EquaGel General Wheelchair Cushion

Long term care professionals find the EquaGel® Adjustable Protector Cushion to be superior in performance and durability to adjustable air cushions.

The EquaGel® Adjustable Protector Cushion is 100% EquaGel® configured in two stages. This cushion has a pelvic contour for better weight distribution and positioning that can be adjusted for its depth. Wound care nurses and other professionals in long term care facilities like the ability to adjust the contour and not have to continually monitor it, as is the case with most air cushions. Nursing facilities and other long term care facilities endorse the EquaGel Adjustable Protector Cushion for preventing pressure ulcers, as well as wound treatment assistance that is not provided by any other cushioning technology.

The EquaGel® Adjustable Protector Cushion carries a Medicare reimbursement code of E2622/E2623 - for preventing pressure ulcers and to aid in wound healing. The EquaGel® Adjustable Cushion is the ultimate cushioning solution for wound care.

The EquaGel® Adjustable Cushion is virtually maintenance free with no pump to maintain, repair or replace. This cushion redistributes pressure with patented dual-layer structure and Micro-Immersion technology to cradle bony areas. It also reduces heat and moisture with cooling gel and an open-cell design, and minimizes shear and friction with the easy-to-clean all-way stretch cover. The EquaGel® Adjustable Cushion has precision contouring for stability and coccyx relief. It includes two gel inserts for customized therapy.

Features of the EquaGel Adjustable Protector Cushion

• 100% EquaGel in two stages
  

o 1st Stage (upper surface) has thin walls and a tight grid for comfort
o 2nd Stage (bottom) has thicker walls and a wide grid for deep posture support

2.5" High

Fluid-resistant, vapor-permeable and flame-resistant cover

2-Layer Gel
The EquaGel® cushion features a bi-columnar design of integrated gel. This means the gel cushion has a smaller top grid of gel incorporated with a larger bottom grid of gel. These layers cannot separate. The top layer of EquaGel® is made of a small grid with thin walled gel. These walls of gel are not primarily weight-supporting walls but rather are pressure redistribution walls. They are very soft to the touch and quickly act to distribute the user's weight across the surface of the cushion and away from pressure points.

FR Cover Component
Inside the cushion is a unique fabric material. Made from a unique yarn structure, this barrier encases a highly heat-stable core inside soft comfort fibers. This stretchy fabric is a flame barrier which may seem ineffective as it feels almost fluffy and airy. However, airflow is important for a healthy microclimate, which is one of the primary reasons for this particular flame barrier. This barrier functions in a unique and surprising way. If the cushion cover does catch fire (say from prolonged contact with a dropped cigarette) this barrier springs into action.

Fire requires three ingredients to survive: oxygen, heat, and fuel. If this cover catches fire, the FR layer first creates a char layer that will inhibit the spread of the flame by limiting the amount of fuel. The inherently fire resistant fibers give off vapor-phase retardants at the fabrics' surface to slow the flames' progress. Then the heat stable cores maintain a framework for the char layer which reduces the flames' access to the cushion materials (fuel). Thus, by minimizing and possibly eliminating the fuel, fire is minimized or extinguished. This barrier does not use topically-applied FR chemicals; it uses inherently fire-retardant fibers.

While the cushion meets the flame resistant standards of the Cal TB 133 burn test, we do not claim that it cannot or will not catch fire. We do not claim that it will extinguish flames or protect you from fire, smoke, or burns.

Contoured Pelvic Region
The buckling gel walls of the EquaGel® cushion passes the pressure away from pressure points to achieve a more balanced weight distribution than traditional materials. To further aid in the distribution of weight, the cushion has a sculpted contour in the pelvic area that mimics the contouring of the human body.

No matter a person's gender or size, the sitting bones fall in a narrow range of area. Adding weight to your frame does not spread these bones out. Thus, no matter a user's size, the majority risk for skin breakdown does not move from the center-back of the cushion being used. The most concern in cushion design needs to be focused on minimizing pressure at these pressure points and in the tissues surrounding them. EquaGel® cushions take this into consideration.

All of our cushions up to 22" wide are 100% EquaGel® for the entire wide of the cushion.

Definition of "Skin Protection"
This term originates from experience in the US Medicare system for wheelchair cushions and patient care. The basic premise is grounded in the medical necessity minimizing the amount of pressure on sensitive skin to avoid tissue breakdown. Pressure breaks down skin by limiting blood flow. The harder a seating surface, the more likely blood flow is inhibited. This pressure causes the skin and underlying tissues to weaken, which may cause a wound.

These cushions have been demonstrated (using pressure-mapping devices) to lower the amount of pressure a user experiences at their pressure points. Thus, when we refer to the cushions as "skin protection" cushions, we are referring to the lowered risk of developing pressure ulcers in the skin due to the lowered pressure the user experiences from proper use of our cushions.

The bottom layer of EquaGel® is made of a larger grid with thick walled gel. These walls are more robust and designed to continue the weight redistribution from above as needed and support the user in good alignment. They are also sufficiently strong (without becoming hard or resistant) to hold users from bottoming-out the cushion under normal usage.

Waterproof Cover
The outer layer of the cushion cover is a stretchy, water-resistant fabric. This fabric is a durable poly-knit fabric backed with poly-urethane that keeps liquid from penetrating into the gel cushion. It is, however, vapor-permeable. What this means is that while fluid cannot seep through the barrier under normal conditions, air is free to pass through the cover.

Airflow is important to mediate heat distribution and a healthy microclimate. A water-resistant barrier that also blocks airflow may create a heat trap. EquaPressure covers do not trap air. The base fabric is a standard low-slip material with velcro sections to help secure the cushion to certain wheelchairs.

The EquaGel® Adjustable Protector Cushion is available in widths from 16" to 30" and depths of 16" and 18".