Hydracadence responses part 1
Frances Berg
Description
Collection
Title:
Hydracadence responses part 1
Creator:
Frances Berg
Date:
2/29/2012
Text:
Hi All,
I promised I would re-post all responses, so please find them below.
As well, my research turned up some very cool stuff! I tried to give a
brief recap at the end. It is VERY brief as this knee could easily yield a
full paper.
Thank you to everyone who responded. I spoke more deeply with some of you,
and appreciate you taking your time with me.
*Hi! Have any of you out there used the Hydracadence hydraulic knee? I am a
student and am doing a presentation to my class on this bit of technology.
It appears it hasn't been popular in the US since the 1960's, but we still
have an L-code for it. As well, this device is still used commonly in
Europe. Any thoughts on this knee? Any experience with it? Have you had to
service one to a visitor to the US? Any info on this illustrious and
infamous knee would be appreciated! As always, answers will be posted.
Thank you, Frances Berg, SPO*
It was a wonderfully functional mechanism with many mechanical problems.
Each user had to have two knee/shin units so one was available to use while
the other was rebuilt. Quality of the units was low. The amputees who
wore it loved it despite the high weight of the unit. As for todays world,
the reimbursement attached to the fee code is well below the cost to
purchase the unit. Not surprisingly this results in very low sales in the
USA.
Ted A. Trower CPO,
A-S-C Orthotics & Prosthetics
Jackson, MI
www.amputee.com**
* *
Good morning,
I read with interest your questions about the hydaracadence knee and it
was my understanding that the knee had been discontinued years ago so I am
surprised to hear it is used in Europe. Perhaps someone else has aquired
the rights to produce it. It was made by the USMC company here in
California in the past which later bought the Seattle foot company and then
the name USMC went away. I have been doing prosthetics since 1973 and my
memories of the Hydracadence knee are not fond. It was a pain to fabricate
and maintain. The only good thing was patients loved them and it was hard
to switch them over to something else once there were no more units
available. The fact that they had to be ordered by specific heights to the
knee center made it hard to have them on hand to use for each patient. They
were also heavy compared to other knees that were available at the time.
The rubber/wood feet they fit into and the rubber cosmetic cover were also
not desirable features. We were glad when they discontinued them so we
would not have to work on them anymore.
Good luck with any research you find on these historic knees/ankle/feet.
Bryan Finley
Hydracadence was licensed to USMC in the United States and Proteor in
Europe. While USMC, now truelife, struggled with durable hydraulics,
Proteor was very successful with it in Europe, We distributed the European
version here after USMC dropped it. They have made a graphite frame for it
in order to make it lighter. No real difference in weight, but you can cut
it to any length and use a larger variety of feet. Problems are that they
are more expensive than the L-code allows and service is a nightmare. They
have to go back to France for any service.
Stuart Marquette, CO, BOCP
DAW Industries
Dear Ms. Berg,
We have used the Hydracadence primarily for Korean War veterans. Many of
the users are not interested in the SNS style hydraulic knees because they
do not have active Dorsiflexion. This is the one area where the
Hydracadence distinguished itself. It was really the first widely used
ankle unit and it was an entire leg system. Only know are we getting to the
point where hydraulic ankles are becoming more commonplace. It did leak,
but it was easier to field service and the accumulator kept it active. Over
the years the seals have changed to actually improve it. I think Proteor in
France has upgraded the frame to a composite construction. The mechanism is
actually quite simple. As I am sure you know it is the forerunner of many
types of hydraulic systems including the hydrapnuematic, dynaplex, Reginol
or Swedish Knee.
I hope that helps,
Gerry Stark
Gerald Stark, MSEM, CPO/L, FAAOP
VP of Product Development & Education
The Fillauer Companies, Inc.
Hello France,
My name is Jay Humphries and I am an engineer with Trulife (the company
that absorbed USMC and Seattle Systems).
Up until about 7 years ago, we were still manufacturing these units, and
then we stopped manufacturing new units, but continued to service units
that were out in the field. We stopped servicing these units now about 2
years ago.
