The Multi Swing: providing unique mounting options for power wheelchair driving methods and more

by Guest Blogger Michelle L. Lange, OTR/L, ABDA, ATP/SMS

Any power wheelchair driving method must be mounted to provide a consistent, stable, and secure placement to optimize driving.

This is particularly true of driving methods mounted by the chin. Common driving methods mounted in this area include proportional joysticks (e.g. All-round Joystick (Light), Multi Joystick, Micro Joystick), as well as sip ‘n puff pneumatic controls. 

 

Bibs & harnesses

Mounting a joystick at the chin requires the mount to move out of the way for transfers. The placement of the joystick must be very precise. The power wheelchair driver may prefer the handle to be just in front of the chin or just under the chin.

Chin joysticks can be mounted on a bib or harness attached to the driver. In this case, the entire harness must be removed for transfers. Bibs and harnesses keep the joystick aligned with the driver, which can be helpful when going over bumpy surfaces.

This is a Multi Swing with mounted Multi Joystick
This is a Multi Swing with mounted Micro Joystick
This is a Multi Swing motor unit

Manual swing-aways

Swing-away mounts (e.g. Manual Swing) attach to either the back of the wheelchair or the head support and keep the joystick aligned with the wheelchair.

If the driver is jostled while driving over bumpy surfaces, it may be difficult to stay aligned with the joystick. These mounts swing away laterally to the side.

The bib, harness and swing-away style mounts require a caregiver to remove or swing-away the mount.

This is a photo of a Manual Swing

Multi Swing: motorized & programmable

The mo-vis Multi Swing, however, can support a chin joystick in a precise location and offers several unique advantages:

  • The arm can swing laterally or vertically. When a mount only swings laterally, out to the side of the wheelchair, the bar may collide with objects in this area. The option of vertical movement allows the mount to swing away up and over the driver’s head.
  • The arm is powered and so can be operated independently by the driver. The driver operates the arm using any switch connected directly to the motor unit itself.
  • The arm can support other items including Sip ‘n Puff tubing, hydration tubing and even lightweight devices. The mount can support up to 500 gr (on maximum distance of 65 cm), allowing a smartphone or tablet to be supported.
  • The arm is programmable, e.g. the movement pattern, the speed and the distance of movement. The movement can be triggered by a single switch activation (latch) or a sustained switch activation (the switch must be activated for the duration of the arm movement). Through programming, this activation switch can be used to control up to 3 different functions. The first function is control of the arm itself. The Multi Swing includes an output jack that can be used to send a switch signal to a single device or two separate devices (using a splitter cable). For example, if this feature is programmed, a short switch activation will send a switch signal through the output jack to a device (such as a power door opener remote) and a long switch activation will operate the mount itself.

Brackets are available to support the mo-vis Micro Joystick, Multi Joystick, or All-round Joysticks and provide adjustment for precise placement.

The entire Multi Swing can be ordered to mount on the left or right side of the driver. 

Mounting is critical to optimize use of the driving method and the use of the Multi Swing provides independent and programmable control.

Learn more about the Multi Swing