer is already functional and has been tested for hundreds of hours, its utility can be turbocharged by adding synchronized electrical stimulation. We have many of the components to do this but need to complete the development of the requisite controller and algorithm. The wheelchair trainer prototype requires more mechanical integration and substantial software work. When the pandemic occurred, the robotics component of my practice took a direct hit. I did not have sufficient funding to retain the engineers who had been developing the still-unfinished prototypes. However, I have seen firsthand the incredible benefits of such devices to my patients’ rehabilitation and firmly believe in their value. These new technologies enable us to treat successfully patients whose impairments have not responded to more traditional therapy. Therefore, I seek funds to complete the gait trainer and wheelchair trainer prototypes to fully realize their potential. While the process of putting innovation into practice pays life-changing dividends for our patients, it is expensive and requires significant technical support. I assure you that we work hard to make certain that funding goes as far as possible but we need the help of the community to reach our goal of producing the best results for the greatest number of patients. Your donations will enable us to complete the development of prototypes, which, in turn, will help us produce exceptional treatment outcomes that will enhance immeasurably the quality of our patients’ lives.