Built from real prep-room experience.
The Mortuary Balancing Bar™ began as a practical solution to a daily problem inside real funeral home preparation rooms.
Practical innovation built from real prep-room experience.
Kristopher R. Mickens is the Founder and President of Fanprobe LLC and the inventor of the Mortuary Balancing Bar™, a patent-pending support device designed to improve ergonomics and workflow in mortuary preparation rooms.
Mickens brings more than 20 years of hands-on experience in funeral service and mortuary operations. He previously worked at the Maryland State Medical Examiner’s Office as an Autopsy Technician and later spent approximately 15+ years working in one of Maryland’s largest funeral homes, specializing in decedent preparation, restorative work, removals, and funeral coordination.
Drawing on this experience, he developed the Mortuary Balancing Bar™, a durable, non-porous device that elevates and stabilizes the lower lumbar region of a decedent, providing approximately 6.5 inches of clearance to improve positioning and reduce lifting strain during preparation and dressing.
The idea was born inside the prep room.
After more than two decades working in funeral service, Kristopher R. Mickens noticed a challenge that funeral professionals faced every day: gaining proper access during dressing, positioning, and preparation often required unnecessary lifting, awkward body mechanics, and additional assistance.
Having worked at the Maryland State Medical Examiner's Office and later in one of Maryland's busiest funeral homes, he understood these challenges firsthand. The problem wasn't a lack of skill—it was a lack of purpose-built equipment designed specifically for the preparation room.
Determined to find a better solution, he began experimenting with ways to safely elevate and support the body while improving access and reducing physical strain during routine procedures.
The Mortuary Balancing Bar™ was engineered for prep-room work.
What began as a rough prototype evolved into a durable, non-porous, purpose-built device designed for real mortuary preparation environments.
The MBAR provides stable lower lumbar support, helping improve access, leverage, positioning, and workflow during preparation and dressing.
Built with respect for the profession and the people doing the work.
Responsible Materials
Fanprobe prioritizes durable, non-porous materials designed for professional preparation room environments.
Practical Design
Every product decision is guided by actual workflow, not theory or generic equipment design.
Professional Respect
Our tools are created to support funeral professionals, improve efficiency, and reduce unnecessary strain.