Why Wide 22-Inch Format Gel-and-Foam Cushion for Wider Wheelchair Seating?

Standard 18-inch and 20-inch wheelchair cushions serve average-to-standard adult seat widths but leave wider wheelchair configurations — including bariatric manual wheelchairs, wide-seat power wheelchairs, and standard adult chairs fitted for broader-framed individuals — with lateral cushion edges that fall short of the seat pan width, creating uncovered seat pan areas at the lateral thigh and hip contact zones where the hard seat frame contacts skin directly without pressure redistribution coverage. Users seated in chairs wider than their cushion experience lateral sliding tendency where the body migrates toward the uncovered seat pan area, creating asymmetric pressure loading, pelvic obliquity from uneven seating surface, and skin risk at the lateral hip and trochanter from contact with uncovered frame. The 22-inch width provides full lateral coverage on wider adult wheelchair seat configurations, maintaining gel and foam pressure redistribution across the complete seated contact width including lateral thigh and hip areas that narrower cushions leave exposed. The 18-inch depth extension serves the longer thigh dimensions that frequently accompany the taller and broader frames using wider wheelchairs — taller individuals with wider body frames typically also have longer femur lengths requiring deeper seat coverage to prevent distal thigh edge pressure at the cushion front. Together the 22-inch × 18-inch format addresses both the width and depth requirements of the broader-framed taller wheelchair user in a single cushion. Dual-chamber gel bladder within high-density foam shell provides the clinical therapeutic platform: foam structural base prevents bottoming-out under larger body weights associated with wider seat requirements, gel bladder provides fluid immersion and pressure redistribution at ischial and coccygeal prominences. Integrated tie straps secure the larger cushion footprint preventing displacement across the wider seat surface during propulsion and transfers. Waterproof vinyl base enables disinfection of the expanded undersurface for hygiene maintenance in long-term and incontinence management programs. Weight capacity is manufacturer-specified for the 22-inch wide format — confirm current Drive Medical capacity specification for this width at time of procurement. Case pack of 4 supports institutional ordering. For wider wheelchair users requiring full lateral coverage, rehabilitation programs fitting bariatric or broader-framed manual and power wheelchair users, long-term care facilities managing diverse body dimensions requiring cushion widths beyond 20 inches, and any wider-seat wheelchair scenario where 22-inch × 18-inch dual-chamber gel combined with foam, tie straps, and waterproof base provides complete wide-format pressure care with clinical attachment security, Drive Gel-U-Seat 22×18 delivers extended coverage in the proven Gel-U-Seat platform.

Key Features

• 22-Inch Wide Format: Full lateral coverage for wider adult wheelchairs and broader-framed users
• 18-Inch Deep Format: Extended posterior thigh coverage for taller users with longer femur dimensions
• Dual-Chamber Gel Bladder: Fluid pressure redistribution at ischial and coccygeal contact zones
• High-Density Foam Shell: Structural base maintaining consistent seat height under larger body loads
• Integrated Tie Straps: Secures larger cushion footprint preventing displacement on wider seat surface
• Waterproof Vinyl Base: Full undersurface disinfection for hygiene in long-term and incontinence management
• Fluid-Resistant Low-Shear Stretch Cover: Friction reduction across expanded 22×18 inch seated contact area
• TB117 Compatible Construction: Institutional-appropriate materials and flammability standards
• Case Pack of 4: Efficient institutional ordering for programs managing multiple wider wheelchair users
• Drive Medical Gel-U-Seat Brand: Proven Gel-U-Seat platform extended to wider format

Benefits

• 22-inch width provides full lateral coverage eliminating uncovered seat pan areas at hip and thigh
• 18-inch depth serves longer-limb users accompanying broader frames preventing distal thigh edge pressure
• Dual-chamber gel redistributes pressure at highest-risk zones across expanded cushion surface
• High-density foam base maintains structural integrity under the higher body weights of wider-seat users
• Integrated tie straps secure the larger cushion format preventing displacement during active wheelchair use
• Waterproof vinyl enables hygiene maintenance across full expanded undersurface in clinical programs
• Case-pack-of-4 ordering supports institutional inventory management for wider wheelchair programs
• Wider format serves the complete body dimension range from standard to broader-framed adult users

Recommended Use

Perfect for broader-framed adult wheelchair users requiring 22-inch seat width cushion coverage, bariatric manual and power wheelchair users with wider seat configurations, taller individuals with both wider and deeper seating requirements, long-term care facilities managing diverse body dimensions requiring cushion widths extending beyond 20 inches, rehabilitation seating programs fitting wider-seat manual and power wheelchair users, home care programs for broader-framed individuals, and clinical wheelchair seating in rehabilitation hospitals, long-term care facilities, bariatric care programs, community disability services, and home care. Particularly valuable for wider-seat wheelchair programs where standard 18-inch and 20-inch cushions leave lateral coverage gaps, seating assessments identifying both width and depth coverage needs for taller and broader users, and institutional programs requiring the Gel-U-Seat tie strap and waterproof platform in the widest standard configuration for complete body dimension coverage across facility wheelchair populations.

Technical Specifications

• Dimensions: 22 inches W × 18 inches D × 3 inches H
• Construction: High-density foam shell with dual-chamber gel bladder
• Cover Top: Fluid-resistant low-shear stretch
• Cover Bottom: Waterproof vinyl
• Attachment: Integrated tie straps for wheelchair frame securement
• Weight Capacity: Confirm with Drive Medical for 22-inch wide format specification
• Flammability: TB117 compatible institutional construction
• Packaging: 1 each, 4 per shipping case (4/CS)
• Brand: Drive Medical
• Product Line: Gel-U-Seat Skin Protection Cushion
• Intended Use: Wide-seat pressure redistribution, skin protection, secure wheelchair attachment