What is LapPAC

Concept: A lap tray for children who use power wheelchairs for mobility and don’t have the ability to reach their backpacks hanging on the back of the chair.

Goals:
• Reverse learned helpless
• Provide a means of independence
• Provide some privacy
• Provide the ability to have “unapproved” items
• Access to needed school supplies/computer

Focus:
The focus is currently on children with Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy. The tray items, form and function have been modified to target this population.

Tray Features:
• Non-traditional shape
• Sliding reading support
• Laptop
• Self rising and closing lid
• Magnetic catches
• Open back for access to pots
• Corner holder to hold computer in place
• Sticky pad to hold computer in place
• Frame to hold screen of laptop to lid
• Self- rising and closing lid
• Inset for recorder
• Holder and loop to get recorder
• Prop to allow to lift cover
• Water bottle holder with loop for access
• Ridge to prevent pencils and other objects from rolling off the tray
• Soft rest for hands and body
• Computer powered by chair’s battery (?)

Materials:
• Acrylic: ¼ to ¾ inches / light and dark blue
o Dark blue for computer compartment
o Light blue for rest of tray
• Blue vinyl for holders, loops and water bottle holder
• Black rubber grip material for ridge of lap tray
• Back door stopper for support for hands and body near tray
• Magnetic latches to hold lid down
• Pneumatic hinge for lift tray lid.

The Process:
1. First talk with the students to see what items they would like access to in their lap tray.
• Received a wide variety of responses:
• 2 Compartment for Classroom tools: school supplies: Pens and pencils, ruler, scissors, compass protractor, utensils
• Paper/notebooks/workbooks
• Laptop with adapted software
• Cell phone with camera (safety): voice activated - power supply
• Game controller (recreation) /Headsets - power supply
• Book holder, (if student lacks the strength to hold book up independently)
• Digital Tape recorder to record lectures and make notes on - voice activated
• Remote control - voice activated
• Water bottle with straw
• Security - fingerprint recognition? Voice activated for compartments - safety concerns

Version 1

Original - Measurements

• chair arms 2in wide can be square or round


• outside to outside - 19in


• Max depth 24in


• 10in to 1in to scoop


• Strap to hold in the chair

First Design Round:
Boomerang shape and tried to envision in corporate as many items as possible.
• Modular side compartments to folder over arm rests
o Modular pockets on side panels possibly cloth
• Try to contain:
o Laptop
o Water bottle
o Cell phone
o Game control
o Recorder
o Books
o Pencils/pens

Version 2

Universal Needs

• ridge to top rolling pencils


• title and swivel plate


• slide for math tools / disk/ruler/etc.


• water bottle

Second Design Round:
Focus on Computer compartment of the tray
• How to stabilize in the tray
• How thick the tray needs to be
• Hold the laptop in place
• Keep bottom down while lifting lid
• Evaluated with students
o Need to think about attaching on legs of wheelchair
o Student A with MS can reach forward and back better than right to left
o Long tray
o Ridge to stop items from rolling off

Version 3

Main Focus in Developing Student A's Tray

• Student A's chair measurements

• The space between the arms is 21 3/4 inches


• the arm pads are 2 1/2 inches wide.


• The right arm is 9" long


• the left one is 13 1/2 inches long.

Third Design Round:
Focus on the needs of Student A with MS.
• Build center module for laptop
• Inset with tray.
• Build frame to hold screen to lid
• Test students’ pressure strength with springs

Version 4

• Modular arm for joy stick


• moveable holder for recorder


• Pulleys to be able to slide water bottle to himself


• Slide against the left vertical edge for him to push against

• Stacking of center section


• pulley and slide to pull water bottle closer


• also release recorder

Fourth Design Round:
Build full mock up of tray with computer laptop
• Inset for recorder
• Slider for water bottle
• Cut out right side for joy stick
• Laptop
o Open up back for cable connections
o Springs to lift computer up
o Magnetic latches for computer lid
o Frame for holding screen to lid
o Stick pad to hold computer bottom down
o Corner edges to hold computer in place
• Video Evaluation


Fifth Design Round:
Based on previous Student A Evaluation hack current laptop design
• Move recorder to left and make long
• Inset water bottle and move the left
• Add loops to pull water bottle and recorder toward self
• Set laptop on slant platform
• Cut off most of right side for joy sticks, chair and computer
• Remove magnetic latches to hold better
• Add book support for reading.

