Summary - Experiences with TEC (Harmony) VASS?

Summary - Experiences with TEC (Harmony) VASS?

Santosh Zachariah

2/18/2003

Dear List Members,

as promised, here is the summary to my questions posed on 2/11/03.

> 1. Do VASS users feel the socket get tighter during the day?
> 2. Do VASS users have to take of socks off during the course of the day?
> 3. Do VASS users grow out of their sockets? i.e. is there long-term
volume
> increase (hypertrophy, as opposed to atrophy) necessitating a new socket?
>

At this time the simple answer seems to be No.


I received 3 replies from prosthetists, and none from amputees.

One of the prosthetists who replied had fit one amputee, who has used the
system successfully for 12 weeks.

Another prosthetist had fit 10 BK and 2 AK amputees. 6 of the BKs, though
mature, had sufficient volume loss (atrophy)to warrant new sockets every
12-16 months. 3 of these 6 have used VASS for over 16 months, and are still
in one-ply fits.

I also spoke to Scott Schneider at TEC. He indicated that they had not seen
any volume increase (diurnal, or long-term) either.


Thanks to all who replied.


                            -- Santosh --

Santosh Zachariah
Research Assistant Professor, Dept. of Bioengineering
Prosthetic Engineering Laboratory

ph: (206) 685-3488
fax: (206) 543-6124
<Email Address Redacted>

(postal service) Box 352255
(courier) Room 341-C, AERL Building

Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA

The goal of rehabilitation is to help people achieve the best possible
function and independence so that they can get on with their lives.