It's 2004, and, wham, Wheelchair Fan - six-wheelers and cantilever manuals covered the MedTrade floor like someone's master plan.  Invacare's going carbon fiber here and there, Permobil has new suspension ware, Pride's cruising with six-wheelers, and even Grahm Field showed a cantilever manual chair, catching the fever (and, trust me, Sister Mary, when even Herbert Everest is spitting out cantilever frames, that must ring scary). And, as for you, Brother Larry, there were some way cool, make you drool, nifty, new gadgets and gear.  So, check this out over here:

Aunt Lucile, Permobil's sporting a new line of front-wheels -- drives, that is - including models with 4-pole motors, for all you power-hungry voters.  The top-of-the-line wower is the C500, available with 100A power, and Permobil's gyro electronics to avoid fishtailing chronics.  Front and rear suspension are on par, and the C500 will handle up to 12-degree inclines without flicking your cigar.  Permobil's booth was among the coolest at the show, set up like a modern art museum - but, unlike Drive Medical, they didn't have hot chicks swinging from the ceiling, with skimpy tops peeling.

Invacare's back with a cantilever manual wheelchair attack - and not just with their Kushall division.  While many in this segment are merely playing follow the leader, Invacare's Top End has something neater, with titanium and carbon fiber hybrid, which may, indeed, shame the redundant cantilever game with some inspiration.  Look for the carbon fiber Titan jive in 2005.  Invacare also showed a chair that glowed in "Toxic Green" (if you've seen another company's long-used paint color, then you know what I mean) - the Pro Spin, to fit in the ultralight folding chair bin will give a shout in early 2005, or about.

Cousin Jerome, there was a burst of new air and foam. Roho's Jet Stream Pro backrest is for those on the go, made of carbon fiber, weighing a scant 1.5lbs - high-tech, light, light, light, and ready to roll.   Roho, you know, also had their designer cushion covers at the show - colorful patterned gear for your rear.

Pride's new backrest, the Synergy Shape, is designed for a quick escape, featuring a one-hand release, helping you transport your ultralight chair in peace, and the visco foam keeps you in comfort as you roam.

Hey, Clyde, did you see the six-wheeler rides of Pride's?  The J600 and Q600 have six wheels and suspension planted on the ground, and when overcoming obstacles, they don't mess around, with new high-torque motor technologies in 2-pole that increase reliability, power, and quietness when on the roll.

Sunrise Medical showed the 2005 S11, a compact light-rehab powerchair making a pass within the six-wheeler class.   Some other players - TiLite and Teftec - didn't show anything of notable flavors.  However, Hoveround, of all, showed a 646-looking chair, which went seemingly unnoticed - but, I saw it there.  X-Core wheels showed some cool new colors - their camouflage tri-spoke definitely differentiates from others.  Grahm-Field (AKA E&J), showed of a cantilever manual chair, called the Tsunami - there wasn't any real information about it; nevertheless, by cables, it just hung there.  Drive Medical, the both with hot, greeter girls doing twirls, also offered you an alcoholic drink; but they never offered me one, which is just as well, as I had to work and think (but, occasionally, I flashed the chicks a smile and a wink). The New Year is almost here.  With so much cool gear to wrap around your rear, the consumer's choices are even wider than ever before, so call your provider, take a test drive in his store, no matter if you're looking for carbon fiber or six wheels on the floor. (For these wordy pranks, I send my special thanks to Adrienne Bergen for allowing the use of her photos of the MedTrade protos.  You can read her exceptional work at the MedGroup website, where she brings many, many more MedTrade products to light.)