Standing Paraplegic Omni-directional Transport (SPOT)

Mobility device to return Dr. Garrett Cuppels, a T-12 paraplegic surgeon, to the operating room.

Design Award

Design Excellence Award Winner

News About this Project

News: SPOT-Bot, Forward Motion Show, The Big Ten Network (January 28, 2013)
News: Standing Paraplegic Omni-Directional Transport, BME Monitor (December 2012)
News: Mobility Marvel, On Wisconsin Magazine (December 2012)
News: Image Gallery: SPOT Device Testing (November 15, 2012)
News: UW students aim to change life with student project, WKOW (March 21, 2012)

Project Overview

Our client is an orthopedic surgeon who has been without work ever since an accident left him paralyzed (T12 paraplegia). In order to return to orthopedic surgery he will need to be able to perform surgeries in a standing postion, as well as be able to move about the operating room. Our goal is to create a device which will allow him to meet those requirements.

Our design is a motorized base with four wheels and a stability mechanism to hold our client in the standing position. It utilizes mecanum wheels, which allow for movement in any direction as opposed to traditional wheels which allow for only forward and backward movement. We believe that this design will allow our client to be safely and comfortably held in a standing position and also move him quickly and precisely throughout surgery.