Digiterm designs and manufactures medical seating solutions for long-duration treatments, outpatient procedures, patient positioning and selected clinical transport applications. This FAQ answers common questions about therapy-chair selection, functionality, clinical use, configuration, maintenance and support.

General Questions

What is a medical therapy chair?

A medical therapy chair is a purpose-designed medical seating system used to position and support patients during treatment, examination or clinical procedures. Unlike a conventional recliner, a therapy chair must address clinical requirements such as patient positioning, caregiver access, stability, hygiene, emergency positioning and repeated intensive use.

What is the difference between a therapy chair and a normal recliner?

A normal recliner is primarily designed for comfort. A medical therapy chair is designed around both the patient and the clinical procedure.

Depending on the model and configuration, therapy chairs may provide electrically adjustable seating positions, Trendelenburg positioning, adjustable armrests, medical accessories, mobility and braking systems, integrated weighing, battery operation and other features intended for professional healthcare environments.

What types of treatments can Digiterm chairs be used for?

Depending on the model and configuration, Digiterm therapy chairs can be used for applications including:

• dialysis and hemodialysis

• chemotherapy and oncology treatment

• infusion and IV therapy

• plasmapheresis and therapeutic apheresis

• plasma collection

• blood donation and blood collection

• TMS and EEG procedures

• selected outpatient and one-day surgery procedures

• patient preparation and recovery

• selected indoor patient transport applications

The correct configuration should always be selected according to the clinical workflow and intended use.

Are Digiterm chairs intended only for dialysis?

No. Dialysis is one of Digiterm’s major application fields, but the product range is designed for considerably broader use.

Many Digiterm chairs can be configured for infusion therapy, chemotherapy, plasma collection, plasmapheresis, blood donation and other procedures. Dedicated configurations are also available for areas such as TMS and patient transport.

Are Digiterm chairs suitable for long treatments?

Yes. Long-duration treatment is an important consideration in the design of medical seating.

During treatments such as dialysis, chemotherapy or infusion therapy, patients may remain in the chair for several hours. Seating geometry, upholstery, positioning possibilities and arm support therefore become important not only for comfort but also for the overall treatment experience.

Clinical Applications

What should I look for in a dialysis chair?

Important considerations normally include:

• comfortable positioning for several hours

• stable and adjustable arm support for vascular access

• emergency positioning capability

• easy access for nursing staff

• appropriate patient entry height

• easy-to-clean surfaces

• reliable electrical adjustment

• mobility and braking where required

• compatibility with tables, IV poles and other treatment accessories

• long-term serviceability

Depending on the clinic, integrated weighing or battery operation may also be valuable.

Why are adjustable armrests important in dialysis?

Dialysis treatment requires reliable access to the patient’s arm while the arm remains comfortably and securely supported.

A properly adjustable armrest allows the clinical team to position the patient’s arm according to individual anatomy, vascular access location and treatment posture instead of requiring the patient to adapt to a fixed support.

What is important in a chemotherapy or infusion chair?

Infusion and oncology environments often require a balance between patient comfort, accessibility and flexibility.

Useful considerations include:

• comfortable sitting and reclining positions

• adjustable backrest and leg support

• suitable arm support for IV access

• convenient access for staff

• IV-pole compatibility

• tables or device holders

• easy cleaning

• compact dimensions where treatment spaces are limited

The appropriate configuration depends on the expected treatment duration and clinical workflow.

What makes a chair suitable for plasma collection or plasmapheresis?

These procedures require stable patient positioning together with reliable access to the patient’s arm.

Important features may therefore include adjustable armrests, reclining capability, emergency positioning, easy patient entry and surfaces suitable for frequent cleaning.

Where many patients or donors are treated every day, durability and operational efficiency also become particularly important.

Can Digiterm chairs be used for blood donation?

Yes. Several Digiterm configurations are suitable for blood donation and collection applications.

Adjustable arm support is particularly useful because it helps position the donor’s arm for venipuncture while maintaining a comfortable posture.

What is different about a TMS therapy chair?

TMS places unusual requirements on patient positioning.

The patient’s head and upper body must remain in a stable, reproducible position while clinicians and positioning equipment require access around the head.

For this reason, a TMS chair may require dedicated head and back support, appropriate seat adjustment, suitable armrests and compatibility with the TMS equipment and clinical workflow.

Can Digiterm chairs also be used for EEG?

Selected Digiterm configurations can support EEG and related neurological applications where stable positioning, patient comfort and access around the head are important.

The exact configuration should be selected according to the procedure and equipment used.

Can a therapy chair replace an examination couch?

