Independently Adjustable Footplates with High Mount

The Client:

The client has specific needs for independently adjustable legrests and a low seat-to-floor height due to short length of lower legs. Environmental issues also necessitate a tight turning radius.

The Challenge:

Independently adjustable leg rests can usually be accomplished with existing or modified swing-aways. In this case, the leg rests could not increase the turning radius of the power chair.

The Solution:

A Super Low TRU-Balance Tilt was used to accommodate the seat-to-floor requirements. Standard swing-aways were not an option because of the turning radius concerns, so a custom lower assembly, allowing for independent height, angle, and depth adjustment of the footplates, was built. The assembly was fabricated to sit at a 90-degree angle from the Super Low Tilt, resulting in no turning radius increase.

1121 Synergy Seat Modified for 15" Seat-to-floor Height

The Client:

Due to her small physical size and various environmental considerations, the client requires a Quantum 1121 with a low seat-to-floor height of no more than 15 inches, with specialty pressure management cushion.

The Challenge:

A seat-to-floor height this low is beyond the range of a standard production Synergy Seating System.

The Solution:

Working with our machine shop, engineers were able to modify a Synergy Seating System by eliminating portions of the side rails, stem mounts and towers, reducing the seat-to-floor height to the necessary 15 inches.

Custom Neoprene Sleeves for Heavy Duty ELRs

The Client:

Bariatric client needs extra space on ELRs to keep residual tissue from rubbing and causing discomfort to the client's sensitive skin.

The Challenge:

While this is generally easily addressed through the use of abductor pads, or similar standard measures, the client's skin sensitivity necessitated a different approach.

The Solution:

Neoprene sleeves, similar to those used in swing-away leg rests, were fitted to the heavy duty ELRs, affording the client the necessary extra protection.

Power Amputee Board

The Client:

The client is a bi-lateral below the knee amputee who requires specialty rehab seating as well as residual limb support.

The Challenge:

Although residual limb support is usually accomplished through modified manual elevating leg rests, without lower extensions or footplates, this client was unable to operate the extensions manually and required residual limb support that could be controlled through the chair's electronics.

The Solution:

A power amputee board was designed for a Jazzy 1122 with Synergy Seating. The board was attached to a power actuator, allowing the client to operate it easily.

Custom Seating for TRU-Balance Tilt

The Client:

This client presents as a C5-6 quadriplegic due to motor vehicle accident in 1977. She is accustomed to rear-wheel drive and requires sling seating for comfort and to prevent involuntary physical reactions secondary to contact with a rigid seating surface. For optimal health benefits, the client requires a power tilt seating system.

The Challenge:

Combining sling seating with a TRU-Balance power tilt.

Sling seating is rarely used in tilt applications; however, this is the only seating comfortable for this client. The challenge, therefore, is to attach the sling seating in such a way that it does not interfere with the tilt function and that addresses the client's pressure management issues by eliminating pressure points and ensuring that the client does not bottom out in the seat.

The Solution:

A Quantum Vibe power base was utilized, consistent with the client's history using a rear-wheel drive platform. Building on this, with input from all Custom Application Team members, a determination was made to work from the standard mount for sling seating—custom attachment bars mounted above the side rails of the Synergy Seat.

For this application, the attachment bars were modified to sit higher on the TRU-Balance side rails, allowing the additional clearance necessary to accommodate the tilt actuator and cross members and eliminating the risk of the client bottoming out. Through the use of tension adjustment on the sling seating, the client's weight was evenly distributed to prevent pressure point concerns.