Kalogon, known for its smart seating solutions, has unveiled a new custom wheelchair cushion, Orbiter Med, which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved for the use of Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Code E2609 to bill Medicare. For the first time, Orbiter Med combines Kalogon’s Advanced Pressure Management (APM) system with the individualized postural support of a custom cushion reimbursable by insurance.
Addressing Pressure Injuries
Pressure injuries (PI) are one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States, and more than 50% of people who use wheelchairs have experienced a PI from sitting. However, people who use wheelchairs have had to compromise by choosing to focus on either structural support or skin integrity.
Customized Comfort
Orbiter Med is custom fabricated based on each patient’s unique seating and positioning requirements – needs that the company says can’t sufficiently be satisfied by a prefabricated seating system. Each Orbiter Med cushion features Kalogon’s APM system clinically proven to improve blood flow and is built to provide postural support customizations designated by a clinician, seating specialist, or therapist.
Further Reading: Smart Cushion Shows Promising Results for Blood Flow
“Our first Orbiter cushion was created out of a need for innovation in seating for people at higher risk for pressure injuries, who have been ignored for decades,” says Tim Balz, CEO and co-founder of Kalogon. “Orbiter has been proven to improve blood flow and has already changed the lives of countless customers living active seated lives, but we know that one size doesn’t fit all. Orbiter Med is a fully customized system that blends the best technology in pressure management with tailored stability and postural support specific to a patient’s needs.”
Advanced Pressure Management (APM)
APM uses a combination of machine learning and air cell technology to intelligently redistribute weight based on personalized settings set by a clinician in the Kalogon app. Users and clinicians can fine-tune their pressure levels and optimize their seating experience for different activities with the Kalogon app. Clinicians can select multiple cushion modifications, including variable sizes of medial and lateral supports, options for leg length discrepancies, residual limb support, and more.
Partnership with National Seating & Mobility
Kalogon has partnered with National Seating & Mobility, provider of comprehensive mobility solutions, as the launch dealer for Orbiter Med in the United States.
Further Reading: Etac, Kalogon Partner to Expand Smart Cushion Technology Access for Wheelchair Users
“National Seating & Mobility is proud to bring breakthrough technologies to market that will enhance the safety and lifestyle of the people we serve,” says Darren Lowman, chief supply chain officer at National Seating & Mobility. “Our collaboration with Kalogon will secure cushion demos for evaluative purposes in addition to technical training for our assistive technology professionals to ensure our teams are prepared to make this wound prevention solution available in clinics nationally.”
CMS Approval a Major Milestone
“More often than not, health innovation moves faster than regulation, creating economic barriers for the patients who could most benefit from technological advancements,” says Balz. “Patients shouldn’t have to sacrifice insurance coverage for the best technology available on the market. Earning CMS approval for Orbiter Med is a huge milestone in making our seating solutions more accessible. We take every piece of customer feedback to heart and thank all those who helped us test each iteration of Orbiter Med. This achievement is a testament to our team’s relentless effort to continuously improve our products.”
Clinicians and seating specialists can order Orbiter Med by contacting Kalogon to be connected to their local representative at Kalogon.com, with cushions starting to ship in Summer 2024.
Featured image: The Kalogon Orbiter Med custom wheelchair cushion features the company’s Advanced Pressure Management system. Photo: Kalogon
