Recommendations on Standards for the Design of Medical Diagnostic Equipment for Adults with Disabilities, Advisory Committee Final Report

5.5 Armrest Recommendations

5.5.1 Armrest Provision for M302

Description: Diagnostic equipment used by patients in a seated position such as exam chairs typically have armrests. The proposed provision requires armrests as these enhance patient comfort and stability. However, this requirement does not supplant provisions for transfer supports. Today, some chair types contain armrests used for transferring and positioning.

NPRM Proposed Provision: M302.3.2 Armrests. Where patients are positioned in a seated position, armrests shall be provided.

The Committee recommends that armrests not be required but if provided they cannot obstruct transfer supports.

Rationale for the recommendation

The Committee recommends use of armrests. If provided, armrests cannot interfere with transfer supports during the transfer. This provision allows dual transfer support/armrest mechanisms as long as the resulting device meets all of the requirements for transfer supports.

Armrests serve a similar function, and occupy the same physical space, as the transfer supports as described in the NPRM. The NPRM requires transfer supports for all chairs, so the additional requirement for armrests for chairs was not only redundant, but could potentially create a physical conflict between the two devices. Although the NPRM infers that the transfer supports are only useful during transfer to/from the chair, the Committee felt that the transfer supports would adequately assist a user with repositioning on the chair during a diagnostic examination or procedure.