Exokinetics has launched the Project ELEVATE Mobility (PEM) charitable foundation as a way to help consumers pay for the company’s Zeen mobility device.
In an April 17 press release, Exokinetics, based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, said PEM plans to award dollar-for-dollar matching grants to consumers hoping to buy a Zeen, which the company described as having a “revolutionary, non-motorized lift system, which gently raises users from a seated position to standing, providing safe, supported mobility while walking.”
Exokinetics described the Zeen as “ideal for people with limited strength, balance, or endurance due to chronic conditions or injuries,” and said the device “allows individuals to engage with their surroundings at eye level and perform everyday activities like cooking, reaching high shelves, or interacting socially.”
The Zeen retails for $4390 for a standard model and $4915 for a one-handed model. PEM grants would match up to $2500 of the consumer’s contribution toward the purchase of the device.
“The Zeen is in a new class of mobility device with its sit, stand, walk capability and currently does not have a specific code for Medicare or Medicaid at this time,” Exokinetics said on its website. “However, we encourage you to work with your prescribing physician and health-care institution to see if submitting a claim to Medicare or Medicaid for Zeen reimbursement is an option for you.”
Zeen specifications for adults and kids
The announcement said the Zeen — which can accommodate children and adults with body weights of 50 to 250 lbs. — can be suitable for consumers with a range of mobility-related conditions, “such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, ataxia, or recovering from a stroke or injury. By promoting weight-bearing on the legs, walking with an upright posture, and reducing the fear of falling, Zeen supports overall health, including cardiovascular function, muscle tone, digestion and psychological well-being.”
To operate the Zeen, consumers must have hand strength sufficient to squeeze the seat release and brake levers. Users must also be “able to stand and walk with or without assistance/device.”
The Zeen weighs approximately 42 lbs. and is 33.5 inches long. When being used, the Zeen is 25.2 inches wide; it folds to a width of 11 inches for storage and transporting. The width of the seat between the armrests is 21 inches. The Zeen can clear doorways that are at least 27 inches wide.
PEM is raising funds via the Help Hope Live community fundraising platform. The Zeen is available for sale in the United States, directly from Exokinetics or through its dealer network. The company exhibited the Zeen this spring in Medtrade (Dallas) and the International Seating Symposium (Pittsburgh).
