PowerGrip Components, Upgrades, & Replacement Parts

PowerGrip Components, Upgrades, & Replacement Parts

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PowerGrip Upgrades & Replacement Parts

Assisted Grasp Actuator

New, ultracompact, with improved reliability. Sized to apply just the right amount of grasp force and closure speed for intuitive control. Industrial grade micromotor with planetary gear-type transmission

Orthotic Controller

Single actuator controller standard

Supports any 2 or dual ability switches. Optional parallel switch control provides simultaneous use of EMG Muscle Switches or ability switches

Bilateral Dual actuator controller available

Support for PowerGrip on both hands

Support for assisted grasp & elbow flexion/extension on one arm with 4-position hands/chin joystick control

The rugged controller is a small box which easily Velcro's to bottom of wheelchair seat, wheelchair backrest, or simply drops into a backpack or even fanny pack for amblitory brachial plexus injuries. PowerGrip control wire is routed under backrest, up the side of the body inside shirt, down along arm under sleeve to plug into Orthosis on users' hand. In this way the control wire is not visible and does not catch on anything during the course of normal daily activities. The control wire is highly insulated commercial quality, very rugged, and only carries a low voltage signal so it is completely safe. If accidentally damaged the control wire can be replaced for a few dollars at any electronics store!

The included GimpGear Dual Pushbutton Control Switches (pictured below) are extremely rugged and typically mounted to the front or outside edge of the opposite armrest from the hand PowerGrip is utilized on. Switch wires pass through wheelchair armrest pipe or under armrest and plug into orthotic controller under or behind wheelchair.

Open / Close Grasp Control Switches

Included Standard

Dual Pushbutton Control Switches

Provide feather touch auditory feedback, easier for users lacking sensation in hands to know they have actuated the switch.

Rugged for use on power wheelchairs!

Compact enough to imbed into wheelchair armrest foam for a professional look! Only 2.3"x 1.38"x .8"

Elbow activation possible for some users

PowerGrip EMG Muscle Control Kit provides completely hands-free control over opening and closing one's hand with the PowerGrip using only small controlled muscle flexion movements. The Platysma muscle

provides very effective control for quadriplegics, although any muscle movement can be utilized. A "double-twitch" flips between open and close modes. Featuring adjustable sensitivity, even the slightest muscle movement can be detected yet unintended activations ignored. Now Shipping! Contact Us for pricing or to order.

New Sip & Puff Switches

Very Responsive - requires little more than breathing

Great if able to drink or blow bubbles through a straw

Compact - only 2.5"x 2.5"x1" Substitute for 2 buttons

Includes two industry standard 1/8" (3.5 mm) adaptive switch mono plugs on 3' wire & 1/8" pneumatic nipple

Manufactured with antimicrobial tubing custom made for us

Includes Tubing Kit to run up inside shirt and out one of the top buttons/clip to front of shirt or add Sip & Puff Wheelchair Backrest Mounted Flexarm

Sip & Puff items non-refundable for hygienic reasons

For incomplete users with some foot movement.

Dual Foot Switches

Option to keep opposite hand free by utilizing otherwise inactive foot movement

Any other combination of two standard adaptive switches with a standard 3.5 mm Mono jack such as Tash's Micro Light or Trigger switches (pictured), the popular "Buddy Button", or AbleNet's Spec Switch (pictured) can be utilized. Even custom-built solutions can be made from any readily available SPST switch from RadioShack!

Wheelchair controller or ECU integration

If your wheelchair controller or Environmental Control Unit has two momentary adaptive switch compatible outputs, you can use it to control the PowerGrip on your hand!

Power Supply (choose one)

Included	Optional Upgrade
Lithium-ion Battery Pack (Operates PowerGrip for 2 to 3 days)	Power2Go Wheelchair Charging Socket Power Converter for PowerGrip Never Worry about Recharging!

Velcro to bottom of seat pan next to controller Operates PowerGrip for 2-3 days or from AC wall outlet Compact, lightweight, and no "memory effects"	Operate PowerGrip from wheelchair batteries, Simply plug into Wheelchair Charging Socket under seat frame 2nd Charging Socket Battery Direct Cable Kit required for wheelchairs with charging socket on joystick controller only

Other Standard Kit Components

Control Wire, Actuator Jack, Short Sleeve Arm Strap

Wheelchair Mounting Hardware

User Manual and Suggested Mounting Manual

Support for Orthotist and Therapist

Myoelectric Control Upgrade under development: We feel it is ridiculous that many quadriplegics would seemingly get more function by cutting off their own hand and replacing it with an artificial, prosthetic one! Consequently, a highly improved myoelectric control solution is under development. EMG signaling technologies commonly utilized with prosthetic hands will provide natural, cognitive control input for opening and closing the hand by flexing an existing, functional muscle. For C-5 quadriplegics this is typically the brachioradialis which is also sometimes used for tendon transfer to provide limited wrist extension. The end result will be reaching out and naturally flexing a muscle to close the hand and pick up something.