Heritage Medical Equipment, LLC

Students Make a Prosthetic Leg for $25.00.

 

Thought-Controlled Prosthesis!

The AMO Arm (Artificial Muscle-Operated) is a prosthetic arm that is controlled by an amputee's thoughts and powered by compressed air.  No surgery required, users wear a head-band.  It is easy to use and believe it or not, the creators say it's inexpensive as well.

Who invented it?  Thiago Caires and Michal Prywata are undergraduates at Ryerson University in Toronto.  They said the prototype only took about 72 hours to build, but the software to operate it took them an entire year to program.

Amputees will wear a headset that interprets brain signals.  The headset will send instructions wirelessly to the prosthetic arm.  So the user just needs to think, "bend" and the arm will bend. 

The pair of biomedical engineering students are also working on artificial lungs and spinal products.  There is no word yet on when this will be ready for commercial application, or how it will work with traditional prosthetic components.  

AMP1 Basketball Returns to Long Island

Jackie Berkoski and Jovan Booker

March 26, 2011.  AMP1 Basketball returned to the courts in Mattituck, NY last week.  The charity game sold out the high school gym and packed the grandstands.  The Werner Family deserves to be recognized for the continued success of this stand-up basketball league.

Celia Werner, Shoreham High School Student, and her father Marc played an important role in bringing this team back to Long Island, and promoting this event.  However they were not alone.  Celia's mother Karen, brother Charlie, and diving-phenom-sister Chelsea all helped out.  In fact Karen was helping throw t-shirts to the crowd at halftime.  I caught one.  Thank you Karen! 

Jackie Berkoski, pictured above, was the only senior from the girl's team to play.  Yes, those are Hely & Weber patellar syndrome braces she is wearing.  Jovan Booker played for AMP1 but he is also a member of the Mattituck High School Team.  They both played a great game.  

The Mattituck team consisted of teachers, Jackie, and the Long Island Boys Class B Champs Mattituck Tuckers.  Though AMP1 lost by four the game was a close contest.  

 

No Surprise - Diabetes Leads To Original Prosthetic Toe

The Roman Capua leg was long thought to be the first prosthesis ever, dating back to around 300 BC.  However the romans can no longer take credit for the creation of our industry - that accolade now belongs to the egyptians.

A female mummy, Tabaketenmut, who lived in Egypt around 900 B.C., is believed to have lost her big toe from diabetes.  The prosthetic toe, called the "Cairo Toe", was created with some skill.  There is a simple hinge with a beveled front edge.  The underside of the toe is flattened which probably increased stability.  The toe was attached to the residual limb with laces, or possibly attached directly to a sandal.

It was made from cartonnage, which is like paper mache, made by soaking linen in animal glue.

December Special! 25% off EZ Trim

EZ Trim

Socket Edge Trim in clear or black.  10' of material

December MICA Special:  $18

EZ Trim - Socket Edge Trim:  Information, Order Form

EZ Cover - No More Foam!

New prosthetic cover!  The EZ Prosthesis Cover eliminates the need for a foam cover.  No more shaping, no more molding!  Just form the thermoplastic mesh with your hands, and tape it together.  Done in five minutes!  You will always have easy access to components.   

• EZ Prosthesis Cover
• EZ Cover Application - View the video

 

Baby Giraffe Gets A Chance

 

A baby giraffe was born last month at the Topeka Zoo with a congenital defect in her hooves.  She could not walk as a result of the abnormality.

The baby giraffe was named "Hope" and she was casted for prosthetic shoes within hours of her birth.  The medical team treating her needs to be admired for their compassion and creativity.  The prosthetic shoes were built with an "external tendon system" to keep her hooves in proper alignment, compensating for the birth defect.  

"Hope" has been responding well to treatment.  She is growing fast and the medical team at the zoo is pleased with her progress.  But the true test will come as she gets older and bigger.  Will the prosthetics be able to hold the weight of a full grown giraffe?

Topeka Zoo - Donations for Hope The Giraffe

 

Vacuum Socket Suspension Ideal For Some Amputees

Prosthetic sockets suspended by pin systems can cause chronic skin changes like discoloration or thickening at the end of residual limbs.  The Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development published a study in 2004 that showed these skin changes can be the result of pin liners.  Pin liners can stretch residual limbs in a vertical and horizontal fashion so liners remain in their sockets and also firmly affixed to the residual limb.

A suction liner system can help alleviate skin problems for amputees.  The TSS Vaculink is a mechanical vacuum system.  No batteries, no charging, no noise.  It is quiet, easily maintained, and inexpensive.  Try one.

 

• TSS Vaculink Information 
• Heritage Medical Prosthetic Liners

New Price for the PerfectStride

Even with the launch of BioQuest's new BioStride series of prosthetic feet, you should know their veteran prosthetic products are still available.  The anterior convexly curved and coiled ankle of the PerfectStride works in conjunction with the titanium calf shank to mimic the action of the subtalar joint.  This reduces tibial sheer.  Patients and prosthetists alike talk about this prosthetic foot's "sweet spot" and how much it improves the lives of those wearing the PerfectStride.

If you have tried the PerfectStride before know they are now lighter, stronger, and less expensive.  If you haven't tried a PerfectStride on one of your patient's be prepared to experience one of the best walking feet in the industry.

New Price:  $1999

Codes:  L5986 and L-5987

 

• Perfect Stride      

New Prosthetic Foot from BioQuest - The ActiveStride

 

 

The ActiveStride is an innovative prosthetic foot designed by BioQuest to achieve multi-plane and multi-axial rotation for K3 and K4 level amputees.  It is the third foot in BioQuest's BioStride series.  The calf shank is comprised of carbon layers that compress during initial loading.  This action stores energy and creates plantar flexion.  The calf shank expands during mid to late stance creating dorsi flexion and storing even more energy.  The ActiveStride is guaranteed to be responsive and highly functional.

BioQuest individually assembles each foot from a range of calf shanks and foot keels based on each patient's weight, height, activity level, and foot length.  The design simplifies adjustment and alignments for prosthetists and helps patients conserve energy and walk better.

Price:  $1,299

Base Code:  L-5980        Optional Codes:  L-5986 or L-5984

 

• Active Stride