Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare eyes up future in medical equipment innovation with new acquisition
Mobility equipment manufacturer Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare has announced the acquisition of Mobility Designed’s full portfolio of products, including the company’s flagship product, the M+D Comfort Crutch.
This strategic acquisition will enhance Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare’s portfolio of innovative medical equipment while integrating cutting-edge industrial design expertise directly into its operations.
Founded in 2014, Mobility Designed creates personal assistive devices that redefine mobility through the fusion of design and function. The M+D Comfort Crutch offers a revolutionary crutch design that shifts the user’s weight to the elbows instead of the armpits or wrists, providing significantly more comfort to users.
The crutch was named a finalist in Fast Company’s prestigious Innovation by Design Awards and garnered international acclaim and recognition after a viral video about the product reached more than 50 million viewers in 2016.
As part of the acquisition, Mobility Designed’s Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Max Younger, will join DDH as Senior Director of Industrial Design and Innovation to support the launch of the M+D Comfort Crutch, ComboStix, and extensive portfolio of other products and to drive innovation across Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare’s catalogue of medical equipment.
“I am incredibly excited to join Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare,” said Younger. “This opportunity is a great example of Drive’s focus on innovation and allows us to bring our portfolio of designs to a broader audience continuing our mission of improving people’s lives through thoughtful design. I look forward to working with the talented team at Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare to push the boundaries of what’s possible in medical equipment.”
Younger brings more than 15 years of industrial design experience to the role, including positions focused on product innovation at Techtronic Industries, Dimensional Innovations, and Hallmark Cards. Personal experience inspired him to design the M+D Comfort Crutch after witnessing his father’s struggles with conventional crutches following an amputation.
“We are delighted to welcome Max Younger and the Mobility Designed team to the Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare family,” said Jen Nicholson, SVP Product & Marketing Strategy at Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare. “This acquisition elevates our portfolio with forward-thinking domestic design capabilities that set DDH apart in the industry. We are excited about the potential for enhanced innovation and improved patient outcomes that this collaboration brings.”
Headquartered in Port Washington, New York, Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare manufactures a complete line of medical products, including mobility products, wheelchairs, pressure prevention products and self-assist products. Earlier this year, Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare confirmed that it had agreed on a commercial arrangement to secure the online assets and associated intellectual property rights to online mobility retailer Livewell Today.
