PALM OPERATED BRAKES FOR TOPRO TROJA WALKER 2 ROLLATOR
A bespoke set of replacement handles/brakes for a Topro Troja Walker 2 for a client with myotonic dystrophy, where the brakes are activated by pushing the handles inwards with the palm of the hand – and then pulling them back if there is a need to engage the parking brake.
The Challenge
Our client has a diagnosis of myotonic dystrophy, which is a form of muscular dystrophy, leaving her with very little grip/strength/flexibility in her fingers and unable to operate the driving brakes on her Topro Troja 2 walker which she needs to mobilise. She could only apply the parking brake by shoving that forward with her finger tips, and even that was difficult. There are relatively few walker rollators on the market and all have the same sort of brake handles. Our client was having to restrict her use of the walker to flat surfaces where she could manage without the brakes, so our client’s physio reached out to REMAP for help.
The solution
It quickly became apparent that a complete rethink of the braking was going to be required due to our client’s severely impaired finger movement and weakness.
Engineers Ian Midgley and Mike Johnson designed and made a bespoke set of handles for the walker, such that the handles pivot inwards to apply the brakes more easily with the palm of the hand, and a pull backwards with the underside of the fingers then closes two specially designed interlocking 3D printed plates to apply the parking brake. Replacement brake cables were also made up to suit, as the original Topro Troja Walker brake cables weren’t re-usable in this solution. Most of the construction of the handles is aluminium to keep down the weight, and with PTFE bearings for smooth operation. The REMAP modification is fully reversible. i.e. the original handles and brake cables can be re-fitted in a matter of minutes.
This setup requires a slight change in steering approach which was unavoidable. i.e. when turning to the left, the left hand/handle needs to take the lead in steering the rollator, and the right hand finger tips drop onto a square pad below the R/H handle to help with the pushing to the left – such that the right brake isn’t applied when turning. And vice versa. In reality, our client’s limited grip means she uses her arms in the armrests to help her steer anyway.
Note that this solution only suits a walker type rollator, and the Topro Troja Walker 2 machine in particular due to the design of the original handle. Cheaper/inferior walker rollators tend to have a narrow handle tube which doesn’t lend itself as readily to this sort of modification.
The following photo shows the new handles fitted and the handles upright so the brakes are fully released. Note the visible gap between the two grey 3D printed plates.
The following two photos show the brakes applied, and the handles then pulled backwards to apply the parking brake. Note the two grey 3D printed plates have locked fully together to hold the parking brake on and there is no longer a gap.
The following is the prototype 3D print moulding to help secure a 1/4 inch thick aluminium plate beneath the new handle which holds the brake cable sheath and bike brake adjuster.
The following photo shows the prototype design 3D printed interlocking plates which govern the movement range of the handles and provides the parking brake functionality. The plate on the left is fixed to the aluminium core of the new handle and doesn’t move. The plate on the right rotates with the handle – and is the left hand version of the plate (a mirror image version was needed for the right hand side of the rollator). Note the cavity in the side of this plate which holds the brake cable/crimp.
The benefit
As a result, our client feels much more confident going out and about and is really pleased with the solution.
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