Tek RMD Moving Standing Frame


Update March 1, 2017:

The Tek RMD (“robotic mobilization device”) by Matia Robotics will be sold exclusively in the United States by Numotion starting today. Tek RMD offers the ability for those in a manual wheelchair to complete everyday activities from a standing position. Unlike other standers, users can board and control the device unassisted.

A couple of years ago the Internet and media went crazy over a video of a young man using a streamlined machine that looked like a cross between a standing frame and a wheelchair to move around in a standing position. The product was the Tek RMD (Robotic Mobilization Device), and in news bits and videos all over the Web it promised no less than to revolutionize how paraplegics and others with difficulty standing could access their world. At 15.6 inches wide and 29.5 inches long, the Tek RMD appeared to offer users unparalleled navigability in tight spaces in addition to the benefits of a standing frame or standing wheelchair.

Then late last month the Twitter and Facebook feeds for Matia Robotics, the RMD’s manufacturer, came to life after lying dormant for over two years. Matia used them to announce a list of its first distributors. That means Tek RMDs are actually being made, sold and delivered to customers. Unfortunately for readers in the United States, the list is noticeably void of an American distributor. But there is hope! According to a July 24 official response from Matia Robotics on the Facebook page, the company is taking U.S. reservations and is just waiting on FDA approval before it can announce stateside distributors.

That process could go quickly or could take forever, but the updated Facebook and Twitter pages and international news only bodes well for customers excited by the Tek RMD’s sleek appeal. Matia also added a new video on the Facebook page last week showing the Tek RMD in action. The company’s site says it expects the product to retail for around $15,000.

Update March 1, 2017

New Robotics Technology BringsStanding and Mobility to Wheelchair Users

Numotion announces exclusive U.S. distribution of Tek RMD from Matia Robotics

Brentwood, Tenn. (Mar. 1, 2017) – Numotion, the nation’s leading provider of complex rehab technology (CRT), has announced the availability of Tek RMD (“robotic mobilization device”) by Matia Robotics in the United States. Tek RMD is a motorized standing movement device that offers the ability for those who are in a manual wheelchair to complete everyday activities from a standing position. Unlike other standers, users can board and control a Tek RMD unassisted. Numotion is the exclusive distributor of the product in the U.S.

“Tek RMD is a life-enhancing technology that enables wheelchair users to participate in everyday life in a way they may have previously thought was not possible,” said Mike Swinford, CEO, Numotion. “The ability to independently and safely sit, stand and navigate environments that were once inaccessible is now a reality. This latest exclusive distributorship of the U.S. market is reflective of our market leadership position and how we’re the channel of choice for new and innovative break-through technologies.”

The device allows users to board from the back without the assistance of others, providing greater independence. Once boarded, the suspension system contains a gas spring mechanism that balances the weight of the user, requiring only a gentle pull to enter a standing position. When standing, a joystick control allows the user to take his or her own path. A remote control feature also offers the ability to send the device away and call it back when needed.

Wheelchair users can receive great benefits from standing. RESNA, the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, has found that standing five times every week can help improve bone density, bladder and bowel function, digestion, circulation and respiratory function. Being able to stand can also improve self-esteem and psychological well-being.

“Numotion has a passion for helping people with disabilities to live active lives and contribute to society,” said Necati Hacikadiroglu, Founder, Matia Robotics. “We have already seen the difference the Tek RMD can make in the lives of wheelchair users. We are excited to partner with Numotion and their extensive experience and reach in the industry to offer this innovative solution to more people.”

As a compact motorized standing movement device, the Tek RMD measures only 16.5-inches wide by 29.5-inches long, making it easy to maneuver through doorways that can often be challenging in other chairs. A turning radius of 23.6” allows for smooth transition of direction. Additional technical specifications, and a video that shows how the device works, can be found at https://www.shopnumotion.com/tek-tech.

In the U.S., Tek RMD is only available through Numotion, either through a client’s current Assistive Technology Professional, or online at ShopNumotion.com. Visitors to ShopNumotion.com will be prompted to schedule an evaluation for individually configured customization.

Numotion is the nation’s premier mobility equipment and services provider for people with disabilities, specifically for those who need Complex Rehab Technology (CRT). With locations in nearly every state, Numotion serves 250,000 customers annually with the technical and clinical expertise needed to assist in helping people with disabilities become active and independent members of their community.

 


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