Mobility & Seating
Page Contents
- Customised Solutions
- What can you expect from a NovitaTech Assessment?
- Customised Solutions Case Studies
- Manual Wheelchairs
- Power Wheelchairs
- Showering/Commode Chairs
- Computer Access
- Communication Device Access
- Repairs Service
- Team Solutions
- Contact Us
Customised Solutions - Mobility and Seating
- Is your current wheelchair uncomfortable or does it lack support?
- Would you like to be able to access more of your environment?
- Would you like the cutting edge in technology interfaced with your powered wheelchair?
- Would you like to be better supported while showering?
NovitaTech's Mobility and Seating department specialises in the assessment, prescription, manufacture, sourcing and supply of wheelchair and seating solutions for children and adults. We strive to ensure the best possible fit between our client’s needs with the current technology and considered best practice.
Our team is highly skilled with backgrounds in clinical engineering, occupational therapy and over 70 years of combined technical, manufacturing, repair, upholstery and invention expertise.
What can you expect from a NovitaTech Assessment?
NovitaTech's clinical staff are able to provide a comprehensive assessment of your current and potential future needs. Prescription of a solution can include 'off the shelf' products - chosen from around the world, these products can be combined with new or existing wheelchairs and seating systems. We are also able to customise these off the shelf products in order to provide the 'best fit' solution for you.
When your needs require a fully customised solution; we are able to access a full workshop on site, where the technical team will design and build a solution fit just for you.
Case Studies
Many of our clients present specific concerns or situations to the NovitaTech staff for assessment and prescription of a solution. Using a combination of clinical and technical staff we can access any type of wheelchair, seating components or accessories. In addition we are able to custom make any component required to create the best solution for our clients.
Thomas - 'My First Wheelchair'
NovitaTech is often involved with a person’s first wheelchair. As some children get older and their needs change, strollers or pushchairs no longer meet their needs. This can be a big adjustment for the child and their family, not only emotionally, but practically as well. Often the family is still using a smaller car, and may not have made any changes to their home.
In addition, many adults and older people's wheelchair and seating needs changes across their lifetime. New technology and products also present new and innovative solutions that may be easier, more comfortable or better looking. These clients also come for assessment and prescription services.
Thomas was using a stroller for all of his mobility, although now he required more support to help him to sit up. Although Thomas needed lots of support, he had difficulty keeping an even body temperature, and often got too hot. In addition to these two key needs, Thomas’ mother also needed to be able to take the wheelchair apart and fit it into the boot of her car.
Thomas's Solution
- Quickie Folding Manual Wheelchair - this allowed the chair to fold up and to be light weight for lifting in and out of the car
- NovitaTech custom seat cushion and back - this would support Thomas to sit for long periods of time without discomfort, as well as to try to maintain his level of function and independence into his future, they were also made to be removable for fitting into the car
- removable and washable liners of the seat - this meant that if Thomas was sweating in the chair, it could be cleaned and dried easily
- Spex positioning components - center point harness and belt for safety and positioning in the chair
- NovitaTech Custom made tray
James - 'Changing Needs'
Clients can come to our service from outside of Adelaide – both from within the state and from around Australia. James came for an assessment, and he lived with his family in a rural area of South Australia. They had the following concerns regarding his current wheelchair and seating system:
- James had outgrown the wheelchair, and it was not supporting him properly
- James needed to be able to have PEG feeding when he was away from home
- James was getting taller, and pushing his chair was becoming more difficult for his family – especially around the hilly areas of their home. The next wheelchair must take this into consideration
- James was not able to ‘drive’ and manual or powered wheelchair himself
- NovitaTech custom produce cushions and backrests for people who need extra support to sit or who need to be able to sit asymmetrically. We are able to assess for and recommend particular types of manual and powered wheelchairs that we then mount the seating system onto.
James's Solution 
- Quantum 1122 PWC with Attendant Control and High Torque Motors – This wheelchair enabled his family to take James around his local area without difficulty with the terrain as they could ‘drive’ the wheelchair with the motors
- NovitaTech asymmetrical cushion – to support James to sit comfortably
- Mulholland Shoulder Keepers – to keep him supported with his shoulders back against the backrest
- SPEX seating components – Pommel, Lateral Supports, 4pt Pelvic Belt – to help to position James in the wheelchair
- Adjustable headrest pad
- NovitaTech Custom Feed Pole – to hang feeds while away from home
Jenny - 'Showering Comfort'
For those clients who need a high level of support in their wheelchair, sitting for long periods of time in a shower or commode chair can be uncomfortable. NovitaTech designs and manufactures shower/commode chairs with carved or moulded foam seat and backrests that support clients while also allowing access for carers.
