Midmark Announces First USAB Compliant Procedure Chair
Midmark Corp. announced the launch of the Midmark 631 procedure chair, which the company said is the first US Access Board (USAB) compliant procedure chair.
In 2024, the U.S. Access Board issued a new standard establishing design criteria for examination and procedure chairs, as well as weight scales and other diagnostic equipment, that are accessible to people with disabilities. The Midmark 631 Procedure Chair features a USAB compliant 17-inch low-seat-height (while maintaining a 39-inch high-seat-height), 28- or 32-inch-wide transfer surface and ample base clearance that is compatible with patient lifts and helps ensure safe patient transfer with no interference.
“Ambulatory care environments are seeing more patients, providing more in-office procedures, and evolving to meet the growing need for greater accessibility,” Tracy Timmerman, senior marketing manager, EDAC, Midmark Medical, said in a press release. “Obesity, the aging population, and disabilities are on the rise, creating new challenges for patients and caregivers. For many patients, a visit to the
doctor’s office can be very stressful and receiving adequate care can be challenging due to accessibility limitations. Midmark is dedicated to designing clinical environments and equipment that help ensure all patients, regardless of their physical, cognitive, or sensory abilities, can access and receive appropriate care.”
The Midmark 631 also offers USAB compliant Articulating Knee Crutches to support the patient's thigh, knee, and calf during lower body examinations and procedures. Additionally, the procedure chair offers compliant Patient Support Rails and Patient Support Rails+ to assist patients in accessing the chair and to provide a stable gripping surface while repositioning on the chair.
Midmark also considered caregiver ergonomics, as the chair is designed with 22 inches of height adjustability and eight-way powered positioning, allowing caregivers to effortlessly move patients into the most effective positions, whether seated or standing. Standard features, such as a paper roll holder, stirrups, and a debris tray, provide the precise positioning, support, and debris management ideal for lower-body procedures. Other intelligent features include:
- Active Sensing Technology to avoid impact or disruption while moving the chair.
- Motion Profiling to allow providers to position patients comfortably on the chair without the need to readjust to maintain head and back support.
- Foot extension to accommodate the needs of taller patients.
- Hospital-grade, duplex receptacles located on each side of the chair provide power for accessories used during medical procedures.
- Quick Chair function (available on the foot control only) to save time by moving the chair into the entry/exit position.
- Chair Home function located on the hand and foot controls to automatically lower the chair base so patients may enter or exit the chair.
The USAB found that the Midmark 626 Barrier-Free Examination Chair, which reaches a low height of 15 1/2 inches, is one of the only examination chairs currently on the market that complies with and exceeds the new standard. With the addition of the Midmark 631 Procedure Chair, Midmark is now the first and only manufacturer in the market to have both a procedure and examination chair that comply to the USAB standard.