Posts from — May 2007

Topchair is a brand new powered wheelchair (and concept) that enables its drivers to easily be able to climb and descend stairs, steps and other obstacles - all of this in addition to having similar performance to an industry leading powered wheelchair on the road or at home.

After several years of development by French scientist and engineer Hervé le Masne, and following the completion of a significant clinical study amongst a representative user group, the powered wheelchair is now ready for commercialization.

In addition to its speed, maneuverability and performance on the ground, the Topchair automatically detects the first step while driving with infrared sensors and then goes on to detect the last step as it retracts its built in climbing mechanism.

In this video the driving performance and step climbing mechanism is shown:

Owner and inventor Hervé le Masne goes on to demonstrate the impressive mobility potential of the chair as he heads down the stairs at Trocadero in Paris, France on the way to the Eiffel tower.

Additional detailed information is available at the Topchair website in English or French.

Topchair has passed all the regulatory certifications in France and is available for sale to local consumers.

It will soon be made available in several other countries through the development of key partnerships.

Interested parties should contact Frank Barlin or Topchair for further information.

Conor Medsystems, LLC has concluded that the COSTAR II (CObalt Chromium STent with Antiproliferative for Restenosis) trial, the pivotal study for the CoStar® cobalt chromium paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent, failed to meet its primary endpoint.

In a far reaching move to be ahead of the game in the new world order of NCB (National Competitive Bidding), reimbursement cuts worldwide and Asian competition - Sunrise Medical CEO Mike Hammes has announced a fundamental structural change.

As from July Sunrise Medical will split into two distinct organizations, Sunrise Mobility and Devilbiss Healthcare. Hammes while being overall group chairman will run Sunrise Mobility and Kees Regeling will run Devilbiss Medical as its President and CEO. The change is not purely superficial and customers will be required to order their products from the distinct responsible business.

In addition to the above the sales force of the specialty ART group will be combined with the Sunrise Mobility salesforce.

In an excellent communication package - including a video, Hammes outlines clearly the reason for change as well as admitting to not necessarily having all of the answers in this change process.