Dear List,
Below are the responses from my posting about helmet foam options. Sorry about the font – I’m not sure what is wrong and it won’t correct!
There are different opinions about aliplast – this patient had tried aliplast in the past and it didn’t work well. I am planning to try the Cleaning spray and the 1/2″ pelite layered. I think the Danmar dip is also a great option but very difficult in this situation.
Thanks for all who responded!cheryl
Try using Liberty Max spray to help clean the helmet and help with the acne.
I can send a sample bottle to you. He should notice a difference within
days of repeated use.
We have some customers using Medium Density Pelite for their helmets.
We had issues with Aliplast lining in helmets too. So we went back to the
1/2″ pelite material. Cleaning is difficult with these helmets lined with
foams. Aliplast was bad for us.
Hi Cheryl, the last helmet I did was from Danmar and lined with the dipped
foam for ease of washing. Please do post your results.
We’re using aliplast for our plagiocephaly helmets and having
great success. 2 layers of 1/4″ foam. The other option is pelite @
1/2″ but we were having skin break down with that. Maybe you could try
aliplast for your helmet use?
One alternative that I have done a number of times for helmets for patients with skin and cleaning issues is to pull the inner layer (skin side) out of a thin Proflex or equivalent (silicone-modified polyethylene, pulled out of 3mm material), then build up the foam over that. It is easily cleaned, flexes easily for donning, you can mount things like chin straps to it, and I have yet to have a patient with an adverse skin reaction to it. The only downside is that it cannot be readily ground for relief when thin, because once you expose the foam outside the plastic, cleaning becomes nearly impossible at the plastic edge. Making the plastic thicker permits grinding, and it can be polished nicely with the right tools, but the thicker material will make donning somewhat more difficult, although by no means impossible. This means that you have to nail your shape pretty closely. You can heat relieve the plastic, but not significantly with 1/2″ to 1″ of foam behind it. I usually did a “test helmet” out of a thin Vivac, or equivalent, with a side opening, like a plagiocephaly helmet. If the head shape is simple, this is not always necessary, as the Proflex is relatively forgiving and skin friendly, but if this head has any corners on it (i.e. craniectomy) or notable protrusions, it may save you some grief down the road.
Cheryl Lewis BSc(HK), CO(c)
Certified Orthotist
Owner, CK Ortho Inc
Ph 519-436-9670
