Orthopedic cushions are most beneficial when used in conjunction with rigid support.
Currently available rigid seats and backs are heavy, clumsy to use, and fail to strengthen the wheelchair. In our new design the strength of the rigid seat is integrated into the frame design and allows a reduction in size of certain frame components. Composite materials were utilized for minimal weight. Specifications for the recipient of the final design were collected and the chair was optimized for weight reduction using stress analysis and modeling with a finite element analysis program. The design yielded a net weight loss of four pounds.