Invacare to Build Paralympic Wheelchairs

Invacare Top End, Invacare Corp's sports and recreation rehab division, recently won the order to build more than 240 wheelchairs for the Chinese Paralympian team. China is one of the few countries that purchases equipment for their Paralympic athletes. "This is an exciting order for us," said Mary Carol Peterson, marketing manager, Invacare Top End. "The Chinese Paralympic Committee was looking for the equipment that would help their athletes go for the gold. They chose Invacare Top End. With the help of our Chinese distributor, we will be directly involved in the fitting, building, and servicing of these chairs,"

The order includes Top End® Paul Schulte Signature Series Titanium Basketball Chairs; Top End T-5 Tennis Elite Chairs; Top End Eliminator™ OSR Racing Chairs; Top End Transformer™ All-Sport Wheelchairs; Top End X-Terminator QR chairs; and Top End Terminator™ Titanium wheelchairs. The equipment will be used for basketball, racing, quad rugby, tennis, boccia, shooting, table tennis, and archery. In addition, Top End will provide 130 Top End Crossfire™ T6™ wheelchairs for the athletes to use when they are not competing.

Invacare will build the majority of the wheelchairs at their Top End facility in Pinellas Park, Fla. The Taylor Street manufacturing facility in Elyria, Ohio (the company's headquarters) will be making the Crossfire everyday wheelchairs and Transformer All Sport wheelchairs.

(440) 329-6111
www.invacare.com

Shower/Tub Systems

Symmons, Braintree, Mass, offers the Visu-Temp® with Clear-Vue™ shower and tub/shower systems. With its ergonomic design and easy-to-read display, Visu-Temp with Clear-Vue makes it possible to achieve the perfect temperature for any shower or bath. Thanks to Symmons' unique pressure-balancing technology, "shower shock," the unpleasant temperature spikes that can occur when water is run in another part of the house, is virtually eliminated. Every Visu-Temp system features a solid brass, bronze, and stainless steel piston-style pressure-balancing valve that automatically adjusts to equalize the hot and cold water pressure. Additionally, the Visu-Temp with Clear-Vue system features a handle limit stop screw so that a safe maximum temperature level can be set.

(800) 796-6667
www.symmons.com

TENS System

American Imex, Irvine, Calif, offers the PainCare One-Touch™ system to meet the requirements for a cost-contained TENS solution. The PainCare One-Touch meets business needs, yet allows the patient to self-administer their TENS setup and treatments as easily as they would a glucose meter or blood pressure monitor. The PainCare One-Touch features a new design that simplifies the TENS application with one-touch setup and timed-dose treatments. This is combined with a user-friendly comprehensive patient application and use guide that walks the user through every step of the process to quickly administer pain-relieving therapy. The patient has access to a free user information Web site to get helpful hints and tips for electrode use and care. PainCare One-Touch is packaged in a retail-focused clear clamshell package to display the unit and its contents to the buyer. PainCare One-Touch cuts the cost of patient fitting and instruction, follow-up visits, and customer service calls, increasing TENS profitability.

(800) 521-8286
www.americanimex.com

Foot Mouse

The ergonomically designed Footime™ foot mouse and programmable pedal from Bili Inc, City of Industry, Calif, are the latest entrants in the increasingly competitive aids to daily living market. The makers say the new device can help people with hand, arm, and shoulder problems by allowing them to do all computer entries (typing and surfing) by foot. It's a two-part input device: one for cursor control ("slipper"), the other for mouse clicks and shortcuts (the pedal).

The slipper-shaped cursor controller, with elastic strap and Velcro ends, can fit any foot. The pedal, with two-level design, prevents users from stepping on the wrong buttons. These buttons mimic hand mouse clicks, but also allow people to program customized shortcuts (up to 10 shortcuts for each program). The preset shortcuts selected from popular programs add convenience.

A small pop-up window on screen shows all button locations and their defined functions. Users can "see" and touch the buttons by foot. When working with some on-screen keyboard software, the mouse also enables people to do typing by foot. In addition to helping people with hand/arm/shoulder difficulties such as arthritis, stroke, or amputation, the device can serve as a viable option for those with carpal tunnel syndrome.

(626) 333-8718
www.bilila.com

Nebulizer

Respironics Inc, Murrysville, Pa, introduces a new portable nebulizer, which the company says is half the size of other common portables. The MicroElite Compressor Nebulizer System serves patients who need aerosol delivery treatment of respiratory and nonrespiratory diseases. MicroElite is the company's smallest compressor nebulizer system. The palm-sized compressor provides treatments in as little as 8 minutes, and can be powered by three sources—AC, car adapter, and battery. MicroElite is suitable for both pediatric and adult use. Paired with the Micro Plus™ reusable nebulizer, designed specifically for this compressor, it can be used either as a handheld device or as a tabletop unit by attaching the tubing included with the system. An optional lithium polymer battery powers the MicroElite for up to 60 minutes between charges. Developed from advancing cell phone technology, this small, gel-filled battery is an evolution from more common lithium ion designs, reducing leakage risks and providing stability in over-voltage and high-temperature conditions.

