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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-
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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