Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
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Short answer
An arm trough is a trough-shaped support, usually foam or molded polyurethane, that mounts on a wheelchair armrest to hold the forearm. Billing lists it as HCPCS E2209, and FDA’s device database files a trough under the wheelchair armrest product code IML, not under the armboard code IMY. This is general product information, not medical advice.
Definition and scope
An arm trough is a padded, concave arm support that sits on or replaces the top of a wheelchair arm. Manufacturer records describe it plainly. One FDA AccessGUDID record, for the Ergonomic Arm Trough from Motion Concepts Inc, calls it a “molded, skinned polyurethane arm pad designed to fit the natural arm curvature,” with an elbow cut-out, left and right configurations and mounting hardware included. A supplier listing for a lateral stabilizer arm trough describes a solid foam trough that slips onto the armrest without straps and fits chairs with full-length arms.
It is a wheelchair accessory: a device sold separately from the wheelchair. Under 21 CFR 890.3910, a wheelchair accessory is a device intended for medical purposes that is sold separately from a wheelchair and meets the specific needs of a patient who uses one. This page covers what the product is, how it is named and coded, and what listings state. It does not cover who should use one or how to position a person.
How it attaches and what it is made of
The sources describe construction, not procedures. The Skil-Care mobile arm support instructions for use (Performance Health) state that its removable arm trough is “constructed of high-density foam” covered with spray-and-wipe nylon “for easy cleaning,” and that it is designed for installation on “any full-arm or desk-arm wheelchair,” providing “stable arm and lateral body support.” The AliMed listing gives a polyester or LSII nylon cover option, a latex-free statement and a one-size dimension of 6 x 6 x 16 inches. The AccessGUDID record shows a molded polyurethane pad with adjustable depth and width. Mounting therefore differs by product: strapless slip-on, or included hardware. Follow the instructions for use of the specific product for any installation.
Types: level, inclined, foam and molded
The Skil-Care instructions list replacement foam arm troughs in “Level” and “Inclined” versions, each for the right or left side. Materials in the sources are foam with a fabric cover (Skil-Care, AliMed) and molded, skinned polyurethane (Motion Concepts). Some products are supplied for one arm only, and others are sold as left and right configurations.
FDA class and the E2209 code
FDA classification
Under 21 CFR 890.3910(b), a wheelchair accessory is Class I (general controls). It is exempt from premarket notification under 807 subpart E, within the limits of 890.9, and the exemption does not apply if the device is intended as a protective restraint (see 880.6760). It is also exempt from part 820 except the records and complaint-file requirement in 820.35. The AccessGUDID record for the Motion Concepts trough lists FDA product code IML, “Armrest, Wheelchair,” and the GMDN term “Wheelchair armrest.” It is not packaged sterile and its labeling “does not contain MRI Safety Information.”
The billing code
The Virginia Medicaid (DMAS) Appendix B for wheelchairs and accessories, under “Arm Rest/Arm Trough,” lists “E2209 Accessory, Arm Trough, With Or Without Hand Support, Each,” with rental (RR) and U1 variants. The descriptor ends in “Each,” so it is counted per unit. For the wider code families, see wheelchair HCPCS codes.
Arm trough vs armboard vs arm board: a naming crosswalk
The same few words appear on very different products. This table separates them using FDA records and the existing CASRAI guides.
| Term | Where it is used | FDA record |
|---|---|---|
| Arm trough (wheelchair) | Trough-shaped arm support on a wheelchair armrest | AccessGUDID record under product code IML, “Armrest, Wheelchair” |
| Wheelchair armboard | Armboard named in 21 CFR 890.3910 as an example wheelchair accessory | Product code IMY, Class I |
| Splint arm board | Board that holds an arm still, for example around an IV | Codes NOD (non-sterile) and BTX (sterile), “Board, Arm (With Cover),” under 21 CFR 878.3910, Class I |
The split matters when searching FDA data or reading a product listing: a trough filed under IML will not appear in a search for armboard code IMY. See the arm board guide for the splint and IV board codes and wheelchair accessories for the wider accessory class. Names of the other chair components are in wheelchair parts.
Where it matters for supply decisions: what listings and instructions state
The sources show the details that listings and instructions for use state. These are facts to read and record, not a recommendation of any product:
- Side: left, right, or a product supplied for one arm only (Skil-Care, Motion Concepts).
- Level or inclined form (Skil-Care).
- Chair fit: full-arm or desk-arm chair (Skil-Care), or “any wheelchair with full arms” (AliMed).
- Cover and cleaning: spray-and-wipe nylon (Skil-Care), polyester or LSII nylon cover (AliMed).
- Latex: AliMed states latex-free.
- Mounting: strapless slip-on (AliMed) or included hardware (Motion Concepts).
- Regulatory fields: FDA product code, sterile or not, and MRI safety labeling, visible in AccessGUDID.
Common misunderstandings
- “An arm trough is an armboard.” FDA files the Motion Concepts trough under armrest code IML, while IMY is the wheelchair armboard code.
- “It is the same as a splint arm board.” Splint arm boards sit under 21 CFR 878.3910 (NOD, BTX), a different regulation.
- “Class I means no rules.” Class I devices remain under general controls, and the premarket exemption does not apply to a device intended as a protective restraint.
- “E2209 covers a left and a right.” The descriptor says only “Each.”
FAQ
What is an arm trough on a wheelchair?
A trough-shaped, padded arm support that mounts on a wheelchair armrest, made of foam or molded polyurethane according to manufacturer records.
How does FDA classify an arm trough?
Wheelchair accessories are Class I under 21 CFR 890.3910, exempt from premarket notification within the limits of 890.9. One AccessGUDID trough record uses product code IML, “Armrest, Wheelchair.”
What is the HCPCS code for an arm trough?
E2209, “Accessory, Arm Trough, With Or Without Hand Support, Each,” as listed in Virginia Medicaid DMAS Appendix B.
Is an arm trough the same as an armboard?
No. A wheelchair armboard is a separate accessory (code IMY), and a splint arm board is a different device under 21 CFR 878.3910.
Sources
- eCFR, 21 CFR 890.3910 Wheelchair accessory: ecfr.gov (checked 2026-10-31).
- FDA AccessGUDID, Ergonomic Arm Trough, Motion Concepts Inc, DI 07540147002701: accessgudid.nlm.nih.gov (checked 2026-10-31).
- Performance Health, Skil-Care mobile arm support instructions for use: IFU PDF (checked 2026-10-31).
- Virginia DMAS, Appendix B Wheelchairs and Accessories: dmas.virginia.gov (checked 2026-10-31).
- AliMed, lateral stabilizer arm trough product page: alimed.com (checked 2026-10-31).
