Hitching a Lift
Atlas Medical’s innovative stair lift system provides a simple and affordable mobility solution
Morgan Kool, and her team - Khoula Jawwad, Viji Mangaleswaran, Niranjan Krishnaswamy, and Stephen Sharp - are going to change how well and how long we live. Firsthand experience with a troubling social problem and strong entrepreneurial passion have combined to invent a much-needed mobility device.
“My grandfather passed away because he fell on the steps,” Morgan says. “Not a full staircase – just a few steps. We all know that people with mobility limitations need help navigating stairs. But we don’t always think about the one or two steps here and there for those recovering from surgery, living with a health condition or just gracefully aging. People are often reluctant to install ramps or expensive systems for only a few steps and tough it out instead. So we devised The Lift to change that.”
“Between the support from Esch and the networking opportunities and mentorship we’re getting from iBoost [now Innovation Boost Zone], we feel ready to take the next step. Nothing like The Lift currently exists in the market. And I know all too well how badly it’s needed. This is a unique, affordable device that has the potential to make life better and safer for millions of people.”
Second-year Biomedical student and Co-founder of Atlas Medical, Kool and her team have designed a novel system using existing technologies to improve accessibility. They have combined a winch system and rails to create a device that can be installed on any existing stairs. A user steps onto a platform and enjoys a smooth ride up and down.
How is this different from existing chair lift systems? “It’s lightweight, modular and inexpensive. You just place it on the stairs, so it’s non-invasively installed and no technician is required. Simply laying it down locks it in place. That makes it easy to mount and cost-effective.”
Kool is currently focused on leveraging her Stage 1 Esch Award and the resources provided by iBoost [now Innovation Boost Zone] to complete Altas Medical’s deep dive into market research. Then, the team wants to build a full-scale prototype.
*Atlas Team photo from back to front row and left to right:
Viji Mangaleswaran (back left), Niranjan Krishnaswamy (back middle), Morgan Kool (back right), Stephen Sharp (front left), Khoula Jawwad (front right)