Technology used in developing the Aquila wheelchair cushions

The science used in developing the Aquila wheelchair cushion technology.

In developing our cushions, key elements were function, convenience, and most importantly safety.  Our cushions must provide protection even if the internal air bladders became damaged. Aquila cushion technology uses 3 layers of various types of foam in addition to the air bladders and the foam serves as protection and comfort. Our cushions also have alarms to indicate loss of air pressure.

Regarding testing, we submitted cushions to a national test lab where they did tests simulating 18 months loaded use. Our cushions all passed and were assigned the HCPCS code to be covered by Medicare and other insurance.

Sophisticated instruments were used during our 5- year clinical study which compared the effectiveness of our cushions against manual weight lifts.  The testing included Bilateral mean ischial interface pressure (IP), transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2), and unilateral laser Doppler blood flow.

Another clinical study involving 18 patients looked at actual healing and improvements in the subjects wounds after using our cushion versus independent pressure.

A Minnesota nursing home put our SofTech Basic cushion to the ultimate test when the cushion improved a huge stage 4 wound with 98% healing achieved over a 6- month period while the patent was sitting over 12 hours per day on our cushion.

The VA tested our cushion with a pressure mapping system and found the results so impressive they insisted it be added to the VA national contract and it has been on contract for over 15 years now.