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There has a certain trend in the
prosthetic industry to re-invent the
wheel, actually its more like general
policy than a trend. However, in the case
of the Ultimate Knee, which is a
reinvention of Swedish Regnell Hydraulic
System, the overall concept works
well.
Test
Factors
Duration:
21 days Bodyweight 95kgs (220lbs), 183cm
(6ft) male
Other Components used: College Park Tru
Step foot, Standard Quad socket, Silesian
belt and Alpha liner for
suspension
Ultimate
Knee Specifications
Weight:
1070 gms
Body Weight limit: 125kg (275lbs)
Length: 32cms (12.5in)
Estimated Cost*: $4500-5500
USD
Installation - Comes with a
number of attachments capabilities, makes
life easier to attach to an existing
socket (rotaslide, pyramid, pyralok etc).
However, length maybe an issue in some
prosthetic combinations. Not much room at
the distal end for shock pylons or taller
feet.
Set Up - Easiest prosthetic knee
I have ever used to set up. Two easily
reachable and adjustable knobs set the
yield and flexion. Can be reached easily
when limb is being worn. It took about 2
minutes to get the feel right and walking
was easy after that.
Features - There are several
features on this knee that are worthy of
mention.
1. The ability to jump from a slow lock
(like the Mauch SNS) that allows the user
to go step over step downstairs for
example. To a total safety knee lock where
the knee lock completely, this can be done
on the fly, with an option pull cable
capability if needed.
2. Unlike a Mauch piston, this knee has
a flexion limiter that stops the hydraulic
piston from getting damaged. The distance
at full flexion is only 2mm from the
piston, but it is 2mm enough to save the
piston in case of a full weight
stumble.
Limitations - As a shock
absorber conasseur, I find any knee unit
not capable of fitting in some kind of
shock absorber to be less than perfect.
With a total length of 32cms, the Ultimate
knee is considerably limited as to which
shock pylons can be used. For example the
Century XXII Total Shock could not be
installed due to the terminal impact
dampening adjustment screw located at the
bottom of the cylinder, which is approx
1cm from the distal end of the unit. A
shock absorber with a 30mm pipe can only
be fitted.
Overall -The knee unit could
provide a challenge to the Mauch and
similar types of knees. However, the
Ultimate knee's restrictions on what it
can be incorporated with on the distal end
will be its deciding factor for many
people. The Ultimate is easier to adjust
than the Mauch knee units, but this may
not be enough to pull people over to
it.
Cost is also another issue, at an
estimated price of $4500-$5500 USD, this
implementation of this knee unit in to the
uninsured market will be limited.
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