FAQ’s

The Ekamove can be used with a foam or hybrid mattress. The better quality foam, the better the contouring will be and the more effective pressure care from Ekamove.

It can be used with an alternating mattress but it may affect the accuracy of the sensors and the display angle. Healthcare profession should perform a risk assessment if they wish to do this.

The Airflo Plus is powered by two valve regulated sealed lead acid batteries.

We have an ELK and a Camel lifting cushion. The ELK will lift 980lbs and the Camel will lift 700lbs. For each cushion, one size fits all and no additional accessories are required. In some circumstances, a slide sheet, transfer board or transfer belt may be required to assist a transfer.

The speed the lifting cushions inflate will depend on the weight of the person being lifted, but generally it will take less than three minutes. The lifting cushions can deflate in less than a minute.

The lifting cushions can be used on any type of surface but do look out for broken glass or sharp stones which could puncture the cushions. We advise putting a small tarpaulin or mat underneath the lifting cushion in these circumstances.

The incidences of puncture are rare. If a puncture does occur, then only the section of cushion with the damage would be affected – the remaining three will still operate. The lifting cushion will not burst like a balloon and there is no risk of injury to the patient from a rapid descent. If the puncture is small, then the cushion would still work though there would be an audible leak. Punctures cannot be repaired due to the pressure and load and damaged units have to be replaced.

When in a standing position, The Airflo Plus can be placed in a damp bathroom, used in the rain and sustain a splash of water but cannot be submerged in water. It has an IP51 rating.

The lifting is made from a polyurethane coated nylon fabric, which is a hydrophobic material and does not absorb fluids.

Yes. Airflo Plus compressors are CEN tested. They also have TUV and UN accreditation

We expect lifting cushions (excluding batteries) will last seven years in a professional setting and 10 years for domestic use.

A risk assessment should always be completed by the healthcare professional and it may be recommended that rail protectors are used.

The air chamber cover can be washed to 203° and the rest of the equipment cleaned clinical wipes. From an infection control, perspective touchpoints are key areas for cross-contamination which for the Ekamove is the keypad. This can be wiped as there are no groves which can harbor harmful bacteria.

The Ekamove performs best when used with a profiling bed and foam mattress. If it is to be used with a divan bed, this must be risk assessed by a healthcare professional.

Yes, but risk assessments should always be carried out as systems can vary.

The Ekamove can be personalized to fit the patient’s needs to achieve clinical outcomes set by the healthcare professional. Once the easy to use settings have been programmed, a carer will only need to press start or stop to operate the system.

The angles and dwell times should be set on the advice of the healthcare professional responsible for the patient’s pressure care. We would recommend a visual check of 86° before setting parameters.

The Ekamove is suitable for the care of pressure ulcers up to grade 3 and for conditions where pressure ulcers are likely to develop.

Ekamed has done clinical research in Germany and we have a results paper for circulation.

If you are chronically sick or disabled, you may be able to claim VAT relief on the Bathing Cushion. Guidance on eligibility can be found on the HRMC website.

If the backrest is put into an upright position, an alarm with sound on the Ekamove because the angle will have reached more than 30°.
To combat this, go into the back system (see question above) and change a parameter. The parameter which needs to be changed is called AY. If you set it to 0 then the system will allow every position of the headrest. Please ask healthcare professionals to risk assess this.

Yes, except products that contain peanut oil.

Yes. If you simultaneously press and hold down the prog. & start buttons while switching on at the main switch, you enter the back end of the system. This is where parameters can be changed.
When the system opens, the first parameter appears in the display along with the current setting. Eg. TFL 006. Selecting the parameter is done by simply pressing the + and – buttons. If you want to change the value of a parameter shown in the display, you hold down the Prog. button and change the value with the +and- buttons. By pressing the Stop button you leave the system and the values are stored. The system will then restart.
To change the dwell time select THM and the number of minutes you require.

Yes. The battery is detachable from the Airflo Plus and can be charged separately in an accessory called a cradle.

Yes, and we recommend you do. The Airflo Plus may remain continuously on charge when not in use as the batteries cannot be overcharged.

Yes. This lift is performed in conjunction with a scoop or transfer board.

No. The Airflo Plus will stop once full pressure is realized.

Yes. We have an in vehicle charging accessory which enables you to charge the Airflo Plus from your car or ambulance.

Yes, but the mains electrical supply is only used to charge the battery and will not power the lifting cushion independently from the battery.

