MEDTRADE2005

MedTrade 2005 was a testament to the mobility Mecca in which we live. As with all MedTrades, there were new products shown; however, this year was notably different than years past in that an extraordinary number of flagship products seen this year have been in production for some time. If you look at the top powerchair brands, most savvy consumers are already acutely aware of the Permobil, Pride, Invacare, and Quickie models that were shown this year at MedTrade (the most dramatic example, for instance, was that, Sunrise Medical went as far as to show the P200 with a 646-type seating interface). For consumers, the survey of products already on the market is truly amazing, with notable advancements in recent years in mobility and seating products, as with 6-wheel technology. But, for those looking to be surprised by never-seen-before products at the show, the eye-catchers were far a few between. Nevertheless, it was the "big show," and there was technology for the taking.

Electronics Buzz
The trend in new powerchair technology is house-brand electronics. Invacare, Pride and Sunrise all showed advancements in their exclusive electronics. Invacare showed its MK6 electronics, while Pride and Sunrise showed advanced electronics set for 2006. Across the board, the new generation of electronics will better integrate powerchairs into users' lives. Notable trends are enhanced diagnostics, through-the-joystick-programming, enhanced motor communication, tripometers, odometers, and speedometers. On the way-cool side, color screens on joysticks will allow awesome on-screen control graphics, as well as the ability to upload your favorite pictures to display on your joystick. Again, much of the debuted electronic innovations are still in process, but 2006 should prove exciting for high-end powerchair electronics.

Power Base
Most readers are familiar with the range of high-end powerchairs displayed this year at MedTrade - Q6000, TDX, C-Series. In this way, the only truly new high-end powerchair to our readership that was displayed was the Quickie Rhythm, a 6-wheel entry in the higher-end market. As with others in its class, the Rhythm has full suspension front and rear, accepts high-end seating, and has consumer-oriented speed packages up to 8.5mph.

In the area of enhancements, Pride debuted a forthcoming 8.5mph Q6000 speed package; and, Invacare showed powerchair securement packages for transport.

Manual Melodies
The Quckie GTX attracted attention in the high-end manual market. Based on the GT, the GTX is a cantilever frame integrated with a conventional folding X-frame. For decades, the Kuschall Champion has reigned as the premier folding cantilever frame, so Quickie hopes to offer consumers an additional choice in that arena.

In the mainstay manual market, Pride showed its LiteStream series of manual wheelchairs, utilizing a double X-frame that rigidizes the frame but still folds conventionally. The LiteStream 500 fits in among folding ultralights like the Quickie 2 and TiLite SX.

Nissin Medical Industries was an interesting exhibitor as a high-end sportschair manufacturer from Japan, showing a line of basketball, tennis, and racing chairs, as well as a monoski. Nissin wishes to enter the US market, and compete in the sports market shared by the Quickie and Top End brands.

Spinergy debuted a new 12-spoke SPOX wheel, with a new hub that has lightening slots - a very cool wheel. The new 12-spoke will be a higher-end version of the classic SPOX.

Deafening Sound
Indeed, the new MedTrade picks this year were limited in the high-end rehab market, and for good reason. The number of existing products in the booths of Sunrise Medical, Invacare, Pride, Permobil, TiLite, and Kuschall, to name a few, were staggering, offering consumers more choice than ever before. It's fun to see a cool, new exciting chair; but, it's phenomenal to realize the vast number of consumer choices of any given mobility platform. It is true, then, that for consumers, this year's MedTrade proved that not only is one bird in the hand more valuable than three in the tree, but, literally, that hundreds of mobility products from which to choose are pragmatically more liberating than a few soon to come. For those looking for evolutions in mobility, the future is now.