Experiences with Elevated Vacuum?

Experiences with Elevated Vacuum?

James Beggs

4/15/2010

Hello everyone;

I had a few questions out there for those of you have more than cursory
experience with elevated vacuum.

1. What sleeves have you found to be the best? Obviously, the sleeves tend
to be one of the weakest points of the system, and I'm wondering which
sleeves have had the greatest durability in actual practice, rather than
just theory. I've had patients using the OWW Alpha Flex sleeve, but they
haven't lasted longer than their warranty period yet.

2. Which of the electronic pumps do you prefer, and why? I got disgusted
with the harmony ePulse, due to my having to send nearly every one of them
back, but I've heard it's been retooled. I've only used two limblogics, and
I wonder how well they do, and how reliable they are.

3. What do you think of the Harmony mechanical pump in comparison to the
electronic ones?

4. Is there some other elevated vacuum suspension mechanism you may know of
that you prefer?

5. Does your answer differ between AK and BK patients, and why?

6. Especially regarding BK patients, how effective have you found it for
them vs other types of suspension?

Thanks in advance!

James A Beggs
Prosthetist, Gulf Prosthetics & Orthotics