(800) 345-6443
www.respironics.com

Tilt-In-Space Wheelchair

PDG Product Design Group, Vancouver, BC, offers the Fuze T50 tilt-in-space wheelchair. The single-pivot tilt design, placed coincidently with the occupant's center of gravity, contributes to easy tilt, regardless of client weight. The use of a well-balanced manual tilt mechanism benefits both patients and caregivers. The reduced effort needed to adjust patient position improves caregiver safety and facilitates ease of patient management. The Fuze T50 is one of several configurations available in a series of chairs with the ability to convert from one wheelchair configuration to another. Patients often have considerable difficulty getting used to a new wheelchair as their needs change. The Fuze series of wheelchairs are adaptable to changing client needs with the use of a Fuze conversion kit for one-third of the price of purchasing a new wheelchair. PDG's Fuze T50 manual tilt-in-space wheelchair took top honors in the Rehabilitation and Assistive-technology Products category at the 2008 Medical Design Excellence Awards.

(888) 858-4422
www.pdgmobility.com

Pivot Grip Nabs Medtrade Honor

Medtrade Spring recently honored Bridge Medical with its New Product Innovation award. Attendees at last month's Medtrade Long Beach gave top honors to the company's Telescoping Pivot Grip. "We are obviously thrilled to be honored by the attendees and our peers," said Dan Matschina, CEO of Bridge Medical, St Paul, Minn. "Our new Telescoping Pivot Grip allows consumers virtually limitless flexibility, safety, and peace of mind in their homes, traveling, or wherever they need assistance."

The recently unveiled Telescoping Pivot Grip joins a growing line of portable grab bar products by Bridge Medical, which offer consumers a safe and portable alternative to permanent grab bar installations. Bridge Medical portable grab bar products are sold exclusively through HME dealers, pharmacies, and select retailers. "The feedback on our new product continues to be remarkable," said Mike Vizenor, president/COO of Bridge Medical. "We are excited to continue helping consumers lead safer, more independent lives."

(877) 746-7940
www.bridge-medical.com

Mattresses and Overlays

James Consolidated Inc, Walnut Creek, Calif, manufactures the patented Volkner Turning System—therapeutic low air loss mattresses and overlays for the treatment of pressure sores. Available in America and worldwide, the mattresses are ideal in the acute, long-term, and home care settings. With the addition of bariatric mattresses and digital control units, the company offers a broad spectrum of quality support surfaces that are cost-effective, durable, portable, and lightweight.

(800) 884-3317
www.volkner.com

Full Face Mask

Hans Rudolph, Shawnee, Kan, introduces the V2 Mask. The V2 is designed from years of feedback from patients, sleep professionals, respiratory therapists, family care doctors, and HME providers. The silicone rubber V2 Mask uses new seal technology to increase patient satisfaction. The new V2 airtight, leak-free seal fits a wider variety of face geometries while still providing the comfort people have come to expect from a Hans Rudolph mask.

(800) 456-6695
www.rudolphkc.com

Fastrack Auction Exchange

Fastrack Healthcare Systems, Plainview, NY, has launched an Internet-based buy/sell exchange. The new system features an auction and classified ad section available to HME, respiratory, infusion pharmacy, and home care agency providers.

The "exchange" includes an eBay style auction for selling and buying equipment, and a classified ad section. The site can be found at Fastrack's Web site. While there are no fees for buyers, there is a nominal fee for sellers listing a product or placing an ad. "We see providers using the 'exchange' to buy and sell used or excess inventory to each other," says Spencer Kay, president of Fastrack, "and the 'classified ads' for services included help wanted listings."

The Fastrack site has a seller's auction page, which is a centralized area where auction site users can list products with full descriptions and photos, a starting bid price, or fixed price; view open auction status; view the success status of closed auctions; relist individual auctions; and bulk relist multiple auctions.

Providers can advertise for virtually anything with the classified ad section. A feature called "ad watch" allows users to register an interest for any products/services they want. When a seller lists an item with a description meeting their criteria, providers will be notified via e-mail. Additionally, users have the option to make their ad watch public. In this way, users can influence the type of items offered for sale because sellers can use public ad watches to decide to list a matching item they may have. Fastrack provides search functionality so that users can search with multiple keywords, either within a category that interests them, or throughout the database.

(800) 520-2325
www.onlyfastrack.com

UPEASY Available in US

Uplift Technologies Inc, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, is making its UPEASY line of seating products available to American buyers. The company's Seat Assist and Power Seat are lifting cushions using patented LeveLift technology. "As active participants in the health care industry and with changes happening in Medicare, we know there is a critical need for cash products," says Tom Quigg, director of marketing and sales for Uplift. "UPEASY Seat Assist and Power Seat are based on Uplift's proven Medicare products, but with adjustments to make them more attractive to cost-conscious consumers."

The Seat Assist is a nonelectric lifting cushion that supports up to 80% of a user's weight, and with no cords it can be used at home or elsewhere. The Power Seat is an electrically powered lift cushion that provides 100% lift, up and down, transforming almost any seat into a lifting chair. "These products provide independence for consumers," notes Quigg, "and are a great cash add-on for those who already have lift chairs, or need a portable lift option."

Designed to provide value for the consumer and respectable margins for resellers, UPEASY is a retail-ready line supported by merchandising tools. Quigg explains, "We have designed a complete program—attractive packaging, clear, concise sales brochures, online consumer education, and point of sale tools that make the product line an easy choice for resellers."

(902) 422-0804
www.up-lift.com