As progressivas inovações tecnológicas na área de engenharia mecânica contribuem para a adoção de novos procedimentos terapêuticos para programas de reabilitação. Este trabalho trata do projeto e desenvolvimento de um auxiliar deambulatório para ser utilizado como uma forma de dar continuidade à reabilitação clínica de pessoas com dificuldade ou incapacidade na marcha independente. Nesse sentido, procurou-se desenvolver um deambulador incorporando novas abordagens ao seu projeto mecânico básico, tais como novos materiais, fabricação e conformação da estrutura mecânica, bem como possíveis controles de mobilidade articulares. Nesse contexto, a relação peso-volume foi cuidadosamente explorada de forma a tornar um auxiliar eficiente na marcha de crianças e adultos com paralisia cerebral. Os deambuladores convencionais hodiernos são fundamentalmente caracterizados pelo nível de segurança proporcionada aos usuários em movimento, todavia não oferecem condições para o treino do autoequilíbrio, o que os torna dependentes de ferramentas de auxílio para a realização correta da marcha. Portanto, é importante desenvolver um deambulador autotransferente que satisfaça as restrições de projeto, com volume e peso mínimos, e que seja essencial para a reabilitação de pacientes com paralisia cerebral, sem torná-los dependentes pela ausência do autoequilíbrio. Esse equipamento promove a autotransferência e o treinamento do autoequilíbrio do usuário seja ele adulto ou criança. Neste projeto, o deambulador foi denominado de Auxiliar Deambulatório Autotransferente - ADA devido à ação recíproca da marcha que transfere o torque muscular do tronco inferior para a mobilização dos membros inferiores. Assim, o ADA poderá fornecer situações sinestésicas nas quais o autoequilíbrio do paciente será estimulado a se manifestar. Com isso, o paciente poderá estar apto para adquirir ou recuperar o autoequilíbrio e a confiança para efetuar o treino da marcha. / The progressive technological innovations in mechanical engineering contribute to the adoption of new therapeutic procedures for rehabilitation programs. This work addresses the design and development of an ambulatory aid to be used as a way to continue the clinic rehabilitation for people with difficulty or inability in walking independently. Accordingly, we sought to develop a deambulador incorporating new approaches to its basic mechanical design, such as new materials, manufacturing and conformation of the mechanical structure and possible controls of joint mobility. In this context, the volume-weight ratio has been carefully explored in order to make an assist in the efficient running of children and adults with cerebral palsy. The conventional modern-day ambulatory are fundamentally characterized by the level of security provided to users on the move, but do not offer conditions for the auto balance training, which makes them dependent on aid tools to achieve the correct gait. It is therefore important to develop an autotransfer deambulator satisfying the design constraints, with minimum volume and weight, and with the essential characteristic for the rehabilitation of patients with cerebral palsy, without making them dependent on the absence of auto balance. This apparatus that promotes autotransfer and training of auto balance for the user whether adult or child. In this project the deambulador was named Assistant Deambulator Autotransfer (Auxiliary Ambulation Autotransfer) - ADA due to the interplay of movement, which transfers the torque of the lower trunk muscles for the mobilization of the lower limbs. Thus, the ADA may provide situations in which the synaesthetic auto balance the patient will be encouraged to carry out. Thus, the patient may be able to acquire or retrieve the auto balance and confidence to make the training of the march.

