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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2002)
NEI iE b attah ''y transnuttec,!; er vicalcan®; 3w s.Anesi*r a °Ple become a strain of HP h e United St® of vaccine ass ^included 13 verage ageefl w England Jarj iraae foraln' atl rde NEWS 7A FHE battalion Thursday, November 21, 2002 New stair-climbing, elevating wheelchair promoted by FDA GAITHERSBURG, Md. (AP) — Stairs soon may no longer be insurmountable jbstacles for some of the nation’s 2 million wheelchair users. The first wheelchair that can climb stairs -plus shift into four-wheel drive to scoot up grassy hill and even elevate its occupant for ye-level conversation — took a major step oward the market Wednesday, as advisers to Food and Drug Administration unani- nously recommended it be allowed to sell. But the panel backed a few limitations on he Independence iBOT 3000 Mobility System — which uses sensors and gyro- ;copes to balance on two wheels and navi gate stairs — including that it sell only with a doctor’s prescription and strict training to ensure users can drive it safely. The FDA isn’t bound by its advisers’ recommendations, but usually follows them — and it granted the iBOT a special fast- track review reserved for important new medical technology, meaning a decision could come in a few months. How does it climb? Most wheelchairs have two big back wheels and two smaller front wheels. The iBOT has four wheels the same size that rotate up and over one anoth- our power I- 1." Lynch ac f the come of 70,000® ed Conga ■ and wick ilies. ider wasatte igue sink:' ad started e; /eekstsfe docrf wasisfdl ter. Rett:® mne. ainHt'' • said she ' 1 ?.: But wilhini* rabbi arf find his pool of hlwi leaten in ihe first oa ^ is their Neulander, s medical lech sponded to ; ' ; iide. , after the sis; ge of the kill® aaritai affair eulander si . s enior ns, and he slaying' )U i? er to go up and down steps. Well-known inventor Dean Kamen creat ed the iBOT, and says wheelchair users tell him another feature is as appealing: The chair lifts onto two wheels so that its occu pant, although still sitting, is elevated enough to reach high bookshelves and carry on eye-level conversations with people standing nearby. Upstairs, downstairs for the wheelchair The Food and Drug Administration reviewed a wheelchair that potentially increases mobility for some of the nation’s 2 million wheelchair users. Using a joystick and other controls, its occupant can go up and down stairs and elevate to eye level. The chair lifts onto two Two sets of wheels rotate up and over one another wheels to raise its to go up and down steps, while sensors and : occupant to eye level, gyroscopes balance it. Its user must lean backward or to reach an item and forward to direct the chair to climb up or down, previously out of range. {{( O jj) SOURCES. Independence Technology; Associated Press “One reason I built it was to let people stand up,” said Kamen, who licensed the iBOT to Johnson & Johnson. “We treat a lot of adults like children because they can’t stand up.” “I wanted to take it home and keep it,” said Karl Barnard of Tilton, N.H., who test ed the iBOT in a study required by the FDA, which regulates wheelchair safety. In the iBOT, he rose to the height of a 6- feet-tall person to do his grocery shopping without help. Barnard, who lost use of his legs 25 years ago, has no stairs in his home, but was impressed with the four-wheel drive that let him roll up hills and through gravel on his farm, places his manual wheelchair can’t go. But with a predicted $29,000 price tag, Barnard, 46, calls it “more a luxury item” that he probably wouldn’t spring for until he’s too old to push his manual wheelchair easily. While several FDA advisers called the chair potentially revolutionary, they also cautioned that it’s not for everyone. Patients must have the use of at least one arm to operate the chair, moving it with a joystick and other controls, and so far it’s built only for large teenagers and adults. NEWS IN BRIEF Cuban man