Thanks to all who had suggestions. Below is my original questions and the
responses I received.
On Fri, May 18, 2012 at 10:20 AM, Jason Ramsey
> I have a transtibial patient who would prefer pin and lock suspension but
> she has arthritic hands and can’t manage reaching down to depress the
> button while pushing the leg off. Her easiest doffing method is to push
> down on the brim edge. Is there a lock system with a proximally mounted
> unlock actuator, such as with a release cable similar to the what is used
> to unlock a prosthetic knee?
>
> Jason Ramsey, CPO
> Nashville, TN
>
>
>
RESPONSES:
Bulldog Tools cable release locks 3GEN-C-PC and 3GEN-CG-PC.
http://www.bulldogtools.com/category365_374/default.html?osCsidŠ31c0fa27e9c2f7c6f44be41807ef7d
Coyote EOVC lock that has a lever release instead of a button. Once the
lever is switched to unlock, both hands are free to doff the prosthesis.
http://coyotedesign.com/eovc-lock/
Coyote Summit lock (http://coyotedesign.com/summit-lock-lowpro-summit/),
KISS (http://www.kiss-suspension.com), or other lanyard
ST&G MagLock that uses a magnet for suspension. Depressing the release
button disables the electromagnent for 5 seconds, freeing the hands for
doffing. http://www.stngco.com/Pages/suspention_systems/maglock.html
I have quite a few Geri’s with OA, RA,etc…with the same issues with
shuttles or clutch. I have them place their contralateral foot on top of
the pros. foot while releasing the lock and lift out of the socket. With
practice, it works quite well.
I have done this with the Coyote Pin system. I clamped a strap to the tube
clamp adapter and above the pin so the strap would have the tension on the
pin when the strap was pulled. The proximal edge of strap would velcro to
the socket. When the patient wanted to release the pin, he would pull the
strap and by tightening it would push the pin in for him.
I ran into this once. Same scenario you describe. I fashioned an (upside
down) L-shaped lever onto the side of the socket with a pivot or fulcrum.
The patient pushed on the small leg of the “L”, just as she would when
pushing the socket off . This made the leg of the “L” push away from the
socket and in turn pushed in on the pin. It took a bit of jigging and
re-jigging but in the end it worked well and reliably. I’m in Canada, so I
didn’t have to worry about an L-code.
USMC used to have a proximal release, I believe they called it the Madsen
release. I quit seeing it after Trulife bought them out and don’t know if
it’s available any longer.
Fillauer has a part/technique of threading a small cable from the distal
end that bridges through a hole in the shuttle housing. As the cable is
pulled it depresses the shuttle button.