In some applications a multifunctional treatment chair can perform tasks that would otherwise require both seating and a treatment surface.

However, this depends strongly on the procedure. A chair should only be used for applications for which its configuration and intended use are suitable.

Positioning and Adjustment

Are Digiterm therapy chairs electrically adjustable?

Digiterm therapy chairs use electrically powered positioning systems. The number of electrically controlled movements and available functions depends on the model and configuration.

Why is independent adjustment important?

Patients rarely remain in one ideal position throughout a long treatment.

Independent adjustment allows the seating geometry to be adapted to different stages of treatment, individual patient needs and clinical procedures.

It can also help clinicians gain better access without unnecessarily repositioning the patient manually.

What is the Trendelenburg position?

Trendelenburg positioning places the patient’s body in a tilted position with the head lower than the feet.

In appropriately equipped medical chairs it provides an emergency positioning option that clinical personnel can activate when required according to their procedures and training.

Do all Digiterm chairs have Trendelenburg positioning?

Available emergency and positioning functions depend on the model and configuration.

For applications where Trendelenburg capability is required, this should be specified during chair selection.

Can the chairs become completely horizontal?

Selected models and configurations provide a near-horizontal or horizontal treatment position.

If a completely horizontal position is essential for your clinical workflow, this should be specified when selecting the model.

Are all Digiterm chairs height adjustable?

No. Height adjustment depends on the product family and model.

Where staff must frequently perform procedures, transfers or patient preparation around the chair, height adjustment may provide significant ergonomic benefits. For older patients, the adjustable ‘Entry’ position, which allows the chair to be lowered, may also be an important consideration.

Why is seat-height adjustment useful?

The ideal height for patient entry is not necessarily the ideal height for treatment.

A low entry position can make access easier for some patients, while raising the chair during treatment can help staff work closer to an ergonomic working height.

Can patients change their own position?

This depends on the selected control configuration and the clinical policy of the healthcare facility.

Patient controls can be configured according to the requirements of the treatment environment.

Armrests and Patient Access

Are the armrests adjustable?

Digiterm offers highly adjustable armrest solutions designed for clinical procedures where reliable arm positioning is important.

Available adjustments depend on the selected armrest configuration.

Can the armrests be moved away for entry?

Depending on configuration, armrests can provide movement that facilitates entry, exit and clinical access.

This can be particularly valuable for elderly patients or patients with restricted mobility.

Why is armrest adjustment important beyond comfort?

Armrests influence much more than comfort.

Their position can affect:

• venous access

• clinician working posture

• shoulder and arm support

• patient stability

• ease of entry

• compatibility with treatment equipment

For dialysis, infusion, blood donation and plasma applications, armrest design should therefore be considered a clinical feature rather than merely a comfort accessory.

Upholstery and Comfort

What upholstery options are available?

Digiterm offers configurable upholstery solutions with a wide range of colour combinations and upholstery options.

The choice can be adapted to clinical requirements as well as the visual identity and interior design of the healthcare facility.

Can the upholstery be replaced?

Yes. Digiterm’s removable upholstery concept is designed to simplify replacement and refurbishment.

Replacing worn upholstery can extend the useful life of the chair and may be considerably more economical than replacing the complete medical device.

Why is removable upholstery useful?

Medical chairs are used repeatedly and their upholstery is one of the components experiencing the greatest everyday wear.

A replaceable upholstery system can:

• simplify maintenance

• reduce downtime

• improve long-term appearance

• support hygiene

• extend the service life of the chair

• reduce lifecycle costs

Is thicker upholstery always better?

Not necessarily.

Comfort depends on the complete seating geometry, foam properties, pressure distribution and patient positioning rather than thickness alone.

The appropriate upholstery should therefore be selected as part of the overall chair configuration.

Can different colours be combined?

Yes. Digiterm’s upholstery options allow different colour combinations.

The online colour-selection and 3D tools can be used to visualize possible configurations before ordering.

Hygiene and Cleaning

Are Digiterm chairs designed for healthcare cleaning routines?

The chairs are designed with medical environments and repeated cleaning in mind.

Exact cleaning and disinfection procedures should always follow the instructions supplied with the product and the requirements of the healthcare facility.

The upholstery is the largest patient-contact surface of a treatment chair and may be exposed to repeated cleaning and disinfection several times every working day. Traditional multi-section upholstery can contain seams, junctions and gaps that require additional attentionduring cleaning. Dirt and contamination may also accumulate in areas that are difficult to access.