There is whole lot that I can tell you about the Hydracadence. If you
would like, you can give me a call and I could answer any questions you
have. [phone # deleted]
Best regards
Jay Humphries
Hi Frances,
I've seen a patient who used one for decades and really liked it. Always
had 2 on the go, one in for servicing the oil seals. It's available in
North America from any distributor of Proteor, the French company with the
rights to make it. Problem is, any servicing needs to be done in Europe, so
I'm afraid to go there again. Foot options are limited to the stock foot,
no dynamic response foot option. The other problem, no trial available. You
buy the frame and cut it to length, hopefully not too short. This limits
trials. My supplier in Canada advised me against it and steered me towards
alternatives that cost less, because he didn't want to deal with the
headache of ordering, trails, etc.
Cheers,
Markus Saufferer, C.P.(c)
This knee unit is and has been very instrumental in prosthetics and still
currently utilized.
The information stating: it hasn't been popular in the US since the 1960's
is laughable at best. I was delivering these units in the early 1980's!
Ditch your information, start over, do your won leg work and you'll find
this is a great prosthetic device that move the profession forward in many
areas of prosthetic invention.
Dissapointed in your lack of research and understanding of such a great
device!
* KMHeide*
Richard Feldman <Email Address Redacted>
You should contact a few Veteran Administration Prosthetic clinics. They
still have a few
using them. I thought they were still actively used by a few patients.
It's biggest advantage
was the dorsiflexsion of the foot during swing to clear the ground. Yes,
they were a little heavy but a lot of vets and some private patients loved
them. I think the VA sponsored the research for the project, and they were
manufactured by United States Manufacturing Company that was bought by
Seatle Systems, then I believe Camp has the product rights now.
Good luck,
rick/cpo
[image: Description: <URL Redacted>
Frances,
I used the Hydracadence and taught the use of it at UCLA Prosthetics and
Orthotics Education Program in 1976,77,78. I would be glad to give you any
information you would like. The Hydracadence was popular throughout the
70's. It was a great knee that had a combination of functions that are to
this day unequaled. That is, the combination of a hydraulic swing phase
control, adjustable heel height, hydraulically controlled plantar flexion,
and automatic dorsiflexion of the ankle during swing phase. The
disadvantages were significant, however. It required a special foot unlike
any other in use at the time, there was no adjustability to the length of
the knee frame from the knee to floor, attachment of the frame to the
socket was a technical nightmare, as was finishing of the foot (which had
to be custom shaped to each patient. I understand that changes in the
current version have addressed many of these problems, though I have not
used the new version.
Hope this helps,
Jon Batzdorff, CPO, FAAOP
I promised I would re-post all responses, so please find them below.
As well, my research turned up some very cool stuff! I tried to give a
brief recap at the end. It is VERY brief as this knee could easily yield a
full paper.
Thank you to everyone who responded. I spoke more deeply with some of you,
and appreciate you taking your time with me.
*Hi! Have any of you out there used the Hydracadence hydraulic knee? I am a
student and am doing a presentation to my class on this bit of technology.
It appears it hasn't been popular in the US since the 1960's, but we still
have an L-code for it. As well, this device is still used commonly in
Europe. Any thoughts on this knee? Any experience with it? Have you had to
service one to a visitor to the US? Any info on this illustrious and
infamous knee would be appreciated! As always, answers will be posted.
Thank you, Frances Berg, SPO*
It was a wonderfully functional mechanism with many mechanical problems.
Each user had to have two knee/shin units so one was available to use while
the other was rebuilt. Quality of the units was low. The amputees who
wore it loved it despite the high weight of the unit. As for todays world,
the reimbursement attached to the fee code is well below the cost to
purchase the unit. Not surprisingly this results in very low sales in the
USA.
Ted A. Trower CPO,
A-S-C Orthotics & Prosthetics
Jackson, MI
www.amputee.com**
* *
Good morning,
I read with interest your questions about the hydaracadence knee and it
was my understanding that the knee had been discontinued years ago so I am
surprised to hear it is used in Europe. Perhaps someone else has aquired
the rights to produce it. It was made by the USMC company here in
California in the past which later bought the Seattle foot company and then
the name USMC went away. I have been doing prosthetics since 1973 and my
memories of the Hydracadence knee are not fond. It was a pain to fabricate
and maintain. The only good thing was patients loved them and it was hard
to switch them over to something else once there were no more units
available. The fact that they had to be ordered by specific heights to the
knee center made it hard to have them on hand to use for each patient. They
were also heavy compared to other knees that were available at the time.
The rubber/wood feet they fit into and the rubber cosmetic cover were also
not desirable features. We were glad when they discontinued them so we
would not have to work on them anymore.
Good luck with any research you find on these historic knees/ankle/feet.
