Bariatric & Specialized Patient Scales

Arlyn bariatric and specialized patient scales for wheelchairs, higher capacity, bedside weighing, and records
A bariatric scale should cover the patient’s weight plus any wheelchair, fit the chair or support the patient safely, avoid unnecessary transfers, and send the reading to the patient record.
Arlyn’s portable wheelchair scale weighs up to 500 lb, including the chair, on a platform that fits most standard and bariatric wheelchairs. For higher combined weights or patients who cannot leave the bed, Arlyn works with facilities on custom weighing solutions.

Bariatric care, rehabilitation centers, residential programs, and hospitals all weigh higher-weight patients who may not be able to stand on a standard scale. Weighing them safely depends on capacity, access, and a stable platform more than on the display. Arlyn has designed and manufactured weighing equipment in the United States since 1978 and sells it factory direct.

Choose a Bariatric Scale by Patient Situation

Start with how the patient will be weighed: seated in a wheelchair, standing with support, or in bed. Then compare the combined weight with the scale’s rated capacity.

Select the Bariatric Scale Route
Patient situation Selection focus Starting route
Patient in a wheelchair, combined weight up to 500 lb Chair width, ramp access, and a records connection Portable wheelchair scale
Patient who can stand with support, up to 500 lb Handrails, platform size, and a steady surface Wheelchair scale with fold-up handrails
Combined weight above 500 lb or an oversized chair Higher capacity, larger platform, and ramp length Custom configuration
Patient who cannot leave the bed Weighing in place without a transfer Custom weighing solution
Weights that must reach a chart Therap, EHR, or software connection Communication options

Size the Scale to the Combined Weight

Capacity must cover the heaviest expected patient plus the wheelchair, plus a working margin. Bariatric wheelchairs weigh more than standard chairs, so weigh or confirm the chair’s own weight rather than estimating it. Taring the chair shows the patient’s weight alone, but the chair still uses part of the scale’s rated capacity.

Next, measure the widest chair you will weigh and confirm it fits the platform with room to roll on and off.

A low platform with gentle ramps reduces the effort of pushing a heavy chair onto the scale, and a sturdy frame matters because a loaded chair rolling onto the edge of a platform puts a sudden load on the scale. A readability of 0.1 lb suits patient weight.

Weighing Wheelchair Users Up to 500 lb

The portable wheelchair scale weighs up to 500 lb with 0.1 lb readability on a 30 x 32 inch low-profile platform that fits most standard and bariatric wheelchairs. Ramps let a caregiver roll the chair on without transferring the patient, fold-up handrails steady patients who can stand, and locking casters let one person move the scale between rooms.

View the Wheelchair Scale

For more on access, setup, and room-to-room use, see our guide to patient and wheelchair weighing systems.

Higher Capacity and Bedside Weighing

When the patient and chair together may exceed 500 lb, or the chair is wider than the platform, Arlyn can discuss a custom configuration with higher capacity, a larger platform, and ramps suited to the load.

Tell us the heaviest combined weight and the chair dimensions so the configuration matches the application.

Some patients cannot be moved from bed at all. For these cases, Arlyn can discuss custom weighing solutions, such as load cells built into the legs of a bed, with the bed’s own weight subtracted to give the patient’s weight.

Records, Cleaning, and Daily Use

The wheelchair scale’s 7-inch touchscreen shows the reading, and its built-in REST Web API sends weights to patient software. Residential and day programs that document care in Therap can collect weights through the Therap Connect Mobile App.

For other configurations, readings can reach a PC, database, or printer through communication options that depend on the indicator selected.

Wipe the platform and handrails with the facility’s approved disinfectant, and where washdown or harsh chemicals are routine, ask about corrosion-resistant configurations. For the wider range of hospital weighing, see medical scales for hospitals and medical facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a bariatric scale?
A bariatric scale weighs higher-weight patients safely, with a capacity, platform, and support suited to them. Common forms include wheelchair scales, platform scales with handrails, and custom bedside weighing systems.
What capacity does a bariatric scale need?
Add the heaviest expected patient to the wheelchair or support equipment, then allow a working margin. Taring removes the chair from the reading, but it still uses part of the scale’s rated capacity.
Can Arlyn’s wheelchair scale weigh bariatric patients?
Yes, when the patient and chair together weigh 500 lb or less. Its 30 x 32 inch platform fits most standard and bariatric wheelchairs. Above that, ask about a custom configuration with higher capacity or a larger platform.
How do you weigh a patient who cannot leave the bed?
One approach is a custom system with load cells built into the bed legs, where the bed’s weight is subtracted to give the patient’s weight. Contact us with the bed type and expected weights to discuss options.
Can bariatric scale weights go to Therap or an EHR?
Arlyn’s wheelchair scale includes a built-in REST Web API, and Therap users can collect weights through the Therap Connect Mobile App. Other EHR or patient software can request the weight through the API once that software is set up to use it.

Discuss Your Bariatric Weighing Application

Tell us the heaviest expected patient, the wheelchair or bed involved, its dimensions and weight, where the scale will be used, and where the reading needs to go. Arlyn can recommend the wheelchair scale or discuss a custom solution for higher capacities.

Contact Arlyn ScalesCall 800-645-4301

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