Digiterm developed its DuoShape upholstery concept partly to address these practical requirements. The unified seat and legrest surface reduces gaps and interruptions in the patient-contact area, making theupholstery easier to wipe and inspect. The upholstery can also be removed from the chair in a few movements when more extensive cleaning or maintenance is required. This means that the design supports hygiene not through a different cleaning standard, but by making the required cleaning procedure simpler to perform.

Why does chair design matter for infection control?

In high-turnover clinical environments, surfaces and construction details can affect how quickly and thoroughly equipment can be cleaned.

Accessible surfaces, removable upholstery elements and reduced dirt traps can therefore contribute to efficient hygiene routines.

Which disinfectants can be used?

Only cleaning and disinfecting agents compatible with the relevant upholstery and chair components should be used.

Users should follow the current Digiterm cleaning instructions and the disinfectant manufacturer’s instructions.

Mobility and Braking

Can Digiterm chairs be moved?

Mobility depends on model and configuration.

Digiterm offers chairs intended to remain primarily at a treatment station as well as configurations designed for greater movement within the clinical environment.

What is the purpose of a central brake?

A central braking system allows multiple castors to be controlled together, simplifying securing and releasing the chair.

This can improve workflow where chairs are moved regularly.

What is a fifth wheel?

A fifth-wheel system provides an additional central wheel that can improve directional control and maneuverability when moving a chair.

It can be particularly useful in corridors or environments where a heavy occupied chair needs to be moved more efficiently.

Can treatment chairs be used for patient transport?

Only chairs specifically configured and intended for transport should be used in this way.

Digiterm offers dedicated indoor patient transport configurations for appropriate clinical applications.

Power and Battery Operation

Do Digiterm chairs require mains power?

Normal electrical operation is typically based on mains power, but battery solutions are available for selected configurations.

Why would a clinic need a battery-operated therapy chair?

Battery operation can be useful when:

• chairs are moved between locations

• convenient wall outlets are not always available

• cables would interfere with workflow

• temporary operation away from mains power is required

Battery requirements should be evaluated according to expected usage patterns.

Can a battery turn any chair into a transport chair?

No.

Battery operation and suitability for patient transport are separate issues. Transport suitability depends on the complete design, castor system, braking arrangement, structure and intended use of the chair.

Integrated Weight Measurement

Why would a dialysis chair need an integrated scale?

Patient weight is particularly important in dialysis treatment.

An integrated weighing solution can allow weight to be measured while the patient remains in the treatment chair, potentially reducing transfers and simplifying workflow.

Which Digiterm chairs have an integrated scale?

Digiterm offers dedicated Scale models within selected product families.

The Model Selection Guide can be used to identify currently available configurations.

Can weight information be integrated into other systems?

Certain Digiterm scale configurations can support digital data handling and integration possibilities.

Specific integration requirements should be discussed with Digiterm before ordering because compatibility depends on the system and required interface.

Models and Product Families

What are the main Digiterm therapy-chair families?

The Digiterm range includes the DiaCare and Comfort product families, with different models and configurations intended to cover a broad range of clinical and economic requirements.

What do names such as Eco, Flex, Scale, Battery and Plus mean?

These terms help distinguish configurations designed around different priorities.

For example:

Eco generally identifies a straightforward configuration focused on essential functionality.

Flex indicates increased flexibility or functionality within the corresponding product family.

Scale identifies models incorporating patient weighing functionality.

Battery identifies configurations designed around battery-supported operation.

Plus identifies configurations incorporating additional advanced functionality.

The exact specification should always be checked on the individual product page.

Which Digiterm chair is the best?

There is no single best model for every clinic.

The most appropriate chair depends on factors including:

• treatment type

• treatment duration

• patient population

• required positioning

• staff workflow

• mobility requirements

• room layout

• required accessories

• budget

• maintenance strategy

The objective should be to choose the right configuration for the workflow, not simply the model with the greatest number of functions.

How can I compare Digiterm models?

Digiterm provides a Model Selection Guide, individual product pages, brochures and interactive visualization tools.

For more complex projects, Digiterm or its local partner can also help identify suitable configurations.

Accessories and Configuration

What accessories can be added to a Digiterm chair?

Depending on model compatibility, accessories and options can include items such as:

• IV poles

• treatment tables

• tablet or smartphone holders

• special armrests

• footrests

• side rails

• push handles

• battery systems

• reading lamps

• hygiene-related accessories

• emergency controls

• mobility options

Not every accessory is compatible with every model.

Can the chairs be customized?

Digiterm chairs are configurable within defined medical-device options and accessories.

For projects with specific clinical or equipment-integration requirements, requirements should be discussed early in the procurement process.

Can a tablet be mounted to the chair?

