Wedge with Front/Back Slope - Lightweight Micro-Bead Limb Support for Pressure Relief and Rehabilitation.
- Dual Slope Profile for Upper or Lower Limb Elevation - the Wedge with Front/Back Slope features a graduated slope on both the approach surface (front) and the support surface (back), creating a ramp profile that guides the limb into an elevated position while providing a stable angled support surface at the top; the dual slope allows the wedge to function in either orientation - front slope leading for heel elevation when placed under the calf and heel, or back slope leading for hand and forearm elevation when placed under the upper limb; the slope profile also means the transition between the mattress surface and the elevated limb position is gradual rather than a sharp edge, reducing pressure at the limb-to-wedge contact zone.
- Full Heel Offloading via the Limb Elevation Function - when the Wedge is placed under the lower leg with the heel positioned over the slope crest, the heel is elevated off the mattress surface entirely, eliminating the contact pressure between the heel and the mattress that contributes to heel pressure ulcer development; full heel offloading is the most effective pressure management strategy for the heel per NICE CG179, as the heel's small contact area and the prominent calcaneus make any prolonged contact load clinically significant; the micro-bead fill conforms to the calf surface below the heel, distributing the calf load across the maximum contact area.
- Micro-Bead Fill Conforms to Limb Contours Without Rigid Support - the polystyrene micro-bead fill adapts to the specific shape of the resident's limb as it is positioned on the wedge, eliminating the gap zones that exist between a rigid foam wedge surface and the natural curves of the limb; these gap zones under a rigid support concentrate the load at the few contact points between the foam surface and the bony limb protrusions, whereas the micro-bead surface achieves near-total limb contact and distributes the support load across the full contact area.
- VP Waterproof Cover - 460x300x150mm - MDR Class I - NICE CG179 - multi-stretch vapour-permeable waterproof cover maintains skin microclimate management at the limb contact surface; dimensions 460 x 300 x 150mm; MDR 2017/745 Class I positioning device; clinical selection follows occupational therapist or tissue viability assessment per NICE CG179; product code NCL-P9712B1HW; positioning schedule documented in care plan.
Wedge Positioning Cushion - Front and Back Slope - Micro-Bead - Heel and Hand Elevation - 460x300x150mm
The Wedge with Front/Back Slope provides graduated limb elevation for upper or lower limb pressure care using a dual-slope profile that guides the limb into position and supports it at an elevated angle. When placed under the lower leg, it fully offloads the heel from mattress contact. When placed under the upper limb, it elevates the hand and forearm. The micro-bead fill conforms to the limb's natural contour, distributing support load across the full contact area. VP waterproof cover. 460 x 300 x 150mm. MDR 2017/745 Class I. NICE CG179. NCL-P9712B1HW.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Profile | Dual slope - front and back graduated surface |
| Fill Material | Ultra-lightweight polystyrene micro-beads |
| Cover | Multi-stretch VP waterproof |
| Dimensions | 460 x 300 x 150mm |
| Lower Limb Application | Full heel offloading via calf elevation |
| Upper Limb Application | Hand and forearm elevation |
| Reference | NCL-P9712B1HW |
| Regulatory Status | MDR 2017/745 Class I medical device |
Regulatory Compliance
The Wedge with Front/Back Slope is a Class I medical device under MDR 2017/745. Clinical selection requires occupational therapist or tissue viability assessment per NICE CG179. The limb elevation configuration and positioning schedule must be documented in the care plan. Equipment register records and MDR conformity documentation must be maintained for CQC Regulation 12 compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is full heel offloading considered the most effective heel pressure care intervention, and how does the wedge achieve this?
The heel is the most common site for pressure ulcers in bed-resting patients after the sacrum, due to two anatomical factors: the calcaneus (heel bone) is a prominent bony structure covered by a thin layer of subcutaneous tissue and skin, providing minimal padding between the bone and the contact surface; and the heel's surface area at contact with a flat mattress is very small - typically 15-30cm squared when the foot is in its natural resting position - concentrating the load over this small zone. NICE CG179 notes that any pressure at the heel is clinically significant and recommends full offloading where the risk assessment indicates heel ulcer risk. The wedge achieves full offloading by elevating the entire lower leg so that the heel is above the mattress surface with no contact; the support load is transferred from the heel to the posterior calf, which has a larger, better-padded contact area with the wedge. The micro-bead surface of the wedge conforms to the calf's natural curvature to maximize this contact area, distributing the calf load as broadly as possible.
How does the dual slope differ from a single-slope foam wedge, and does it change how the wedge is placed under the limb?
A single-slope foam wedge has a graduated rise on one face and a flat or minimal surface on the opposite face; it is placed under the limb in one fixed orientation. The dual slope - with a graduated surface on both the front approach and the back of the wedge - provides a gradual transition from the mattress surface on both the approach and the exit sides of the wedge. This means the limb rests on a symmetrical gradient regardless of which end is the approach end, which has two practical benefits: carers do not need to check the orientation of the wedge before placing it under the limb, reducing setup time and orientation errors; and the limb contacts a gradual slope at both the point of entry and exit, reducing the edge pressure that can arise when a limb rests with the calf end against a sharp single-slope drop-off. The dual slope also allows the wedge to be used in either orientation for the upper or lower limb without repositioning.
NCL-P9712B1HW
- Dual Slope Profile for Upper or Lower Limb Elevation - the Wedge with Front/Back Slope features a graduated slope on both the approach surface (front) and the support surface (back), creating a ramp profile that guides the limb into an elevated position while providing a stable angled support surface at the top; the dual slope allows the wedge to function in either orientation - front slope leading for heel elevation when placed under the calf and heel, or back slope leading for hand and forearm elevation when placed under the upper limb; the slope profile also means the transition between the mattress surface and the elevated limb position is gradual rather than a sharp edge, reducing pressure at the limb-to-wedge contact zone.
- Full Heel Offloading via the Limb Elevation Function - when the Wedge is placed under the lower leg with the heel positioned over the slope crest, the heel is elevated off the mattress surface entirely, eliminating the contact pressure between the heel and the mattress that contributes to heel pressure ulcer development; full heel offloading is the most effective pressure management strategy for the heel per NICE CG179, as the heel's small contact area and the prominent calcaneus make any prolonged contact load clinically significant; the micro-bead fill conforms to the calf surface below the heel, distributing the calf load across the maximum contact area.
- Micro-Bead Fill Conforms to Limb Contours Without Rigid Support - the polystyrene micro-bead fill adapts to the specific shape of the resident's limb as it is positioned on the wedge, eliminating the gap zones that exist between a rigid foam wedge surface and the natural curves of the limb; these gap zones under a rigid support concentrate the load at the few contact points between the foam surface and the bony limb protrusions, whereas the micro-bead surface achieves near-total limb contact and distributes the support load across the full contact area.
- VP Waterproof Cover - 460x300x150mm - MDR Class I - NICE CG179 - multi-stretch vapour-permeable waterproof cover maintains skin microclimate management at the limb contact surface; dimensions 460 x 300 x 150mm; MDR 2017/745 Class I positioning device; clinical selection follows occupational therapist or tissue viability assessment per NICE CG179; product code NCL-P9712B1HW; positioning schedule documented in care plan.