References/Resources

LapTray

• MODU-TRAY
  
• MY DESC
• Tray Attaching Systems

Clamping Systems

• DE-STAY-CO Clamps
• RERC Wheelchair Standards
• Safety Emporium - Clamps and Springs

Latch/Catches

• SouthCo Push/Latches
• Admans Rite Aerospece Push/Latches
• Sugatsune Push/Latches
• Simons Hardware

Modular

• Making Memories Modular Organization
• US Tacital Modular Systems

LapPAC Evaluations Round2

Student A:

• 12 year old 5th grade boy
• Has Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy
• Has more control over micro-movements
• Macro-Movements are difficult: effortful and slow
• Moving hands forward and back easier than going to the side

Video Evaluations

• Student A - Evaluation: Spring Resistant (quicktime)

Design Development of LapPAC

• Designs (pdf)
  

• Evolution of design as project focus changes. First page is earlier design, and last page is current working design
  

References/Resources

• MODU-TRAY
  
• MY DESC
• DE-STAY-CO Clamps
• RERC Wheelchair Standards
• Tray Attaching Systems
• SouthCo Push/Latches
• Admans Rite Aerospece Push/Latches
• Sugatsune Push/Latches
• Making Memories Modular Organization
• US Tacital Modular Systems
• Safety Emporium - Clamps and Springs
• Simons Hardware
  

Lap Tray Needs Analysis

As requested by the students

2 Compartment for Classroom tools: school supplies: Pens and pencils, ruler, scissors, compass protractor, utensils

Paper/notebooks/workbooks

Laptop with adapted software

Cell phone with camera (safety): voice activated - power supply

Game controller (recreation) /Headsets - power supply

Book holder, (if student lacks the strength to hold book up independently)

Digital Tape recorder to record lectures and make notes on - voice activated

remote control - voice activated

Water bottle with straw

- fingerprint reconigition? voice activated for comparments - safety concerns

Backpack Analysis

1. Find the backpack
   
   
   
   • Components Needed: visual perceptual skills including the ability to discriminate one item from a field of visually competing items, eg: figure ground
   
   
   
   



2. Pick up the backpack by one of the straps or the top handle (usually is on the floor)
   
   
   
   • Components Needed:
     
     
     
     • strength in the muscles of one's arm(s)chest and back
     
     
     • the ability to move your arms and hands and fingers in the range of motion needed for this task
     
     
     • the ability to gauge the correct approach to the backpack and the excursion of the grasp pattern
     
     
     • correct force production
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   



3. Carry backpack to higher-level surface (table, bench, bed, etc….)
   
   Components Needed:
   
   • continue with the muscular strength and activation as above
   
   
   • with the need for added force production by certain muscles to carry the backpack to a higher surface
   
   
   • both concentric and eccentric use of these muscles for smooth co-ordinated controlled movements
     
   
   
   
   



4. Set backpack down on higher level surface
   
   
   Components Needed:
   
   • continue biomechanic and ergonomic use of musculature
   
   along with visual attention and visual monitoring (which involves adequate binocular vision skills)to discriminate size of higher level surface.
   
   
   
   



5. Unzip main compartment of the backpack
   
   
   Components Needed: requires the use of adequate pincer grasp patterns and the correct application of force in a smooth graded pattern.
   
