Assistive Devices and Adaptive Equipment
- What is AT? - Assistive Technology Industry AssociationAn overview of assistive technology with links to related professional associations.
- Overview of Adaptive & Assistive Devices for People with Disabilities - United Disability Services FoundationBackground on assistive devices and adaptive equipment with examples for different disabilities.
Occupational Therapy: Biomechanics of Disability
Find information on the biomechanics of a disability and how it affects individuals' activities of daily living.
- CINAHL (Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health) This link opens in a new windowTip! Search for a keyword along with the subject term "Assistive Technology Devices".
- MedLine PlusNational Institute of Health's website for patients and their families. Excellent consumer health information that's easy to understand for patients!
- Activities of Daily Living - StatPearlsOverview of ADLs from the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Additional OT research tools and tips:
Engineering Design: Patents, Design, and Procurement
Find patent 'prior art' related to your device invention, engineering design literature, standards, and material procurement data.
- Google PatentsDiscover worldwide patents for assistive devices.
- Engineering Village 2 (Compendex) This link opens in a new windowSearch the most comprehensive interdisciplinary engineering database.
- ASME Digital Collection This link opens in a new windowSearch the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' research and standards literature.
- ISO 11.140 - Standards for Hospital EquipmentSee standards for hospital beds and medical electrical equipment.
- IBISWorld Procurement Research Reports This link opens in a new windowManufacturing information on materials, supply chain, and prices.
- Proto Labs, Inc.Manufacturing quotes for injection molding. Review ProtoQuote Terms and Conditions of Sale: Proto Labs, Inc. and label all design documents "Privileged and Confidential Information."
- XometryManufacturing quotes for injection molding and other manufacturing techniques. Review Customer Service Agreement and Xometry Customer Mutual NDA and label all design documents "Privileged and Confidential Information."
Additional engineering research tools and tips:
Business Plan: Market Research and Procurement
Conduct market research on disability prevalence and consumer trends in adaptive devices, along with materials procurement information.
- US Census Bureau: DisabilityLinks to US Census Bureau data on disability prevalence in the US.
- Data.Census.GovSearch for keyword 'disability' along with a US location for location-specific disability statistics.
- Disability and Health Promotion - CDCDisability statistics and reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Disability - WHOData and reports on worldwide prevalence of disability from the World Health Organization.
- Mintel This link opens in a new windowSearch Mintel Reports for keywords 'disability,' 'assistive,' or 'adaptive' to discover consumer trends for persons with disabilities.
- IBISWorld Procurement Research Reports This link opens in a new windowManufacturing information on materials, supply chain, and prices.
Additional business planning research tools and tips:
Making the Pitch: Citing Sources and Launchbox Resources
Secure investor buy-in by citing your sources to add credibility to your pitch!
- Citation and Writing GuidesInformation for APA, MLA, and other citation styles as well as general writing help.
Explore bringing your PADEP project to market with the Berks Launchbox and affiliated resources.
- Contact Berks LaunchboxIntake forms for Startup and Makerspace support.
- Penn State Law Entrepreneur Assistance ClinicLegal assistance for startups from Penn State Law students.
- Penn State Law Intellectual Property ClinicLegal assistance for inventors provided by Penn State Law students.