Tablet and smartphone holder solutions are available for suitable chair configurations.

This can be useful for patient entertainment, communication, clinical applications or other digital workflows.

Can an IV pole be attached to the chair?

IV-pole solutions are available for appropriate models and configurations.

Chair-mounted IV solutions can reduce the number of separate pieces of equipment around the treatment station.

Are tables available?

Digiterm offers clinical support units and table solutions intended to complement treatment-chair environments.

The appropriate solution depends on the treatment type and chair configuration.

Choosing a Chair

How should we start selecting a treatment chair?

Start with the clinical workflow rather than the product model.

Define:

1. What treatment will be performed?

2. How long will the patient remain in the chair?

3. What patient positions are required?

4. What access does the clinician need?

5. Does the chair need height adjustment?

6. Is vascular access required?

7. Does the chair need to move?

8. Is emergency positioning required?

9. What accessories must remain close to the patient?

10. What cleaning and maintenance routines will apply?

Once these requirements are understood, model selection becomes significantly easier.

Should we choose by treatment type or by chair model?

Treatment type is a useful starting point, but it is not sufficient by itself.

Two clinics performing the same therapy may have different room layouts, patient populations, staffing methods and workflow requirements.

The chair should therefore be selected according to the complete clinical use case.

What should we consider when designing a new treatment centre?

Chair selection should be coordinated with treatment-space planning.

Consider:

• distance between treatment stations

• patient entry and transfer routes

• staff movement

• emergency access

• electrical outlets

• equipment placement

• cleaning routes

• storage

• privacy

• visibility

• tables and accessories

• future changes in workflow

Selecting the chair before finalizing the room layout can help avoid later compromises.

Purchasing and Ordering

How can I request a quotation?

Contact Digiterm or the appropriate local distributor with information about your application, preferred model if known, quantity and delivery destination.

The more information provided about the clinical requirements, the easier it is to propose an appropriate configuration.

What information should I include in an inquiry?

Ideally provide:

• treatment/application

• required quantity

• country and delivery location

• preferred model, if known

• required accessories

• mobility requirements

• special clinical requirements

• required delivery timeframe

Does Digiterm sell internationally?

Digiterm works with healthcare customers and distribution partners internationally.

Depending on the country, inquiries may be handled directly or through an authorized local partner.

Can I arrange a product demonstration?

Demonstration possibilities depend on location and product availability. Contact Digiterm to discuss an online or local demonstration.

Where can I download brochures?

Product and accessory brochures are available through the Digiterm website.

Where can I find user manuals?

Available manuals can be accessed through the Support & Services section of the Digiterm website.

Service, Spare Parts and Lifecycle

How long are spare parts available?

Digiterm provides long-term parts support and states a commitment to spare-parts availability for at least ten years for its medical chairs.

Why does spare-parts availability matter?

The purchase price represents only part of the lifetime cost of medical equipment.

Long-term availability of components can:

• extend useful equipment life

• reduce unnecessary replacement

• shorten downtime

• improve maintenance planning

• protect the original investment

Can an older Digiterm chair be refurbished?

In many cases, yes.

Depending on the chair’s condition and model, refurbishment may include upholstery replacement and other service components.

A technical assessment should determine whether refurbishment is appropriate.

What is Total Cost of Ownership?

Total Cost of Ownership, or TCO, considers the costs associated with equipment over its complete useful life rather than focusing only on the initial purchase price.

For a therapy chair, relevant factors can include:

• expected service life

• maintenance

• spare parts

• upholstery replacement

• repairs

• downtime

• cleaning

• staff efficiency

• energy consumption

• eventual replacement

A durable and serviceable chair may therefore provide better long-term value even when its initial purchase price is not the lowest.

Digital Tools

Can I see a chair configuration before ordering?

Digiterm provides online visualization tools including its 3D Chair Designer and upholstery colour-selection tools.

These can help evaluate colours and selected configuration options before ordering.

What is the Model Selection Guide?

The Model Selection Guide helps visitors narrow the Digiterm product range according to required functionality and application.

It is particularly useful when the appropriate product family is not yet known.

Should I use the Model Selection Guide or contact Digiterm?

Both approaches can be useful.

The Model Selection Guide is ideal for initial research. Direct consultation becomes more valuable when the project involves several chairs, special requirements, a new clinic, a tender or complex equipment integration.

Still Not Sure Which Therapy Chair You Need?

A therapy chair should fit the treatment, the patient, the clinician and the treatment environment.

Explore the Model Selection Guide, configure a chair with the 3D Chair Designer, browse the relevant Clinical Application pages, or contact Digiterm for help identifying the most appropriate solution.