Sunrise Medical Hhg, Inc.

Jay Medical, Ltd.

Pamela C DeBellis

John C Dinsmoor, Iii

Grant C Denton

Richard R Runkles

A seat assembly (21) for a wheelchair including a relatively rigid seat base (12) of substantially uniform thickness with an upwardly facing contoured top surface (14) and a cushion assembly mounted on the seat base. The cushion assembly includes a relatively soft foam member (30) substantially covering the seat base (12) for localized deformation of the foam member and for communication of the influence of contours on the seat base (12) through the foam member (30) to the user. In the preferred form, a flexible pouch (40) having a viscous fluid-like material contained therein is positioned in a recess (38) in the foam member (30) in the area of the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx, and a water-impervious, flexible elastomeric envelope (50) completely surrounds the foam member (30) and the fluid-containing pouch (40). The fluid pouch (40) has a size greater than the plan area of recess (38) in the foam member (30) and is placed in a semi-collapsed condition in the recess so as to be displaceable without hammocking. Additionally, elastomeric envelope (50) has a sheet area greater than the area of the semi-collapsed fluid pouch (40) to ensure that the envelope (50) does not hammock under the user's weight. Finally, a hydrophobic cover (60) can be mounted over the cushion assembly and to the seat base (12). A method of supporting a user on a wheelchair seat assembly is also disclosed.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

Pamela C DeBellis