   
   



6. Dig through main compartment for item
   
   
   Components Needed: the main component is stereognosis (the ability to identify an object by touch)
   
   
   
   • Pull item out if large and easy to get (binder, towel, etc…)
     
     Components Needed:
     
     • the muscles of the hands
     
     
     • arms chest and back need to work together and in sequence for adequate and smooth force production to accomplish this
     
     
     
     
   
   
   • Search with hands and visually if item is medium size and not ready found (wallet, water bottle, sandwich)
     
     
     
     • Components Needed: stereognosis, sufficient muscle strength, etc.
     
     
     
     
   
   
   • Dig with hands to find the item if small (pen, flash drive, cell phone)
     
     
     
     • Components Needed: stereognosis and muscle strength with a particular emphasis on the ability to apply a finer grasp pattern as the object gets smaller in order to retrieve it.
   
   
   
   • Pick up and turn bag upside-down to empty backpack contents on surface (if none of the above work):
     • Components Needed: this requires the most strength and gross motor movement patterns
       
       
       
       • Using hands and to dig through scatter items and look for item.
         
         
         Compnents Needed:
         
         • good graded grasp and relese patterns
         
         
         • visual perceptual skills (again:figure ground is most important
         
         
         • along with being able to identify an object as it presents itself in different orientations (upside down or sideways)
         
         
         
         
       
       
       • Once item is found, turn backpack right side up and begin putting everything back in backpack
         
         
         Components Needed:
         
         • Muscle strength and good range of motion
         
         
         • good grasp and release
         
         
         • good visual regard
         
         
         
         
       
       
       
       
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   
   
   



7. Unzip outside compartment:
   
   
   
   • Components Needed:
     
   • the ability to use a grasp appropriate tot his task
   
   
   • superior or lateral pincer grasp.
     
     
     
     • Pull out pen, card, stick pad from smaller organizational compartment inside
       
       
       
       • If not ready visible… unzip and dig down with hands in the various pockets to feel for the item
       
       
       • If item still not found - pull out all items and put on the surface until item is found
       
       
       • If Item still not found turn backpack upside down and shake to empty items (may be heavy if main compartment still full)
       
       
       
       
     
     
     • Once Item is found or determined not to be in bag put items back in compartments and zip back up smaller compartment.
       
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   
   



8. Pick backpack up and put on my back by placing arms through straps.
   
   
   
   • Pick up by top handle place on the floor
     
     
     Components Needed to this last group are as above.
     
     • In addition, one needs the cognitive ability to sequence and execute all the actions, the memory of the motor plan to execute the motor tasks needed.
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   

Pros and cons of using a backpack

Pros

• Organize items – pen/pencils, notepads, stickies, tissues, lip balm


• Carry on back and hands free: ergonomically better for student


• Sturdy to hold heavy items and resist wear and tear, dragging


• Water resistant


• Side compartments – water bottle, cell and access cards, ipod - reach without taking off backpack

Cons

• Not good if have back problems, such as arthritis, scoliosis, general weak abdominal musculature


• Manipulate zipper and tabs challenge for impaired or delayed fine motor skills and sensory skills such as stereognosis


• Cannot see what is going on behind you if you do not have the ability to monitor


• Need ability to twist to get to side compartment- range of motion and mobility in rib cage/ trunk/ spine/ arms


• Need strength in arms to lift pack and carry


• Straps hang down and can get caught or be tugged


• Easy to lose items in compartments and spend time looking for them


• Only water resistant so gets wet in heavy rain

Must haves for students:

• Ipods (recreation) (optional) (with tv and movies) with speakers


• Cell phone with camera (safety): voice activated


• Game console/ps2 (recreation) or PSP/XBox


• Laptop with adapted software and DVDs


• Flash drives/pen combo (optional- not necessary if infared printer)


• Pens and pencils


• Compartment for Classroom tools: ruler, scissors, compass protractor


• Paper/notebooks/workbooks


• Book holder, (if student lacks the strength to hold book up independently)


• Digital Tape recorder to record lectures and make notes on


• CD/DVD slot


• Headsets


• Water bottle


• A place for food (macaroni and cheese, chicken and rice and beans)


• Eating utensils/ straw

Redesigned for Physically Challenged Students