Re: Pathfinder Info Responses

Re: Pathfinder Info Responses

Eric Ramcharran, CPO

Hello Again!

Thanks to all who responded.  Reponses are listed below.  I am sure my
patient will appreciate your help provided.


Orginal Question:

Hello,

I have an amputee interested in the OWW Pathfinder Foot.  I have not had
any
personal experience using it, and would like to compile a list of pros
and
cons for using this foot for this patient.

Any information would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

Eric Ramcharran, CPO
Tallahassee, FL

=====================================
Responses:


There are not cons, only pros.  They'll love it.  I've done about six.

==========

Works great
poor cosmesis
must have approx 9 of clearance

==========

The weight may be an issue for your patient & the cosmetics im my
opinion are not the best.  As for function its great!!!

==========

I am very familiar with the Pathfinder and find it to be one of the best feet
on
the market today. I have used most of the Flex-Feet including the VSP,
Springlite, College Park, and numerous others and have not found any that can
match the range of performance the Pathfinder gives the amputee. If your
patient  walks a lot (not necessarily a runner), and is looking for better
performance on uneven terrain, hills or just level ground the Pathfinder is
the
foot of choice. I prefer to leave my feet uncovered for easy access. Every
patient I have put  the Pathfinder on (most have been wearing the VSP or Mod
III
Flex-Foot,) has expressed a feeling that the foot is alive. Follow OWW's
recommendation for alignment and give the amputee time to get aggressive with
the foot.

I am not a one foot prosthetist and use many feet routinely, however for my
very
active patients (even some geriatrics) usually get some sort of energy storing
foot and I use to use Flex-Feet a lot. I have move many to the Pathfinder and
all of my patients really love the foot. There is one small caveat, on very
active patients the bearings on the shock need replacing every 6 months. The
patient will start getting a clicking noise from the foot, OWW currently gives
the bearing replacement kits to you for free but I not sure how long that will
last. Over all the performance and durability are very good and I highly
recommend the foot.

========


I've used four with very good results. All are BKs.  One developed some noise
problems after about six months of use, but OWW immediately sent me out a
loaner and quickly fixed the problem.
Only problem I've noticed is one of space, i.e., length of residual limb plus
overall length of Pathfinder sometimes exceeds MTP to floor length of sound
side, which precludes its use in a number of cases who might otherwise be
good candidates.  I understand they are working on this limitation at OWW.

========

I had their course, and as a result have all written material from OWW.
I have no experience with the foot, firsthand, but witnessed positive
feedback from three below knee amputees who were set up on the foot, two of
the three displayed a distressed facial expression when the OWW foot was
removed, and the foot they had been using reinstalled for
demonstration/course/sales purposes.
The third knew in advance they were going to give all three of them the
feet.
I was impressed, the course was presented well, and the product performed as
represented.
It has a lot of moving parts, is very expensive, and RL length, limits
application in some cases.
I am a left BKA, and subject my Seatle Lite Foot to salt water in the LA
marsh, and Gulf at every opportunity, I go through a lot of feet. The
Pathfinder is represented by OWW as impervious to mechanical failure from
repeated salt water exposure.
If funding allows, and patient is a candidate, I think it is an excellent
choice.
Contact OWW for application specs. and return policy, etc.
The pathfinder foot is not for me, but neither is a Jaguar XKE.
It, like everything else in my opinion, has it's place.
If you need any more specific info, I'm sure OWW would be more than happy to
provide you with it.
ps,,,,,,,,,,,it's kinda heavy, but none of the patients complained.

=========

its heavy and tall, so not a lot of room for alignment, especially with odd
shaped limbs with a lock unit that has to line up with the distal end of the
residuum.

=========

I have  tried the pathfinder personnally and was very impressed with its  ROM
and response.  I am use to much more rotation with my DAS MARS  helical unit.
 If  the persons foot size is small , weight and  cosmetics may be  an issue

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