A fall while getting out of a car changed the direction of Meera Ramaswami’s life.
asserted
fall → get → life
She watched her grandmother lose her balance during a moment that should have been routine, then saw the injury heal while the fear remained.
asserted
fear → watch → moment
Her grandmother became less willing to travel, and Meera began thinking about how a small loss of stability could lead to isolation and lost independence.
uncertain
loss → become → independence
That question eventually became Cargility, an Ann Arbor company developing a portable mobility aid that helps people enter and exit vehicles safely.
asserted
people → become → vehicles
Meera designed the device, tested prototypes, earned recognition through The Henry Ford’s Invention Convention and secured a US utility patent.
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Meera → design → patent
As reported by The Henry Ford and Ann Arbor SPARK, the invention has grown from a family experience into a company founded by Meera and her mother, Praveena Ramaswami.
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invention → report → Meera
A familiar moment with serious consequencesGetting into or out of a car is an ordinary action for most people, but it can become difficult after an injury, during ageing or for anyone with balance and mobility challenges.
asserted
it → become → challenges
A person may need to twist, lower themselves, find a stable surface and stand on uneven ground, all while managing the distance between the seat and pavement.
uncertain
person → need → seat
For Meera’s grandmother, that moment led to a fall.
asserted
moment → lead → fall
The physical injury eventually healed, but the emotional effect lasted longer.
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effect → heal → ?
Fear of falling again changed how willing she was to leave home.
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she → fall → home
A simple vehicle transfer became a barrier to travel, social connection and independence.
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transfer → become → travel
Meera recognised that the problem was larger than one family.
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problem → recognise → family
Older adults, people recovering from surgery or rehabilitation, people with disabilities and caregivers may all face difficulties during vehicle entry and exit.
uncertain
adults → recover → entry
Existing solutions such as walking frames, canes or assistance from another person may not be convenient in the narrow space beside a car.
uncertain
solutions → exist → car
Observation to design Meera began developing the concept in 2022, using a process of observation, prototyping and testing.
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Observation → design → observation
She didn’t start with an abstract engineering problem, but rather looked at a specific moment in everyday life and asked what kind of support would make it safer.
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it → start → support
The device needed to be portable, strong and compatible with different passenger vehicles.
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device → need → vehicles
It also had to be easy enough for a user or caregiver to position without complicated installation.
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user → have → installation
A support that worked only in one type of car would have limited value, so adaptability became an important part of the design.
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adaptability → work → design
The resulting product, Cargility, is a door to floor mobility assistive device.
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product → result → floor
It engages with the striker in a vehicle’s doorframe and creates a stable support point.
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It → engage → point
An articulating leg reaches the ground, allowing the user to lean on a railing while entering or exiting the vehicle.
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user → articulate → vehicle
The design is intended to reduce fall risk and ease the physical strain placed on caregivers.
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design → intend → caregivers
It provides a fixed point of support during the transfer rather than requiring a person to rely on a moving car door or another individual’s strength.
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It → provide → door
How the device worksThe Cargility tool is designed to connect with the striker plate, the metal component in the vehicle doorframe that receives the door latch.
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that → worksThe → latch
Once engaged, the device holds a stable relationship to the vehicle.
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device → engage → vehicle
Its articulating leg consists of two members connected by a pivot, so that the structure can accommodate various vehicle heights and configurations.
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structure → articulate → heights
When positioned correctly, the leg reaches the ground and supports a handrail or bar that the user can hold.
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user → position → that
The aim is to create a continuous point of stability between the vehicle and the ground.
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aim → create → vehicle
A person can use the rail while lowering into the seat or standing up, reducing the need to twist quickly or search for something to grip.
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person → use → something
The tool is not intended to replace a doctor, physical therapist or properly prescribed mobility aid.
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tool → intend → doctor
Its purpose is to make one specific part of everyday movement safer and more manageable.
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part → make → movement
The device would still need to be attached correctly and users need to follow the instructions before they can rely on it.
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they → need → it
Testing and refining the invention
Developing the first concept was only the beginning.
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Developing → test → concept
Meera tested different designs and compared their performance.
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Meera → test → performance
Earlier descriptions of her work indicate that she created possible models, evaluated them and selected the design that performed best.
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that → indicate → design
A promising idea may fail when exposed to weight, movement, different surfaces or different vehicle shapes.
uncertain
idea → fail → weight
Prototypes expose weaknesses that aren’t apparent on paper.
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that → expose → paper
Meera’s work also involved a balancing act between conflicting requirements.
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work → involve → requirements
…and 62 more, not listed.
The Aporia
