KIRTON Omega User manual

Omega
..
User Instructions
Omega User Information
August 2011
Contents
1 Inlroduclion Io Ihe Omega chair
2 Omega Producl Informalion
2 Service and Mainlenance Indicalor
2 Guidelines for Besl Praclice
3 The User Inslruclions
3 Questions and Concerns
General
Operation of the Omega:
3 Back heighl adjustmenl
4 Back and seal angle recline
4 Slretching of Ihe cable
5 Seat Module
5 Wheels
6 Legrest
7 Weighted Universal Headresl
7 Loose covers
7 Lap-belt
8 Headcap
7 Sliding Footrest
8 Care and Maintenance
8 Potential risks, cautions and warnings
9 Helpline
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What is the Omega?
The purpose of Ihe Omega is Io provide a robust, durable chair that can withstand demanding
and severe movements yel provide secure, comfortable seating with postural support and
pressure relieving characteristics for those seated for long periods.
Pa ge 1

Why is there a need for this type of
chair?
The Omega was originally designed for
those with Huntington's Disease and other
neurological conditions. Over time the
Omega has become a recognised and
valued seating system for many other
caring environments.
The ability
of a seated person to function
efficiently and perform activities depends on
their ability
to adopt the appropriate
posture. All activity is posture dependent.
If a person cannot move or has problems
adjusting their posture, it may be necessary
to use seating to try to provide externally
what is limited internally.
Comfort and security underpins the Omega
aiming
to provide a robust, durable chair
that can withstand demanding and severe
movements yet provide a safe and relaxed
seated position.
The Omega allows a good seated position
for relaxing
as well as for activities such as
eating. The unique sculpted, bucket style
back and seat offers more stability for the
user whilst enhancing midline positioning
and increasing comfort.
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Who should consider using the
Omega?
The Omega is for those with Huntington's
disease and other neurological conditions
as well as for more general nursing care.
The Omega can be used within a variety of
different environments including domestic
homes, hospitals, hospices and nursing
homes.
Service and Maintenance Indicator
A service and maintenance indicator is
located on the push handle
of the chair.
This indicator will flash after
11 months of
use
to advise that the chair should be
serviced.
Annual servicing of the chair will extend the
warranty
of the chair to 5 years if
maintained from new and increase the
chair's lifespan.
The annual maintenance service is
chargeable per chair. Additional
components and parts will be quoted and
charged separately, if required.
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Pressure Relieving Seat Options
• Intelli-Gel Seat Module
Transflo Gel Seat Module
Reflexion™ Foam Seat Module
Accessories
Weighted Universal Headrest
Cushioned Headrest
• Sliding footrest
Washable loose covers
Headcap
Lap-Belt
Pelvic Positioners
Options
Three different seat widths
(380mm/430mm/51
Om m)
Three different seat lengths
(430mm/410mm/500mm)
Weight Limit
150kg/25.5 stone
Guidelines for Best Practice
To ensure good practice when considering
purchasing
an Omega chair and effective
use post purchase we advise that the
foliowing guidelines are considered:
1. Seek advice and input from a qualified
therapistiprofessional and/or Kirton
representative/distributor at the initial
prescription
of the chair.
2. If unsure when ordering the chair and
any accessories contact either the
therapist involved or your Kirton
representative or distributor or our
Customer Services Team on
Freephone 0800 212709 or
+44
(O) 1440 705352 to discuss further.
3. It is recommended that folIowing receipt
of the chair
all staff members that will
be supervising the user(s) should be
trained in adjusting the chair
to ensure
it
is adjusted safely and correct
positioning is maintained for the benefit
of the user.
4. Users of the Omega should be
supervised and checked regularly
to
ensure their most appropriate position
is maintained
in the chair.
Page 2

he User Instructions
The purpose of Ihe folIowing user
inslruclions
is Io provide a guide on how Io
ulilise, adjusl and mainlain Ihe Omega
chair.
These inslruclions should be
read by all
Ihose involved wilh Ihe supervision of Ihe
user and/or Ihe care of Ihe chair before use.
The Omega
must be adjusted in terms of
back heighl for each individual user
and
back angle recline Io ensure safe and
comfortable use.
Please retain these instructions with the
Care and Maintenance card enclosed for
future reference.
Questions and Concerns
Should you experience any difficulties or
have any concerns regarding the initial
purchase or subsequently adjusting the
Omega chair or have any concerns
regarding its use or operation Ihen
immed
ia lely contact either your Kirton
representative, distributor ar our Customer
Services Team an Freephone 0800
212709
ar +44 (O) 1440 705352, they will
be delighted to help you.
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It is recommended that the chair is adjusted
to accommodate each user's specific
requirements in terms
af back height and
back/seat angle recline.
Whilst adjusling Ihe back/seat angle recline
is easily made with the user in the chair the
back height adjustment must be made
when the chair
is unoccupied.
Back Height Adjustment
The Omega has two back height settings,
the high setting provides a back height
af
800mm and the low setting provides a back
height of 740mm.
• To either increase ar decrease Ihe
back height af the chair, ensure Ihe
user
is not in the chair.
• Locate an the rear of the back module
Ihe fixing screws. The top
two screws
should be unscrewed completely
and
retained whil sl Ihe bottom two screws
should
be loosened Io enable the back
to mave up ar dawn, but not allow the
back to fall completely
from Ihe chair.
• Mave the back module
Io Ihe desired
he
ig ht and ensure all the screws are
replaced securely.
Always check to ensure the back
module is not loose before re-seating
the
user . G
Page 3