Jenny was a client who required a shower/commode chair that would be comfortable to use for up to an hour at a time. She has significant postural support needs, and was relying on a belt to keep her from sliding and falling from the seat. 
Jenny's Solution
- AquaTech Shower Commode frame
- Moulded foam seat and backrest
- Envalon waterproofing of seat and back
- Custom headrest
- Vinyl upholstery in white and silver
Sam - 'Improve my Computer Access'
NovitaTech can work within existing wheelchair and seating systems to improve seating, comfort or function in order to achieve client goals. Sometimes a small change or addition to a chair is all that is required in order to improve a persons comfort, access or independence.
Sam was a client who wanted to be able to improve his access to his computer at home. Sam uses a powered wheelchair for his mobility, it also assisted him with environmental controls so that he could independently complete tasks such as opening his doors, or answer his telephone. This meant that any further additions to his control box could crowd other systems, and Sam was interested in it looking as neat as possible. Sam was not able to hold and use a standard computer mouse.
Sam's Solution
- Provision of a new control unit for his wheelchair - A Genie+. This could be intergrated into the existing system controlling the various aspects of the wheelchair and environmental controls
- This controller could be adapted to be used as the computer mouse, allowing Sam to more freely access the programmes of his computer
- NovitaTech custom made arm gutter - this provided extra support and positioning to increase his accuracy when using the joystick
Sophie - 'Night Time Safety'
Safety at night while in bed is often a concern for many parents and carers. Concerns around falling from bed, or getting limbs trapped in bedsides are common. NovitaTech works with Safe Surround beds, and custom makes the side guards to the specifications of the client. When prescribing this type of solution there are many factors involved in the design and style of a bed chosen.
Jenny lives at home with her parents, and often fell from bed at night due to decreased balance. Jenny also had challenging behaviour and the night time became a source of stress for her parents. Jenny also moved around frequently during the night and was at risk of becoming 'entrapped' in the bed sides.
Sophie's Solution
- Bed sides 130cm high to prevent Jenny from falling from her bed
- Padded vinyl upholstered side boards - to decrease the risk of injury and remove entrapment risks
- Clear polycarbonate door inserts - to decrease the entrapment risks and maintain vision into and out of the bed
- Sliding locking doors require less effort to open and close than drop down side rails
- Hi/low profiling bed platform - to assist with positioning and suitable transfer/change table height
Tim - 'Access for Communication Aid'
When you are using communication aids and devices to communicate, the positioning of your body in relation to the device can make the difference. NovitaTech are involved in the design and manufacture of headrests, arm supports and leg guides to enable access to communication switches.
Tim came to NovitaTech for the manufacture of a arm gutter support to be mounted onto his tray. Tim had some specific requirements of the arm gutter. It needed to be comfortable, and allow a natural position in his shoulder and elbow. It needed to assist to pull his forearm into a neutral position, and to lift and support his wrist so that he could use his index finger more easily. In addition, the other 3 fingers were getting in the way of the access, by sitting underneath the switch lever.
The arm gutter was manufactured by the upholsterer; it required a trial and error approach, with multiple scenarios tried and excluded. The position of Tim's arm had to be precise, and the position needed to be able to be recreated easily by the multiple family and staff members involved in his care.
Tim's Solution
- Low profile arm gutter custom made from foam, incorporating the switch into the front
- Covered in dartex Material for comfort and breathability
- 2 Forearm straps to exert a pull on his forearm to assist with alignment
- Finger pocket to keep his fingers away from beneath the switch
Repair Service 
NovitaTech has an on site and a mobile repair service.
If your equipment has been funded, please contact your funding body and request a repair order for NovitaTech.
If you are privately funding your equipment or repair, please phone 1300 85 55 85
Team Solutions
The NovitaTech team has considerable real world experience with mobility devices, seating and postural management.
Clinical engineering, occupational therapy, technical expertise and upholstery skills combine to provide a sounding board for solutions to all kinds of scenarios.
We have an onsite workshop able to manufacture molded and carved foam seating, metal fabrication, waterproofing, spray painting and mounting systems. In addition the NovitaTech department has specialists in communication devices, switch access and environmental controls.
This page last updated: 16 September 2009
URL for this page: http://www.novitatech.org.au/content.asp?p=246
