The world was not designed with accessibility in mind. Cobblestones, bricks, mud, gravel, sand, and stone are a few of the many uneven surfaces we navigate every day. While newer homes and buildings are constructed to meet higher accessibility standards, many homes, businesses, and communities were built long before these standards existed. Those facing mobility challenges face their own puzzle and look for the right pieces that address their unique needs and lifestyle. It can be difficult to find one piece of equipment that can solve the majority of daily challenges, and each separate device adds to the price tag.
The ibot® PMD is more than a typical power wheelchair. Multi-modal technology combines six modes into one device, providing more mobility and eliminating the need for additional mobility aids, that may do things like tackle rougher terrain or elevate a user to eye level. The ibot® is not a replacement for every mobility aid, but we hope to highlight some of the ways it may eliminate the need for other devices by giving users the ability to “do it all” in one.
Back to the Basics
While the ibot® PMD has many unique and exciting features and functions, it’s important to remember it also can function as a standard power wheelchair. Standard Mode, as the name implies, is the most standard of the ibot®’s six modes. The device functions as any typical power wheelchair would in the home. The ibot® can also be equipped with power positioning seating (PPS). Also offered is an full tilt and recline seating system that ensures comfort through a wide range of position changes throughout the day. The backrest biomechanics have advanced shear reduction properties to allow for a smooth operation while maintaining the users position. The ibot®, if equipped with PPS, can tilt, recline, and elevate legs, giving users the ability to alleviate the pressures exerted on their bodies throughout a long day.
In Standard Mode, the ibot® PMD acts as a standard power wheelchair, with capabilities of power positioning for those with more complex seating needs.
The Hill We Climb
Many companies offer outdoor specialty devices, built to get users outdoors and on rougher terrain. This is just one of the capabilities the ibot® PMD offers with 4-Wheel Mode. In this mode, users can
drive on various rough terrains including dirt, grass, gravel, sand, and snow.
Additionally, 4-Wheel Mode is engineered with terrain following. This means that when a user goes up or down a steep slope (up to 12 degrees), the ibot® adjusts accordingly to keep the user level, reducing risk of tips or falls.
4-Wheel Mode also offers another unique feature: curb climbing. This allows users to go up and down a single curb up to 6 inches in height, opening the door to many areas built prior to ADA compliance laws and other regulations.
With 4-Wheel Mode, the ibot® PMD could eliminate the need for an outdoor “all-terrain ” type chair and various ramps to get up and down curbs or in and around a user’s home, yard, and community.
Seeing Eye-to-Eye
Wheelchair users spend most of their time sitting below typical eye level. This lowered view, while negatively impacting activities of daily living, also lowers social participation, can lower self-confidence, and can make wheelchair users feel unseen or unheard. Another unique function of the ibot® PMD is Balance Mode. Balance Mode raises users to eye level by balancing on 2 of it’s 4-wheels and elevating the seat to achieve up to about 17 inches of seat lift. Wheelchair users who are often at a lower heights can be at higher risk of developing repetitive stress injuries (RSI) of the cervical spine (neck) and shoulder from repeatedly looking up.
A wheelchair seat in an elevated position minimizes the risk of RSI while also giving users better access to things like home appliances, countertops, or higher shelves in stores. In addition to physical benefits, balance mode can enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of users, by helping them better engage in conversation with those standing, or by increasing confidence by returning a user to typical standing height.
With Balance Mode, the ibot® PMD could eliminate the need for a standing or elevating wheelchair and other home and work modifications.
The Struggle of Stairs
Many modern buildings have elevator or ramp access, but older buildings and many homes often have two steps or more just to enter. This requires many with mobility challenges to purchase stair lifts to adequately maneuver within their own homes. The ibot® PMD features another mode, Stair Mode, that can eliminate the need for stair lifts. ibot® users or caregivers can receive training to climb stairs that meet required measurements.
With Stair Mode, the ibot® PMD could eliminate the need for at home stair lifts and redesign or relocation to a single level homes.
The Travel Chair
Travel can be a struggle for wheelchair users. Some may opt to purchase a chair lighter in weight or more easily loadable into a vehicle. Even if not looking to purchase a separate device, the ibot® PMD can make this process much easier with a few of its built-in features. The ibot® is approved for occupied transport with both EZ Lock and approved 4 point tie down systems. This means a user can ride in the ibot® or even drive a vehicle without transferring. In addition, the ibot® includes Remote Mode. This mode gives users the ability to move the device and drive it up to 20-degree ramps unoccupied. Some types of backrests are also able to fold down (not including recline), to become more compact to load into a vehicle unoccupied.
With Remote Mode, the ibot® PMD could eliminate the need for a travel or transport specific wheelchairs.
Every wheelchair user is different and has unique mobility needs. There are wheelchairs available that do some of the individual things listed in this article. Some are great for the outdoors, and others lift users to eye level. The ibot® PMD is unique because it can meet many different needs, all with one device. While potentially more costly than alternative options up front, it may eliminate the need to purchase additional unique chairs to achieve different results. The ibot® can function as a standard chair with tilt and recline capabilities, an outdoor chair, a stairlift, a heightened view, and a travel chair, all in one.
The ibot® PMD is fully customized to meet a user’s needs, exact physical specifications, and is manufactured in the USA. There are numerous options available for various seating and positioning components, and additional personalization available upon request. Modes and features can be added or removed, allowing for greater cost flexibility. For those solving the puzzle of mobility aids and devices, we hope you will consider if the ibot® PMD might offer many of the pieces you’re looking for.
