Garrett Brown created the Steadicam in the 1970s, which completely changed the way movies were made. His most recent invention, the Zeen, enables those with limited mobility to get up and down as well as move around. Brown had noticed his friends using wheelchairs and walkers (and didn’t like either) when he noticed the large gap between them.
More specifically, he noted that wheelchairs help people sit comfortably, and walkers enable users to maintain an upright stance. However, no mobility aid helps them to switch between those two states. This is where the Zeen comes in.
Zeen mobility aid is made for people who can still use at least one of their legs but are not able to stand or walk safely on their own. It takes its name from the draisine, a balancing bike-like predecessor to the contemporary bicycle.
The Zeen’s seat, in its standard configuration, is at chair height, similar to a wheelchair. No motors are used; instead, two gas springs let users stand by raising the chair and its occupants to an upright position. The handlebars/armrests and the seat, featuring a saddle-like nose, continue to support users as they walk. Fall protection is provided via a seatbelt, and the lifting action can be secured at any height.
Users can “glide” instead of just walking by letting the Zeen coast between each stride. And yes, the Zeen mobility aid includes brakes. Users may also quickly and easily turn, thanks to the swivel of all four wheels. They simply grip two handlebar levers to remove the elevating mechanism when it is time to lean back, allowing their bodies to gently push the seat back down.
According to Brown, the Zeen weighs 40 pounds (18 kilograms) and has adjustable springs that can lift people weighing 90 to 250 pounds (41 to 113 kilograms). He has reportedly already constructed 100 of the gadgets for clients, including Pope Francis.
Wheelchairs are stable because you’re seated. But they’re clunky, often require assistance and keep you from full-body exercise. Rollators and walkers give you some autonomy, but don’t offer stability because your weight is behind the device. The Zeen was designed to keep your center of gravity at the center of the device, like a wheelchair; but it keeps you active, like a rollator. The result is a mobile device that’s both stable and agile, with full body weight support that lets you keep going.
The Zeen mobility aid was developed by Brown and his co-inventors as a result of their desire to assist those who face mobility and lifestyle difficulties. The lightweight, foldable Zeen is the first of its type and combines specialized lift and caster technology to assist users in getting up and moving with confidence.
Zeen provides hands-free, full-body weight support from below, so you may move at your own pace and even cruise with much less effort. You can take a break whenever you like, carry on quickly and linger over a conversation. Zeen restores your sense of command. It’s currently in full commercial production and may be purchased directly from the company’s website for $3,800.
Source: Zeen
