Pivot Open Source Assistive Eating Device
The Pivot is a switch activated, electro-mechanical fork device that attaches to a person’s forearm by way of a custom-made brace molded with Rolyan Aquaplast™ ProDrape™-T and secured with velcro straps. This device affords independent eating by pivoting food from a plate to one’s mouth with a flip of a toggle switch attached to an electric wheelchair. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Developed in collaboration with Ewa Okla, (see video above), the Pivot installs onto an electric wheelchair and is used in conjunction with an overhead suspension rod/sling, long handle toggle switch and rechargeable battery. The long-handled toggle switch is attached to the chair arm next to the wheelchair joystick so that the device may be easily activated by the hand not connected with the fork. The device is portable and has proven effective at enabling people with arm and hand differences to eat independently.
The Pivot has been adapted to the needs of others, include Jake (see video above) who also has AMC. Both Jake and Ewa utilize a suspension rod attached to the back of their wheelchairs with a band and sling to suspend the eating arm and provide a center point of rotation from plate to mouth.
Here is the device that attaches to the user’s forearm within a fabric sleeve covering the mechanics. The white part is custom-molded aquaplpast brace material.
Here’s the toggle switch attached to the chair next to the wheelchair controls. This can be a permanent or temporary attachment.
Above you see the custom overhead suspension arm attached to the wheelchair back cane with clamps for easy removal and installation.
This project is the result of many previous prototypes, including the one above.
Many thanks to all of the people who have been involved in the development of this project, including Eric Tommer, Julia Donohue, Yang Tang and Jeremy Boyle.
Please contact me if you would like to participate in a trial of the device. All trial devices are provided at no cost to the participant.
© Ashley John Pigford, All rights reserved.