Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2018-2019)

The wheelchair is among the most recognizable forms of assistive technology, and arguably the mostx000D
important. Over 60% of Canadian wheelchair users are older adults, a demographic expected to double by thex000D
year 2050, according to Statistics Canada. Efforts are continuing in the field of assistive technology to movex000D
technology-related prototypes, resulting from development in the academic sector, to productx000D
commercialization within this business sector. In this context, MacKenzie Atlantic (MA), a NS-based companyx000D
specializing in manufacturing a highly diverse set of products ranging from steel stampings, precisionx000D
machined products, as well as fixtures and gauges used in the aerospace, defence, marine and renewable energyx000D
industries, is looking to expand its business into assistive devices in long-term care facilities. For this purpose,x000D
the company has designed a slouch correction aid that can benefit from research collaboration with Novax000D
Scotia Community College (NSCC). In the medium-term, this will spin off a new business creating aids andx000D
supportive technologies for the healthcare industry, particularly in relation to the needs of our aging populationx000D
and injury prevention.x000D
NSCC will contribute its expertise and facilities in bio-mechanics, suited for validation design improvement asx000D
well as laboratory and field data collection. The proposed device is anticipated to enhance the independence ofx000D
wheelchair users who are not able to correct their slouching posture, and help reduce back injuries amongx000D
wheelchair users as well as workplace injuries for caregivers, in long term care facilities. This will translatex000D
into an increased workers' productivity in long-term facilities and a better condition in the growing agingx000D
population. Nonetheless, the proposed device also helps preventing sores while sitting. Knowing that the costx000D
of treating a pressure sore is about $5,000 per month for each person living in the community, and that mostx000D
people get multiple sores at one time, this quickly becomes a challenge in the health care system. The proposedx000D
device therefore represents a new product line for MA with markets across North America and beyond.