Warren.King@p0.f429.n275.z1.fidonet.org (Warren King) (10/30/90)
Index Number: 11361
The following news clipping was given to me with no source attribution:
SUPER-WHEELCHAIR
Wheelchairs are nothing but a bore for those who have to use
them--they're clumsy things, hard to manage, and you just can't take
them lots of places. Now, however, a new wheelchair import is available
from Sweden that can do almost everything but climb trees.
Called Permobil, this battery-driven motorized chair can go over
curbs, climb up hills, and whiz along through ice and snow. It can
achieve speeds up to 8 miles an hour and go a total of 25 miles without
a battery recharge. The chair has been used for a dozen years in Sweden
by four-year-old children, grandparents with arthritic legs, and even
spinal-cord patients who still have the use of their shoulders and upper
arms.
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Internet: Warren.King@p0.f429.n275.z1.fidonet.orgJoe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org (Joe Chamberlain) (11/02/90)
Index Number: 11445
WK> Called Permobil, this battery-driven motorized chair can go over
WK> curbs, climb up hills, and whiz along through ice and snow. It can
WK> achieve speeds up to 8 miles an hour and go a total of 25 miles without
WK> a battery recharge. The chair has been used for a dozen years in Sweden
WK> by four-year-old children, grandparents with arthritic legs, and even
WK> spinal-cord patients who still have the use of their shoulders and upper
WK> arms.
Sounds like some sort of tractor-tread design. Was there
a picture with it?
-=joe=-
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Internet: Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.orgPandora.Nigh@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org (Pandora Nigh) (11/05/90)
Index Number: 11515
If you want the specs on the Permobile let me know. I tell people it
does everything but fly. It is the new chair that I want to get. A few
more things that it also does are; the back and leg rest can be lifted
independently, the seat and legs can also be tilted holding the same
angle and position of that when you are seated upright, it can stand you
up and support you in a standing postition, this is all done
electronicaly and since it is a microchip control panel they can also
add an infra-red remote to operate a home envirornment system or you tv.
There is also a plug in module for typeing speech and one that will set
up a training tracking system that will allow a blind user to operate
the chair. Great isn't it.
Pandora
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Internet: Pandora.Nigh@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.orgPandora.Nigh.Of.157/3@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org (Pandora Nigh Of 157/3) (11/06/90)
Index Number: 11543
[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]
Hi Warren, you can get the specs and the name of a dealer in your area by
contacting Permobil of America
30 Ray Ave.
Burlington, Mass. 01803
(800) 736-0925
As to the cost I have found out that it varies from area to area.
When I was in St. Louis for the Abilities expo they had a local
dealer with a booth there and he wanted over $2000 for the chair
model super 90 not stacked as much as the one I have talked with my
dealer about. The price that I'm looking at for the super 90 with
corpus seat electronically operated is $14,000. It is expensive
and you have to really have a well writen justification from your
doctor to pull it off.
Pandora
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Internet: Pandora.Nigh.Of.157/3@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.orgPandora.Nigh.Of.157/3@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org (Pandora Nigh Of 157/3) (11/06/90)
Index Number: 11544
[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]
Hi Chris, see the previous post I listed to Warren for the address. A
quick run over of some of the specs:
Length for the front drive Max 90 which is an indoor and limited
outdoor model is 41.75" the width is 25.5", weight 237lb, tire size
3x8 turning space 180 degrees -40.5" driving range 25 miles, able
to hop a 3" obstacle can take a 20degree grade and goes a max of
4mph. All the units come stock with a power base and automatic
wheel locks, seat elevator, and many options on type of seat such
as the corpus seat where the back is infinitely adjustable, will
accomodate power lift and recline, power tilt that allows the seat
to back angle fixed while changing the angle of the seat from 0 to
60 degrees, armrests that ride back with the backrest, a standing
corpus seat that will also allow you to stand unaided and
comfortably.
The super 90 is a slightly more powerful machine for indoor and
general outdoor use. The super is 45.5" in length, 25.5" wide,
weight is 253lb. tires are 3x10. turning space 44.5", driving range
25 miles can hop an obstacle or curb 4.25", seat depth 18.5-20.5
will take a 25 degree or better gradient and the maximun speed is
4.5mph. The super also has as standard headlights, turn signals and
reflextors.
All the units can be fitted with several different types of control
systems. for example - Heavy duty joystick, four switch joystick,
foot control with four switches, head control with three switches,
center mounted joystick, chin control, sip and puff, and leverman
control.
The also come in a choice of bronze, metalic blue or metalic
green.
If you want anymore info let me know I can can tell you more about
some of the other options and childrens chairs.
Pandora
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Internet: Pandora.Nigh.Of.157/3@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.orgPandora.Nigh@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org (Pandora Nigh) (11/06/90)
Index Number: 11570
Hi Jim by now you should have seen the post that I gave for the
address if not yell again and I'll dig it out. As to the VA paying for
one that I don't know. It is a system where I find that any insurance
company or government agency is going to really scrutinize medical
reasons for it because of the initial cost. The chair has been in use in
Sweden for the last 20 years and as of now 87% of the chairs are still
in service that were purchased back then. The chairs here are considered
to be designed for severly disabled and also suffering from other
complications due to seatposition in relation to the disability. In
short if you are a para, no one will cover the cost. Some agencies and
insurace companies will pay what they would for a normal motorized chair
but this would leave a great monetary gap unless you can justify
everything the chair does as a medical and living necessity.
By the way case you didn't know Medicare will only pay 1,100 for any
motorized wheelchair or tri-cart. Nice huh.
Pandora
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Internet: Pandora.Nigh@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.orgPandora.Nigh@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org (Pandora Nigh) (11/06/90)
Index Number: 11572
Hi Warren, it is an expensive chair but considering what it will do
it still cost less than if you try and modifiy a domestic made chair to
do the same things if they can be modified. I talked with a dealer in
St. Louis who wanted to sell me their new power base system chair. They
would have to get a modified seat for me and modified leg rests. I have
arthritis and get dependent edema so I can not keep my legs in a bent
down standard seated position, and I spend 16-18hours a day in my chair.
I also now need better back support and a system that will change and
allow me to take some pressure of the spine this means that the seat
back must also be adjustable. He tried to set up some of this but all he
could at the time do was manual adjustment of the legs and back. I could
not work them, they require and attendant to do the changes. I am able
to stay by myself most of the day if I have the right stuff and want to
continue to do this. So I told them they had to change that type of
change system. Well he came back to me and they could put extended
levers on some of it. Again that did me no good, I don't have the
strength to hadle that. The chair was also set to high above the ground.
It would be great to work at a standard height kitchen cabinet, but to
transfer from the toilet back up into it and down would kill me. He said
they would check out adding a hydralic lift seat and I'm still waiting
on a final cost. The cost that he has come up with for just the lever
operated leg and back system modifications to the chair is $14000. And
this doesn't even do a 1/4 of what the Permobile will do.
Permobile also makes some less expensive chairs that are more like
the standard E&J or others but they also will do a few nice things. I
have to re pull the specs but they make a series called the XIORs. one
of the chairs in this system will rotate the seat 360 around the base
while it is stationary thus making it really easy to get into and work
in small areas. So don't worry about how expensive the top of the line
super chairs are, check out the great stuff they do with a standard
power chair.
Pandora
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