With all sorts of walkers and ambulatory devices out in the market, what makes this new entrant rise above the rest?
Protostar, a San Diego-based company, is currently marketing a product called the LifeWalker Upright. The company’s goal is to provide not only mobility and protection but also confidence and dignity as they age.
This $1,795 dollar-device isn’t like any other walkers (hence the price). Its design incorporates a high tech metal frame built for stability and strength. It is also equipped with adjustable armrests and handles that allows users to stand tall and look ahead instead of looking down at the pavement. This feature does not only prevent slouching (which can cause major back problems) but also promotes confidence.
Another factor that makes it different from the conventional walker is that it fits around the user on three sides, enabling it and the person to travel together. It really provides ease of use, better support and a sense of security.
Going back to how it all started, David Purcell, founder and chief executive of ProtoStar, shares that the inspiration for the LifeWalker came from personal need. He said that his wife repeatedly fell while using her old walker.
“It’s unsafe and there are thousands of people who fall from their walkers every year and end up in the ER,” he said. “I was in the manufacturing business and I thought I could design something better than that. So I spent a year doing drawings and analysis of Jean’s gait and her problems, and doing ergonomic studies, human factors, research, photos of her in the optimum positions, measurements.”
He also shared that creating the LifeWalker was a long process but at the end of it, he was convinced that this invention could be very helpful for a lot of people and not just his wife.