Bryan Finley
Hydracadence was licensed to USMC in the United States and Proteor in
Europe. While USMC, now truelife, struggled with durable hydraulics,
Proteor was very successful with it in Europe, We distributed the European
version here after USMC dropped it. They have made a graphite frame for it
in order to make it lighter. No real difference in weight, but you can cut
it to any length and use a larger variety of feet. Problems are that they
are more expensive than the L-code allows and service is a nightmare. They
have to go back to France for any service.
Stuart Marquette, CO, BOCP
DAW Industries
Dear Ms. Berg,
We have used the Hydracadence primarily for Korean War veterans. Many of
the users are not interested in the SNS style hydraulic knees because they
do not have active Dorsiflexion. This is the one area where the
Hydracadence distinguished itself. It was really the first widely used
ankle unit and it was an entire leg system. Only know are we getting to the
point where hydraulic ankles are becoming more commonplace. It did leak,
but it was easier to field service and the accumulator kept it active. Over
the years the seals have changed to actually improve it. I think Proteor in
France has upgraded the frame to a composite construction. The mechanism is
actually quite simple. As I am sure you know it is the forerunner of many
types of hydraulic systems including the hydrapnuematic, dynaplex, Reginol
or Swedish Knee.
I hope that helps,
Gerry Stark
Gerald Stark, MSEM, CPO/L, FAAOP
VP of Product Development & Education
The Fillauer Companies, Inc.
Hello France,
My name is Jay Humphries and I am an engineer with Trulife (the company
that absorbed USMC and Seattle Systems).
Up until about 7 years ago, we were still manufacturing these units, and
then we stopped manufacturing new units, but continued to service units
that were out in the field. We stopped servicing these units now about 2
years ago.
There is whole lot that I can tell you about the Hydracadence. If you
would like, you can give me a call and I could answer any questions you
have. [phone # deleted]
Best regards
Jay Humphries
Hi Frances,
I've seen a patient who used one for decades and really liked it. Always
had 2 on the go, one in for servicing the oil seals. It's available in
North America from any distributor of Proteor, the French company with the
rights to make it. Problem is, any servicing needs to be done in Europe, so
I'm afraid to go there again. Foot options are limited to the stock foot,
no dynamic response foot option. The other problem, no trial available. You
buy the frame and cut it to length, hopefully not too short. This limits
trials. My supplier in Canada advised me against it and steered me towards
alternatives that cost less, because he didn't want to deal with the
headache of ordering, trails, etc.
Cheers,
Markus Saufferer, C.P.(c)
This knee unit is and has been very instrumental in prosthetics and still
currently utilized.
The information stating: it hasn't been popular in the US since the 1960's
is laughable at best. I was delivering these units in the early 1980's!
Ditch your information, start over, do your won leg work and you'll find
this is a great prosthetic device that move the profession forward in many
areas of prosthetic invention.
Dissapointed in your lack of research and understanding of such a great
device!
* KMHeide*
Richard Feldman <Email Address Redacted>
You should contact a few Veteran Administration Prosthetic clinics. They
still have a few
using them. I thought they were still actively used by a few patients.
It's biggest advantage
was the dorsiflexsion of the foot during swing to clear the ground. Yes,
they were a little heavy but a lot of vets and some private patients loved
them. I think the VA sponsored the research for the project, and they were
manufactured by United States Manufacturing Company that was bought by
Seatle Systems, then I believe Camp has the product rights now.
Good luck,
rick/cpo
[image: Description: <URL Redacted>
Frances,
I used the Hydracadence and taught the use of it at UCLA Prosthetics and
Orthotics Education Program in 1976,77,78. I would be glad to give you any
information you would like. The Hydracadence was popular throughout the
70's. It was a great knee that had a combination of functions that are to
this day unequaled. That is, the combination of a hydraulic swing phase
control, adjustable heel height, hydraulically controlled plantar flexion,
and automatic dorsiflexion of the ankle during swing phase. The
disadvantages were significant, however. It required a special foot unlike
any other in use at the time, there was no adjustability to the length of
the knee frame from the knee to floor, attachment of the frame to the
socket was a technical nightmare, as was finishing of the foot (which had
to be custom shaped to each patient. I understand that changes in the
current version have addressed many of these problems, though I have not
used the new version.
Hope this helps,
Jon Batzdorff, CPO, FAAOP
Citation
Frances Berg, “Hydracadence responses part 1,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 25, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/233361.