Yes, please speak to your sales lead or our customer service department to be able to organize this.

No.

Yes, but risk assessments should always be carried out as systems can vary.

It is rare children develop pressure sores as their skin is healthier and they generally have more mobility. Where they are using sleep systems, the mattress may not contour sufficiently to make the Ekamove suitable and its use would only be on the advice of the healthcare professional.

It can be used with an alternating mattress but it may affect the accuracy of the sensors and the display angle. Healthcare profession should perform a risk assessment if they wish to do this.

Yes. There are two main components of the Ekamove, the air chamber and the control unit. These can be purchased independently.

Ekamed has done clinical research in Germany and we have a results paper for circulation.

Pressure mapping has been tested on the Ekamove successfully a number of times. We have a video displaying the pressure mapping for customers to view.

The Ekamove does not initiative a roll but we would recommend it is used with bedrails.

There is a range of positioning cushions and wedges to purchase.

The lifting cushions should be cleaned when inflated. Sponge clean with a detergent solution and dry thoroughly before storing in a dry place. The lifting cushions are radio-frequency welded so there is no stitching or gaps when germs can collect. To disinfect use a disinfecting solution or alcohol impregnated wipe.

We would recommend that you rinse the Bathing Cushion with clean water after each bath and leave it to dry while still inflated. It can, of course, be dried with a towel before removal from the bath for storing.
To ensure maximum adhesiveness we would also suggest you remove the Bathing Cushion from the bath at least once a week and clean the bottom of the suction cups as well as the surface of the bath.

We recommend keeping your battery on charge when not in use. The time to recharge after a lift will vary according to the type of lifting cushion used and the conditions of the last lift completed.

The first generation of the Ekamove was launched in Germany in 2008 and is now used across Europe and in Australia.

This depends on a number of factors including the weight of the user. Once the Airflo Compressor has gone through the initial charging process we would expect at least 4 baths per charge, however, it is important to maintain your battery and keep the Airflo Compressor on charge when it’s not in use.

Depending on the weight of the person, on average you will be able to complete 4 lifts per charge with the Camel and 5 with the ELK.

Once you have placed the Bathing Cushion in the bath and inflated it, just fill your bath with water to the level you would normally.

We recommend servicing your lifting cushion every 12 months.

The foam can be cleaned with chlor-clean but you may see a loss of color in foam. If necessary, the foam can be replaced.

The Airflo Compressor used to inflate the Bathing Cushion is fitted with a safety feature, which means you will only be lowered into the bath if there is enough battery power to raise you back up again.

The system emits an alarm if there is a power cut or if the system is disconnected at the mains. The Ekamove returns to a neutral position. The patient should then be assessed and the Ekamove re started manually when the power comes back on.

The air chambers of the Ekamove contour with the mattress to support the body to the desired angle. This contouring distributes the body weight better to support the body at the desired angle, for the desired amount of time. With the air contouring around the body, to support the body’s weight there is a reduction in the potential for sheer pressures in high risk areas. This in turn spreads the interface pressure over a bigger area reducing point pressure points to aid in prevention and healing of pressure ulcers.
The plate system causes hammocking of the mattress which reduces the distribution of the body weight which can potentially increase the shear pressures and reduce the amount of contouring around the body. This in turn gives less support at an angle as the body is only supported at the contact areas with the mattress. This limits pressure to high risk areas as well as increasing the shear pressures at these points.

The maximum temperature is 95F and lowest 41F.

2 years. We would also recommend taking an annual service plan.

Both the standard Ekamove and the bariatric version lift up to 660lbs. The bariatric version is wider to fit bariatric beds.
There is also an Ekamove version with 2 extra air chambers, which is ideal for patients with very large legs that require specific pressure care.
There is a lower weight limit of 33lbs.

The Ekamove is suitable for care of pressure ulcers up to grade lll and for conditions where pressure ulcers are likely to develop.

The Ekamove can be used with patient with burns but if you have a patient with a burn on a large space on the body where the skin is especially fragile, a turn could potentially damage the skin further. It would be the decision on the healthcare professional.

The air chambers will only fill to the required capacity of a 30° tilt. On some bed frames, the sensors may detect a higher lift (31° or 32°) – this is to do with the angle of the bed and not the Ekamove.

The bathing cushion inflates to fit most baths, even very narrow ones. Always try the bathing cushion in your bath without water in the first instance and if for some reason it does not fit, call our customer service team for support.