pleads guilty for hijacking NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Cuban man pleaded guilty ^Wednesday to federal air piracy jand kidnapping charges in the 1980 hijacking of a Delta Air 'Lines flight to Havana. Miguel Aguiar Rodriguez, 55, faces a possible life sentence at sentencing in March. He was arrested in August after showing up for an appointment with the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Miami using an alias. Aguiar and his brother, Roberto, boarded the flight bound for Atlanta and threat ened to set fire to bottles con taining a flammable liquid, authorities said. Gravel truck knocks school bus into house ELGIN, 111. (AP) - Eighteen middle school students were shaken up Wednesday morning when a gravel truck hit their bus and knocked it into a house, school officials said. School, hospital and police officials said none of the injuries appeared serious. Police cited the truck driver for disobeying a red light and failing to reduce speed to avoid an acci dent, Lt. Paul McCurtain said. Let's Co Out To Eat Thursdays in The Battalion m mmmmsm m mmmmmet Kyoto Sushi College Station’s Sushi Bar in Northgate . N.v Chicken ^ ■?" / I 113 College Main llP In Nortngate ♦ 846-5541 Teriyaki Bowl - $ 3 22 n -v / ^ s 3 22 t y Pc. Li?'/’"' | r* m r* c to go available Jj - 0 S->50^Wed-Sat: 10:30am-1 a,n ^ Wf JL 'VwtBMh. Sun rue-'-: lOAO.im-1 lillgl 0 wmmamm m HAIKU SUSHI & STEAK HOUSE (Japanese 8c Korean Cuisine) *| New Management! SAKE BOMBS steak Km./y p ° ro “P Parry n- a ,T) ea/ f re ^ Mariyas Greek mui American Grill Authentic Greek Food Vegetarian Dishes Texas Size Hamburgers Gyros Baklava 5% off w/purchase w/this coupon Expires 1 2-31 -02 Closed Monday. Tuesday - Thu^day 11 an, - 9pm, Friday - Sat. 11am - 10pm, Sunday Ham - 9pm. *1 coupon per person, please 1804 Welsh aam Consolidated ^ | | .g 693-2337 Sw- Pkwv ^ m wmmmm HIllBIllil □ caffe* capri the place for Italian for more info, ask a friend FREE APPETIZER with meal pwrcWase and this coupon : /r v . v,v,.,:r: < - - G .. . . . . .. REfiasseiiPsi'C Since 1905 #1178 #1188 Bring this ad in and get s 20 oflf these two styles. Not valid with any other offer. Only valid at Bryan Location. ■ ■ Redwing Shoe Store 3810 S. Texas Ave, Bryan • 846-3813 WHEN THE GIRT OF YOUR DREAMS BECOMES THE LOVEOF YOUR LIFE THE DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING. HOW ELSE CAN TWO MONTHS SALARY LAST FOREVER? qJttv cJJ . tJ'LridTlXcTi/ ^ Class of‘79 G 3 I 3 B. South College Avenue • College Station (979) 846-8916 Since 1972 V, The week of November 24 - November 28 Acct 209 jCmtciuiaa Acct 209 Strawser Acct 229 Cassidy & Joiner Acct 229 Stasnv Acct 230 Bich 410 Math 151 Math 152 Math 251 Mgjnt 211 Swim Phys 201 PhysllS BassRhis l est Review Mon Nov 25 9pm-lam Tesf Review Mon Nov 25 5pin-9pm — WWW Test Review Son Nov 24 7pm-10pm Test Review Sun Nov 24 10 pm-lam Test Review Sun Nov 24 4pm-7pm Part 3 of 3 Sun Nov 24 9pm-12a»i You can now buy tickets online at www .4.0andGo.com and avoid standing in ticket lines Check out our web page at www.4.0andGo.com 1— Part 1 of 3* Part 1 of 3* Sun Nov 24 i o# ] Sun Dec 1 9 pm-Dam j 10pm-lain Part 1 of 3* Part 1 of3* Sun Nov 24[oa]Mon Nov 25 3ptn-6pm 7pin-10pm Part 1 of 2 Mon Nov 25 5pm-7pm Part 1 of 2 Sun Nov 24 9pm-12am Test Review Sun Nov 24 6pm-9pm Test Review Sun Nov 24 I2pm-3pm Part 2 of 2 Tue Nov 26 5 pm-? pm Part 2 of 2 Mon Nov 25 Tpni-iOpm ■m —OT— Part 2 of 3 Mon Nov 25 Iflpm-lani Part 3 of 3 Tue Nov 26 Tpm-lOpm Part 2 of 3 Tue Nov 26 10pm-1 am Part 3 of 3 Sun Dec t 7pm-10pm wW4.r«niGo. ■ ■ . com ■■■■ * - Dec. 1 is Sunday after Thanksgiving! Decide which Sunday you prefer. Cflyor-——-w-t’!?—' "mm Tlckrta go on sale Sunday at 11:30 a.tn. 4.0 & Go la located on the comer of SW Pkwy and Tx Ave, behind KFC next to Lack's. Check our web page at http://www.4.0andGo.com or call 696-8886(TUTOR' When you buy tickets at 4.0 and Go, you will receive a 4.0 stamped card for a free Chick-fil-a Chargrill Deluxe Chicken Sandwich at Post Oak Mail. (Chlck-fll-a closed on Sunday). ition ;ity