Page 28 - Mobility Management, August 2017

Axiom S: Taller cells for the skin-protection cushion in this new series.
dual-density foam base and horseshoe outer cover shape over a Hydrolite fluid bladder that sits atop a waterproof inner cover, again to reduce surface tension and maximize envelopment. Fluid, Whelan pointed out, displaces rather than compresses — and Hydrolite is a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning it has different viscocities when under stress. It acts like a solid under gravity, but flows like a fluid when under load, which can minimize shear.
“Where we are adding real cost is in the cover,” Whelan said. “A water-resistant zipper with a really nice pull costs more than an off-the-shelf, not-so-good zipper. Fully banded construction costs more than darting the cover mate- rial in the corners and sewing it to a non-skid base. Putting the strap on the general-purpose cushion with the carabiner hooks costs more. But we did get the advan- tage of taking the highest-volume product and using that volume
to spread out the material cost. By using common materials over everything, I can design materials and use higher-quality materials because I get effective volume.”
Even the general-use cushion has a high-quality zipper pull, a handle and utility loops for car keys.
“It’s a give-back to the general-use user that makes good business sense as well as good design sense,” Whelan said.
Where Axiom Goes from Here
Even with five Axiom cushions, there are still unfulfilled HCPCS codes
— namely the adjustable ones. Whelan didn’t give a timeline of what happens next, but he acknowl- edged that Ki is serious about the seating niche.
“A lot of cushion sales is missionary work,” he said. “It’s people repre- senting an opinion; there are no
Ki Mobility put engineering time and money into Axiom details, such as zippers and a high-quality zipper pull that’s easier to use for consumers with limited dexterity.
absolutes. But what you can do is base it in science and be consistent. That’s an advantage we have: We’re not conflicted by our history. We got to start with a clean slate, and that’s easier than companies that have a big investment in a product line and its tooling and then learn how to do it better, but can’t go backwards. We get the benefit of starting here and going forward.
“Entering the seating segment means we’re entering the seating segment. We want to bring innova- tion and quality and consistency to the entire segment. Our plan is to continue to develop products and innovate.”
Axiom at present is concentrating on adult sizing; widths and depths start at 14". “Pediatrics are an entirely different development,” Whelan said. “The needs are different, the anthro- pometrics are different.”
So Ki’s entrance to seating starts here, though there’s much more to anticipate.
“One of things I’m grateful for at Ki Mobility is that we realize there are constant opportunities to improve, to make better products,” Whelan said. “We want to main- tain that focus on the products,
as well as on the business and the economics. That’s the other reason the cushions all got done together: Doing them all together in some ways allows us to do more. But Ki never stops. We’re never done.” m
—Laurie Watanabe
Axiom SP Visco: Viscoelastic foam and a dual-layer foam base.
Axiom SP Fluid: A dual-layer foam base plus a non-Newtonian fluid insert to lower the wheelchair user’s shear risk.
to reduce surface tension and maximize immersion.
The SP Visco uses a dual-density polyurethane foam base (firmer lower layer + comfortable top layer) and a viscoelastic foam insert. A “horseshoe” design around the sitting well reduces the layers of cover fabric between the user and the cushion; a pleated, four-way stretch inner cover has a self- sealing zipper.
The SP Fluid uses that same
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