I volunteered for different causes, when I was in the states including working for Occupational Therapy or O.T. as it is called. Because I wanted to Work with the most Brilliant Clinical Engineer in the world, I volunteered my time and worked with Ed Prenke for 1 year, for free, helping quads and paraplegics
That is what I looked like in those days, I designed and build all kinds of things for Metro Health Medical Centre and The Cleveland Clinic. Is is where I met Dr. Michael Scott, who became a good friend of mine. He also helped me quit smoking. Then an intern at Metro Health now working at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehab Center For all the things I do not do. |
I have worked under Mr. Ed Prentke at Metro-Health Medical Centre in the United States. I also did a few things for the Cleveland Clinic. Ed was the founder of Prentke-Romac in the U.S.
He was also like me but an older version when We met. And we have designed many things together while I was there.
Pictures to follow.
This is a hobby that I want to make eventually into a full time profession.
The Prenke_Bubik Arm is being used by occupational therapists all over the states. I did this one for free among other things. But I cannot do anything here for free. Perhaps one day I will figure out how OHIP can pay me. Until then this is way it will have to be.
Mr. Ed Prentke and I designed all kinds of things together. He was 82 some 2o years ago when this picture was taken. Today he is 102. But I will always remember him in my heart and all the fun we had sailing in his Ketch, and all the devices we designed and built for all the disabled people who really needed to have things made. And who loved us for it.
I designed and made this in one day. The patient got it the next day. So completely shocked he was and the rest of the department, I ended up making about 3 more before they were sourced out to another company.
It was called a "gurney adapter." When patients are on a gurney facing up for part of the time and then facing down part of the time. When they are facing down, there used to be a tray that would hold their food and if they wanted to read, they could not because the left over food was there. So I made a round tray so it could swivel out of the way. Now the Patient did not have to wait for the nurse to take the tray. The patients loved it. And it wasn't long before my phone was ringing off the hook from many different departments.
This is Ed above showing the arm I designed. It could be used to push, pull and twist at the same time.
And the resistance could be adjusted with a small screw. There was also a soft rubber stopper at either end to cushion the shock when it reached it's end or beginning of the stroke. The O.T. (occupational therapists) Department used this one and I made three others too. As well a the really big one which 20 people could use all at the same time. I left Metro-health before it was finished but Ed sent me a picture of it. It was cool. It was exactly how I envisioned it.
I want to thank Vince, wherever he may be. For all the great pictures he took of all our inventions. He and I and Ed had a conversation several months before he died. About some of the things I am building up here, in Canada and I would like someone to see them so they can be sold in the states and told me to contact Prenke-Romac but no one ever called me back. I left several messages for his old partner. The name escapes me now.
Ed sent me a collection of all his designs, with schematics and all and told me to use them to do my clinical engineering business here in Toronto. It is very difficult to do it here. If anyone needs a good clinical engineer, please let me know. I was ED'S "MINI ME."
A nurse calling device for someone who did not have the use of his hands. They used their chin.
designed by Ed.
Designed and built by Ed. An easel to hold paper, to print on that could be adjusted up or down. Great idea. Things we take for granted, people with limited mobility have lots of problems with.
With limited hand mobility, Something Ed made for someone who hade problems dialing the phone. Ed gave me all these things, in case I wanted to use them.
Designed by me and built by me but I wanted both our names on it. THIS WAS CALLED THE PRENTKE BUBIK ARM I also designed all kinds of other things which are not here but I will make new ones here. A cup and cell phone holder. I was 32 here
My resume is at www.iwantToWork.ca
This was a gurney adapter which fit under the bed where the quad or
paraplegic was, where they were facing up, it was not so bad but when they
were facing down, there was a tray that clipped into the bottom so the
patient could eat. However when they finished eating, they has to wait
for the nurse to return, to remove the tray. I created a rotating tray
so the patient could move the tray themselves and it gave them space to do
other things like read.
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