Lever lock for KAFO responses

Lever lock for KAFO responses

A few days ago I posted the following question:

I'm looking for the manufacturer of an orthotic knee locking mechanism I
think I've seen somewhere. It contains a single lever that you place
laterally on a double-bar KAFO with a short cable to the medial side, so that
when the patient triggers the lever, both knees unlock. This would be an
alternative to the traditional bail lock.

Thanks in advance for your responses. I, of course, will post a summary of
them.

David Hendricks, LPO, CPO, FAAOP


Many orthotists responded to me by saying I could get what I wanted from
Becker, OTS, Otto Bock and Fillauer. I won't list all their individual
responses, except the few who added other specific comments. Here they are:

I believe the lever release you saw may have been our Lever release kit
for StepLock and NotchLock - $27.50. If you send me your fax #, I'll be
glad to send you some more information.
Becker also does such a kit for their bail lock.
Regards:
Rob Faught
Dir. Sales and Marketing
OTS Corp


That joint is an Orthotic Technical Services (OTS) item. We have used it and
it functions well.
Terrance E. Stock C.O.
Orthotics/Prosthetics/Adaptive Seating
Diabetes Foot Clinics
Hershey Medical Center
(717) 531-5829
FAX (717) 531-4309
Geisinger Medical Center
(570) 271-5139
FAX (570) 271-5812
University Park/CMS
(814) 235-4736
Fax (814) 863-7803

Hello,
I am unaware of a system with a separate lever, but Steeper makes a knee
hinge kit with a contoured medial head, and can be set up with your choice
of manual, bar, or cable release for both joints.
<Email Address Redacted>

I work for Oregon Orthotic System. We have used the Becker assembly
(trigger/cables) instead of bails on KAFOs. This can also be done with OTS
step locks. Give me a call at (800) 866-7522 and I'll see if I can get a
part number for you.
<Email Address Redacted> (Brian Johns)

Becker makes them... trigger locks, they are called, and you have to tap the
drop lock to apply the external apparatus.
Wade Bader, CPO

Dave...It is made by Becker. It works quite well, but I did replace the
cable and cable retainers with UE cable. It will last longer. Ed
<Email Address Redacted> (Ed Roman, CP)

Thought that you should know that the locking (or unlocking) mechanism works
well for about a month until it start to loosen at the site of the trigger.
It also hangs up on other patients. I would love to utilize this design
more frequently, however, until they can work out the bugs, it doesn't serve
your patient's needs for an extended period!
<Email Address Redacted>

David; Fillauer manufactures their Cam-Lock Knee Joint that can be combined
with their Trigerlock and it will give you the locking control that I think
you are looking for. I've used many pair with great success
<Email Address Redacted> (garry ogilvie)

David: Becker has that option on their Swiss Lock joints -the ones that I
usually use a bail on. A thin cable goes into the place on the joint where
the
bail goes. There are others that do this, I think, but I don't know any more
details.
John T. Brinkmann, CPO


Subj: lever lock
Date: 1/21/00 9:43:17 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: <Email Address Redacted> (chris cummings)
To: <Email Address Redacted>

Becker has a lever release kit used with the bail lock joint. The cable
releases both joints with the lever attached on the lateral side. OTS has a
similar system for use with the notch lock joint. Neither system is very
sturdy so expect repairs, the Becker system is a little better. I think the
notch locks are crap.
<Email Address Redacted> (chris cummings)

How about Comed in Hicksville, OH 800-996-7791 ask for Aaron Garza
Craig Willing, <Email Address Redacted> (Willing Supplier)

Thank you to all who responded.

David Hendricks, CPO, FAAOP
HOPE, Inc.
<Email Address Redacted>