As progressivas inovações tecnológicas na área de engenharia mecânica contribuem para a adoção de novos procedimentos terapêuticos para programas de reabilitação. Este trabalho trata do projeto e desenvolvimento de um auxiliar deambulatório para ser utilizado como uma forma de dar continuidade à reabilitação clínica de pessoas com dificuldade ou incapacidade na marcha independente. Nesse sentido, procurou-se desenvolver um deambulador incorporando novas abordagens ao seu projeto mecânico básico, tais como novos materiais, fabricação e conformação da estrutura mecânica, bem como possíveis controles de mobilidade articulares. Nesse contexto, a relação peso-volume foi cuidadosamente explorada de forma a tornar um auxiliar eficiente na marcha de crianças e adultos com paralisia cerebral. Os deambuladores convencionais hodiernos são fundamentalmente caracterizados pelo nível de segurança proporcionada aos usuários em movimento, todavia não oferecem condições para o treino do autoequilíbrio, o que os torna dependentes de ferramentas de auxílio para a realização correta da marcha. Portanto, é importante desenvolver um deambulador autotransferente que satisfaça as restrições de projeto, com volume e peso mínimos, e que seja essencial para a reabilitação de pacientes com paralisia cerebral, sem torná-los dependentes pela ausência do autoequilíbrio. Esse equipamento promove a autotransferência e o treinamento do autoequilíbrio do usuário seja ele adulto ou criança. Neste projeto, o deambulador foi denominado de Auxiliar Deambulatório Autotransferente - ADA devido à ação recíproca da marcha que transfere o torque muscular do tronco inferior para a mobilização dos membros inferiores. Assim, o ADA poderá fornecer situações sinestésicas nas quais o autoequilíbrio do paciente será estimulado a se manifestar. Com isso, o paciente poderá estar apto para adquirir ou recuperar o autoequilíbrio e a confiança para efetuar o treino da marcha. / The progressive technological innovations in mechanical engineering contribute to the adoption of new therapeutic procedures for rehabilitation programs. This work addresses the design and development of an ambulatory aid to be used as a way to continue the clinic rehabilitation for people with difficulty or inability in walking independently. Accordingly, we sought to develop a deambulador incorporating new approaches to its basic mechanical design, such as new materials, manufacturing and conformation of the mechanical structure and possible controls of joint mobility. In this context, the volume-weight ratio has been carefully explored in order to make an assist in the efficient running of children and adults with cerebral palsy. The conventional modern-day ambulatory are fundamentally characterized by the level of security provided to users on the move, but do not offer conditions for the auto balance training, which makes them dependent on aid tools to achieve the correct gait. It is therefore important to develop an autotransfer deambulator satisfying the design constraints, with minimum volume and weight, and with the essential characteristic for the rehabilitation of patients with cerebral palsy, without making them dependent on the absence of auto balance. This apparatus that promotes autotransfer and training of auto balance for the user whether adult or child. In this project the deambulador was named Assistant Deambulator Autotransfer (Auxiliary Ambulation Autotransfer) - ADA due to the interplay of movement, which transfers the torque of the lower trunk muscles for the mobilization of the lower limbs. Thus, the ADA may provide situations in which the synaesthetic auto balance the patient will be encouraged to carry out. Thus, the patient may be able to acquire or retrieve the auto balance and confidence to make the training of the march.

<strong>Introduction – Dearomatisation of Heteroaromatic Compounds</strong> The introduction provides a survey of dearomatisation reaction of heteroaromatics, with a particular focus on pyridines/pyridinium salts and furans. The mechanism, scope, and limitations of various approaches are covered, along with the goals of this project. <strong>Results and Discussion – Dearomatisation of Electron-Deficient Heteroaromatics</strong> This chapter initially explores the asymmetric addition of organometallic nucleophiles to pyridinium salts bearing a chiral counterion. Unfortunately, this approach ultimately proved unsuccessful, due to low observed enantioselectivities, and the low solubility of such salts. The second part of this chapter concerns the attempted asymmetric addition of dicarbonyl nucleophiles to electron-deficient furans, under conditions of chiral phase-transfer catalysts, affording bicyclic products in moderate enantioselectivity. Various alternative routes were also explored for the dearomatisation of furans and benzenoid systems. <strong>Introduction – Hydrogen Borrowing Alkylation Reactions with Alcohols</strong> The introduction surveys the range of methods available for the alkylation of various nucleophiles with alcohols under transition metal-catalysed conditions. Related methodologies are also explored, along with methods for the dehydrogenation of methanol. <strong>Results and Discussion - Rhodium-catalysed Methylation of Ketones Using Methanol</strong> This chapter describes the development of a novel ketone α-methylation using methanol. The development of reaction conditions is explored, followed by expansion of the substrate scope, including limitations of the methylation reaction. Mechanistic investigations support a methanol oxidation, aldol reaction/elimination, conjugate reduction pathway. Investigations into the role of O2 in the methylation reaction proved inconclusive. The utility of the reaction was also expanded via one-pot dialkylation reactions (work by Di Shen), Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of the products, and an attempted asymmetric transfer-hydrogenation. <strong>Results and Discussion - Interrupted Hydrogen Borrowing Reactions of Methanol</strong> This chapter looks to intercept intermediates from the α-methylation reaction. The selective methylenation of ketones is described, and a range of nucleophiles are screened for further functionalisation of ketones. Finally, a number of nucleophiles, including nitroalkanes, amines, peroxides and boronic acids are applied to one pot methylenation/conjugate addition protocols, affording complex products after two steps in one reaction vessel. <strong>Experimental</strong> Full experimental procedures and spectroscopic characterisation of compounds are provided.