Trekinetic facilitates greater independence

by Jason Anson
Persistence in research and development has paid off for both designer and users of Trekinetic wheelchairs. After having his prototypes rejected on more than one occasion designer Mike Spindel eventually gained the approval of his toughest critics and the Trekinetic was born.

Previous problems with the chair involved the wheels being too wide (good for stability, bad for doorways) and the rear castor easily becoming misaligned resulting in maneuverability issues. Paraplegic test-user Robin Gibbons, an ex-pilot said, “it was like driving a tea trolley around.” However, the issue with the rear castor became obsolete with the implementation of a spring loaded mechanism that fixed the wheel parallel to the chair when required enabling users to move in a straight line at speed. This feature is fundamental to the functioning of the three wheel design.
 
In addition, the Trekinetic features a ‘Lean or Mean’ setting that the user adjusts while seated to alter the width of the wheels in accordance with the environment. This makes the wheelchair suitable for a wider range of tasks and sets a new standard in wheelchair design. James Foster, a self proclaimed adrenalin junkie states, “it is very much the mountain bike of wheelchairs”. As a result, the Trekinetic has been selected for numerous design awards. The following clip produced by the BBC is an inspiring story that explores ups and downs on the road to the development of the Trekinetic wheelchair.