I love the chance to discover new products at the AOTA conferences. While visiting many of the 409 companies that exhibited this year, I came up with a short list that, in my humble opinion, stands out from the rest.
Enjoy!
Cheryl Hall, OT
Author and Illustrator, Occupational Therapy Toolkit
Aqua Eve Urinal
Created by occupational therapist, Jayne Knowlton, this urinal is specifically designed for women. I’ve used female urinals with patients before and the openings have all been hard plastic, so I was pleased with the Aqua Eve Urinal’s flexible soft opening.
The original purpose was to replace that uncomfortable bedpan for bed-bound women, independently or with the help of a caregiver. Since the product also works while standing, I was reminded of a patient who had low back surgery and was too uncomfortable to sit even on a raised toilet seat. The Aqua Eve Urinal would have been a great alternative to standing and straddling the toilet bowl.
ErgoErgo
I just had to give EroErgo a try. Shaped like a giant bellows, this dynamic sitting product just looks like fun! Another plus for me is that it’s not a ball, so I didn’t have to fear rolling off!
The benefits of active or dynamic seating are well established – it engages your core, provides natural curve for your spine, stretches the legs and engages the pelvis, plus the micro movements required to stay seated provide the body with extra oxygen and work to keep the mind more alert, aware and awake.
The regular ErgoErgo has a small footprint – only 16 inches in diameter – yet fits people from 5 foot to 6 foot 4 inches. The company also sells the ExtraErgo and KidsErgo. The applications are endless from desk seating, classroom seating, and therapeutic applications to public spaces. The ErgoErgo comes in fun colors, especially the KidsErgo, or black for those that want to blend in a little while sitting on a bellows!
This product won the The Good Design Award (2009) and the The Edison Award Award (2012). Of course, before I put ErgoErgo on my list, I tried it out. My test seat was fun, felt comfortable, and reminded me that I need to start working on my core strength – maybe with an ErgoErgo!
Liftware
I love the clean design and functionality of these eating utensils. Liftware assists patients with tremors or upper body mobility limitations eat independently with confidence and dignity. I tried the product out during the conference, and was impressed!
The company offers two product lines – Level and Steady. With Liftware Steady the utensil shakes 70% less than the hand. The website has several videos posted showing the remarkable difference the product makes using Liftware Steady compared to a standard utensil. Liftware Level keeps the utensil level no matter what the position of your arm or hand. This line is an excellent tool for patients with mobility limitations related to cerebral palsy, a spinal cord injury, Huntington’s disease or stroke. A video is also posted to demonstrate the Liftware Level.
Both Liftware lines are rechargeable – a charge lasts about an hour or time enough for three meals. A variety of attachments are available for both models. The website has a comprehensive list of FAQs for more details about purchasing the product.
Pratiko’s – Wheelchair Products
Pratiko’s Solutions Supplier is a Canadian company with a variety of product lines. I was impressed with their solutions for wheelchairs including automatic braking systems, handbrake extensions and custom hand rims.
As OTs we have all seen too many patients forget to lock their wheelchairs and end up on the floor. Pratiko’s is committed to reducing falls and keeping people in their homes as long as possible with the help of two braking products for wheelchairs. With the Pratiko’s Automatic Braking System, a detection system is installed under the wheelchair seat. When the user stands, the blocking disks are activated and the wheels are automatically blocked. Installation is easy and the product is compatible with 25 wheelchair brands. Not ready or able to commit to automatic braking? Pratiko’s also offers a handbrake extension for wheelchairs. The extension requires 50% less strength to apply brakes and the bright red color makes it easy for the user to locate.
Pratiko’s also produces a great rubber hand rim for wheelchairs. This product is available in three textures – soft, semi-soft and hard. I love that the soft requires minimal effort for users with arthritis or other hand issues. The product is available in bright colors so the rims are easy to distinguish from the wheel, and to quote Pratiko’s who says wheelchairs have to be all black! Another choice is glow-in-the-dark rims which makes the wheelchair more visible to others, and easier for the user to locate in the dark.
Pratiko’s website has an online boutique for some products, or you can contact their sales department. The website is available in both English and French.
MPT
Wow – I love MPT’s fully ergonomic, adjustable tables. One table has individual sections that can be adjusted to accommodate the needs of 2, 3, 4 or 6 different users. The product is perfect for educational or therapeutic settings or even in the home.
Individual sections adjust from 27 to 37 inches in height. The table has lockable wheels so the entire table can be easily moved and secured. Options include a lazy Susan and depth adjustments for individual sections. A variety of colors are available.
MPT has a great website with links to their online store, technical support and a chat feature.