Back and Seat Angle Recline
The back and seat angle ean be altered by
utilising the gas action adjustment
mechanism. This mechanism
is located on
the right hand side of the push handle at
the rear of the chair.
The linked back and seat recline enables
the seat angle
to increase as the back
angle reelines
to ensure an optimum seated
position.
To effect the recline of the back
and
seat modul es, squeeze the gas action
lever towards the push handle and
~
push downwards
on the push handle
until the desired position
is achieved.
• To return the back
to a more upright
position, squeeze the gas action lever
towards the push handle and gently
guide the back
to the desired position.
Always remember to check the
positioning of the user regularly to
ensure an appropriate position is
maintained.
Stretching of the cable
Af ter significant usage the gas action may
become less effective and the lever loose
when squeezing indicating that the cable
has stretched. .
• To tighten the cable loosen the small
screw
on the top of the lever and with
pliers pull the visible cable through the
lever slightly and retighten the screw.
Page 4

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Tools required:
Cross headed screwdriver
The seat module in the Omega is fixed
securely. However, should an alternative
seat be required or
c1eaning be necessary,
the seat module
ean be removed.
• To remove the seat module, turn the
chair over onto its side
so the
underside of the chair
is visible. Care
should be taken when attempting
Io lift
or turn the chair not
to strain or trap
fingers
as well as damaging the chair.
It is advised that at least two people
undertake this task.
• Once the underneath of the chair is
visible, loeate two cross-headed
screws
on the underside of the seat
module and unscrew. The seat
module will gradually become loose
and once the screws are fully removed
the seat
ean be removed entirely.
• To replace the seat module, place
the module
to align the screw holes
with the metal holes in the
framework and ensure the screws
are tightened securely. Always
double check that the screws are
secure and there
is no movement in
the seat module before re-seating
the user.
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Omega chairs are filted with 100mm
wheels
on both the chair and the legrest.
At the rear of the chair the back
two
wheels are braked and at the front of the
legrest the front
two wheels are braked.
To apply the brakes, press down
on
the front edge of the ridged pad on
each wheel. The brakes should be
applied during all transfer
operations.
~
~
To unlock the brakes, push down on
the top edge of the ridged pad until it
is level with the rest of the wheel.
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Always check that wheels are not
locked before moving the chair.
Page 5

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The legrest is a foam and wood
construclian
to which the wheels have
been accurately aligned. The rear wheels
an the legrest have been inset
to provide
improved mobilily and manoeuvrability.
The legrest
is fixed to the chair by strong,
rubber buckle latches
to ensure the legrest
maintains a firm fixing
to the chair even
under extreme duress.
I • To fix the legrest buckle latches
to the
chair, the plastic buckle fastener an
the legrest strap should be pulled over
the bracket fixing located
an the chair.
• The buckle latches should slot over
the bracket fixing and the buckle
should be pushed forwards until it
snaps shut against the chair. This
should provide a secure fixing
af the
legrest
to the chair.
To release the legrest from the chair,
the buckle fastener should be lifted
open and the tension clasp will spring
open releasing the legrest. This can
be carried out
an either side af the
chair ar indeed
an both sides.
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Af ter a period af time and use the legrest
may become slack against the chair where
the foam has become depressed
and this
may cause the legrest
to be loase against
the chair.
• The foam will compact over time and
the legrest fitting will become loose
against the chair; moving the legrest
buckle latches will assist closeness
af
the fit.
• The tension
af legrest buckle latches
can be increased
to ensure a snug fit
af the legrest to the chair by moving
the bracket fixing over to the second
set af holes.
Ensure that the fixing point is securely
tightened and cannot be worked loose.
• This should be completed
an both
sides
af the chair arms for the tension
to be equal and effective.

