Colleagues,
Many have asked me about sources for shuttle lock expulsion valves.
You will find that info in this post.
Pin suspensions gained a lot of popularity in the recent past, but many
patients and prosthetists noted that with volume loss there was often an
increase in pistoning.
Furthermore it was noted that the suspension was essentially occurring at
the distal end of the residuum…not necessarily an optimal idea.
Many prosthetists, including myself, favored a gel suspension liners and an
expulsion valve in conjunction with a sleeve for maximal suspension. This
concept, as far as I know, was introduced by TEC and others have subsequently
followed with different expulsion valves.
Prosthetists that recognized the pistoning factor but still wanted to use a
pin suspension, incorporated various techniques to gain supracondylar support
so that the prosthesis was held proximally AND
distally.
About two years ago I was trying to figure out a way to incorporate a suction
valve with a shuttle lock. As it turns out, better minds were already at work
on the idea and at the last AOPA show two shuttle locks were introduced.
There are currently only two shuttle locks that incorporate expulsion valves.
One line of shuttle locks is made by Dale Perkins CPO of Coyote Design 208
736 8671 and the other is the Alpha Lock from OWW.
I expect more will follow from other manufacturers.
The advantage is that suction is obtained between the whole liner and the
socket, so that suspension occurs on the whole surface-not just the distal
end. If socks are added, an additional sleeve suspension will insure
continued suction for the most positive suspension.
Ossur has come out with an excellent external suspension sleeve as have
others, however, because Ossur has come out with an additional suspension
sleeve to be used with shuttle lock suspensions, it is acknowledgement that
we often need more suspension than the distal pin alone.
I have ordered these locks and will be using them on the next several sockets
I make. I look forward to hearing anyones actual experience with these new
generation of locks.
These are my opinions. If anyone disagrees or agrees, I welcome your comments.
Sincerely,
Mark Benveniste CP
VA Med Ctr
Houston TX
