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The user of Dowing2 can use this device in various environments like home, workplace, school
or institutional setting. A restricted tolerance of environmental humidity exists.
Dowing2 can be mounted on a table or working chair. Due to safety and functional reasons,
Dowing2 should not be mounted on a (electric) wheelchair.
Dowing2 is not designed to be used in combinations of large forces. Dowing2 cannot be used
as a support when standing up or getting seated or as an autonomous lifting device (without
supporting the human arm).
Dowing2 is not designed to withstand impacts that can be introduced during collisions with a
wall or other objects. Also Dowing2 is not constructed to withstand high external vertical forces
that can be introduced for example by (abnormal use of) patient hoist systems.
Usage of the device
Dowing2 supports the execution of numerous daily activities like eating, drinking, tooth
brushing, typing or scratching one’s nose. Independence in lifting and manipulating objects
and in personal care is possible again. In general it is desirable for users to use their remaining
capacities as much as possible. The device adds force to the user’s arm when lifting objects in
the vertical plane, if well-adjusted no more force is added than strictly is needed. The principle
at work here is called ‘Assist as needed’. Application of this principle is both beneficial from
a health perspective and for one’s self esteem, furthermore it is also cost effective. Dowing2
operates on the basis of compensation of the weight of the arm. This is called ‘balancing the
arm’. The large horizontal movements hardly require any effort anymore. The construction
enables easy and quick reach of the mouth and face and easier task performance at the
workplace. Dowing2 returns the natural freedom of movement to the user.
Warning: If the user experiences problems using the Dowing2, please contact Focal
Meditech or a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Risks and contra-indications
No essential user risks are known while using Dowing2. Dowing2 is an aid which should be used
by the intended users. However there are no known contra-indications for Dowing2. To be able
to use Dowing2 the following warnings must be taken into account.
Warning: The arm support system cannot be used by the user as a support when
standing up and sitting down. During the evaluation attention is required to determine
if the user is able to sit in a stable position and if one can stand-up without using a
support.
Intended use and operation of the device
Intended use
Dowing2 is a dynamic arm support. It is designed for persons having a need for considerable
compensation against gravity during movements of the human arm.
Intended users
The intended users of the dynamic arm support Dowing2 are users in the need of a function
device requiring limited learning efforts:
1 Persons challenged by considerable muscular weakness resulting in the inability to perform
essential Activities of Daily Living (ADL) activities including eating, drinking, facial care and
computer use. Simple arm supports do not compensate sufficiently.
2 Persons challenged by excessive muscle functioning.
3 Persons in the need of redistribution of pressure/forces.
4 Persons who are at risk for Complaints of Arm Neck and-or Shoulder (CANS), overload or
strong fatigue due to challenging working conditions, which may be due to continuous or
frequent task performance above shoulder level or performance of many static manual
activities.
5 Combinations of these.
Operation of the device
The dynamic arm support system Dowing2 is a system that consists of several axes which are
interconnected via pivoting points. The axes are connected to a manually adjustable gravity
compensation mechanism. At the distal end of the system an arm fitting, elbow fitting and
optional a wrist support are attached. Dowing2 is mounted on the ‘solid’ world (table or
working chair). The lower arm of the user is placed in the arm fitting, and Dowing2 can support
the weight of the lower and partly the upper arm. The axes of Dowing2 will support movements
of the human lower arm and hand.
Dowing2 has a robust design combined with low friction and low play. This is realised by using
high quality bearing systems combined with high accuracy mechanical parts which results
in a smoothly running system. Therefore little energy is required to introduce the intended
movements. The smooth running Dowing2 combined with the accurate fit of the arm fitting
results in little muscle forces required from the user. The kinematic chain of the axes results
in a large range of motion. Gravity compensation characteristics of the device can depend on
individual requirements easily be adjusted.
Dowing2 can be used one- or two sided. Several properties of the user, being the personal
limitations and possibilities combined with the needs of the user, determine if one or two
Dowing2’s are required.