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The Weighted Universal Headrest can be
attached
to the Omega chair using a Velcro
strap.
It
is available in either the chair's upholstery
fabric, Dartex fabric ar the unique Spacer
fabric.
Spacer Fabric
Integral to the Universal headrest
in Spacer
Fabric
is the antimicrobial and anti dust-
mite treatment built into the headrest at the
time af manufacture. The additive provides
protection against fungi, bacteria and dust-
mites as well as providing odour prevention
and hygienic freshness importantly, it also
protects against MRSA.
Benefits of Spacer Fabric:
• Optimum temperature
• Outstanding air permeability
• Excellent drainage
af maisture
• Passive ventilation
• Machine washable
• Positively affects the pressure
relieving qualities
af the foam
• 100% recyclable
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The headcap is a protective covering that
slides over the top af the chair to cover the
headresl area in arder Io protect the
upholstery from excessive wear and tear.
The headcap should be pulled dawn fully
over the lap
af the chair Io avoid slipping ar
sliding.
Loose Covers accessor
The Omega can be fitted with washable
loose covers for the back and seat
modules, arms and legrest.
At the time af manufacture all Omega
chairs have Velcro fitted
to the underside af
both Ihe chair and legrest to enable
retraspeclive fitting
af loase covers.
All loose covers tit snugly
to the chair and
need
to be pulled firmly over their
respective modules and attached
an the
underside with the Velcro. The left and
right arms are recognisable due
to the
opening for the legrest attachment and
therefore only fil their respective sides.
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The Lapbelt hel ps to position the user in the
back
af the chair. Ideally the fixings for the
Lapbelt itself will be fitted at time af
manufacture however, can be fitted
retrospectively by a trained representalive.
To use the Lapbelt effectively, undo
Ihe buckle joining the two halves af the
strap by depressing the button
an Ihe
central console and place the straps
over the arms ar
to the side af the seat
befare transferring the user into the
chair.
When the user
is seated, bring the two
sides af the buckle together and
fasten.
Adjust the slrap
by pulling an the
plastic loop Io give firm control bul take
care not
to restrict user movement.
NOTE: Please refer
to Lap-Belt User
Instructions enclosed for further
information.
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The sliding footrest is designed to support
the user's feet whilst the chair
is occupied.
• To use, pull the footrest forward fully in
a trombone effect.
To retract:
• Slide the footrest back fully, befare
transferring
to ar from the chair.
Do not stand on the Sliding Footrest.
Always use the Sliding Footrest to
support the users feet during transit.
Page 7

Care and Maintenance
For recommended care, cleaning and
maintenance, please refer also
to the care
and maintenance guidelines enclosed with
your chair and the care label fixed
to your
chair.
• Wipe down framework with soapy
water and a soft cloth.
• Check castors regularly for bui
Id up of
fluff and dirt particles
• Cleaning with scouring pads
is not
advised.
titlfillIim
Should you have any concerns either pre ar
post purchase of the chair contact
our Customer Services Team on
Fr
eephone 0800 212709 or from outside
the UK +44
(O) 1440 705352 to discuss
further. Alternatively,
if you purchased your
chair from a Kirton distributor
in the first
instance please contact your point of
reference there.
If your call concerns a specific seating
product
ar item offurniture please have
ready your sales arder number before you
telephone. This can be located at the base
of each chair and helps us identify your
detaiIs and deaIwith your enquiry
efficiently.
..
23 Rookwood Way
HaverhiII
Suffolk
CB98PB
England
Telephone: +44 (O) 1440 705352
Facismile: +44
(O) 1440 706521
Freephone: 0800 212709
Email:
[email protected]
www.kirton-healthcare . co . uk
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• The user is at ri sk if the Omega is not
specified and adjusted
to their particular
requirements.
• Do
not allow the legrest to be used as a
seat, nor allow the chair
to be pushed along
by
It. Damage or injury could result to the
chair or legrest, the user or the person siUing
on the legrest
or pushing the chair.
• Do
not try moving the chair without first
ensuring that all wheels are unlocked.
• Do
not sit on the arms as this can cause
damage
to the covering and could make the
stability of the chair unsafe.
• Users should be
regularly checked and
supervised when
in the chair to mitigate the
user moving or sliding into an inappropriate
position.
• Users and carers should take care not
to
injure themselves on the legrest aUachment
catches during entry ar exit of the chair as
they will protrude from the legrest when not
affixed
to the chair. The catches are
however, manufactured from rubber and will
bend
on im pact.
• Users and carers should take care not
to trap
fingers down either the side of the chair
ar
between the back and the seat module.
Similarly, caution must be observed not to
trap hands between the legrest
and the chair
when securing the legrest
to the chair.
• If using any of the accessories such
as a
Pelvic Positioner or Lap-bell. the user should
be regularly checked and supervised
to
ensure correct positioning is maintained.
••
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