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Empowering mobility: Transformative tales of patented assistive products with VoSAP
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Patented assistive products / VOSAP
In the previous articles, you learned about the impact of innovative technologies like the WeHear device, SignAble app, and other assistive devices in unlocking the true potential of people with disabilities. In this article, our focus shifts to three relatively simple yet profoundly effective devices: the Smart Cane, Underarm Crutch, and Cerebral Palsy Walker. These devices play pivotal roles in assisting individuals with disabilities to realize their full capabilities, enhancing safe mobility, independence, and overall quality of life.
Saarthi SmartCane
Saarthi is an innovative product designed to help visually impaired individuals sense their surroundings. It attaches to a standard white cane and detects obstacles, providing feedback through buzzing sounds and vibrations. Equipped with a powerful battery and microcontroller, Saarthi offers three precise detection ranges for effective, long-lasting use. It can be used with a cane in unfamiliar areas to navigate obstacles and independently in familiar regions for obstacle detection. Built-in sensors ensure users can easily and accurately identify their surroundings, enhancing their ability to navigate their environment safely.
Let me share a story of a beneficiary who has been using the Smartcane for over a year and how he experiences fearless mobility with this device. Tanvir Hussain Bhorniya is a resilient student from Gujarat. Despite many challenges, Tanvir's parents, farmers, harbored hopes of a brighter future for their son. With unwavering determination, Tanvir embraced the SmartCane as more than just a tool but as an extension of himself. Through dedicated practice—2 to 3 hours a day for just seven days—he mastered its usage, gaining newfound confidence and fearlessness. No longer reliant solely on the assistance of others, the SmartCane bestowed upon Tanvir the gift of independence.
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Saarthi SmartCane / VOSAPSimilar products in the US and UK such as WeWALK are priced in the range of $300 to $850. But in India, this Saarthi Smartcane developed by Torchit (Govt. of India-aided social-tech startup and VOSAP’s AT Exhibition Partner) costs only about $30. This highlights the significance of Indian cost advantage that provides an opportunity for the world to benefit from accessible solutions that are also affordable for the masses.
Flexmo Underarm and Elbow Crutch
The other product I want to share today is the Flexmo crutches. The Flexmo Crutches is an upgrade to regular traditional crutches that offer a superior solution, combining stability, comfort, and durability. Engineered with an anti-slip design, these crutches ensure great stability on various terrains, preventing slips even on wet surfaces like bathroom tiles, snow, mud, or rocks.
The comfortable EVA foam handles and underarm pads, enhances user comfort and support during use. Constructed from premium materials such as aluminum, steel, and military-grade rubber, Flexmo crutches are both lightweight and durable. This professional equipment minimizes the risk of falls. In 2023, we enabled 1000+ Specially Abled People with Flexmo Crutches and would continue to do so in 2024.
Flexmo crutches developed by Flexmotive technologies weighs about 3.5 pounds and costs about $40 in India and the same US-patented crutches weighs about 8.5 pounds and costs $260. This suggests that the Flexmo crutches offer a more cost-effective and accessible option for individuals in India, potentially making mobility aids more affordable and widely available to those in need across the world. There is a vast underexplored market for millions of locomotor disadvantaged people in the world who could benefit from cost-effective Flexmo crutches.
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Flexmo crutches / VOSAP
CP Walker
A cerebral palsy walker, also known as a pediatric walker/ posterior walker, is a specialized mobility aid designed to assist children with cerebral palsy or other mobility impairments in walking.
Featuring a lightweight frame with supportive handrails or handles and wheels, these walkers provide stability and support to help children with cerebral palsy maintain an upright posture and train their mobility . Posterior walkers aim to promote independent mobility, improve physical development, and enhance overall function by assisting with weight-bearing and balance. They come in various designs and configurations, with some including additional features like built-in seats or support harnesses for added safety and comfort.
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VOSAP / CP WalkerLet me share the story of Chandushree, a young girl with Cerebral Palsy from KGF, Karnataka. She received a CP Walker from VOSAP in November 2023. With the help of this device, Chandushree is now able to attend school. Regular use of the CP Walker has enabled her to walk independently, without relying on others. Remarkably, she has even started taking small steps without the device. This early intervention with posterior walkers helps children with Cerebral Palsy move independently, giving them a chance to experience greater mobility and independence.
It gives me so much joy to share the impact that these assistive devices are making on the lives of Specially Abled People. VOSAP understands that assistive devices are not mere tools; they are enablers of dreams. These stories are a testament to the incredible change that can occur when individuals and organizations like VOSAP come together with a common purpose – to empower, to uplift, and to change lives.
I invite you to check out more such impactful stories by visiting www.voiceofsap.org
Pranav Desai is founder of Voice of SAP (www.voiceofsap.org), an organization working in the disability sector and in a Special Consultative Status with UN Economic and Social Council.
(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad)
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