Avalon K2VAC combines the award winning Avalon K2 biomimetic hydraulic ankle with an integrated elevated vacuum system. This combination offers K2 users a unique product that both improves safety and long term health, and increases the feeling of socket security.
The Avalon range enhances walking confidence by hydraulically adjusting to inclines and self-aligning to secure the knee joint, to encourage good posture and joint position. This improves stability, helping to prevent falls and increases balanced limb loading to provide the best performance for limited community ambulators.
The main driving force behind advancing lower limb prosthetic technology in the 21st century is biomimetic design; reproducing the biomechanical performance of natural limbs. Inherent in this is recognising that different demographics of the amputee population have different biomechanical requirements, and that the engineering principles behind different devices must accommodate for this.
With over 130 years of innovation and expertise in lower limb prosthetic technology our award-winning prosthetic products are designed with the patient in mind.
Hydraulic ankles help align the body interface with the ground interface, allowing for more natural movement and posture. By continuously adjusting to absorb energy, our hydraulic ankles allow for an efficient roll-over, remaining in a dorsiflexed position, increasing clearance to help reduce the risk of falls. This technology has been proven to provide a number of benefits to limited community ambulators optimising posture and comfort.
Avalon K2VAC offers a range of motion of 6˚ plantar and 3˚ dorsiflexion with independent hydraulic adjustment. This function allows the fine tuning of the hydraulics. The improved socket connection created by the elevated vacuum compensates for the slight reduction in motion range as the better connection improves ground clearance and reduces interface pressures, this combination delivers benefits for the higher K2 level user.
Limited community ambulators tend to walk more slowly, with a shorter step and stride length. Providing a foot keel that is designed to accommodate natural changes in gait can provide a smoother rollover for such users. The optimised keel shape of the Avalon range considers such requirements and encourages a consistent, stable, and comfortable rollover so the user can walk more easily and move around confidently.
AvalonK2VAC features integrated elevated vacuum, increasing stability and preserving skin health. The vacuum system creates a more secure socket connection resulting in minimized pistoning, improved symmetry of gait patterns and enhanced proprioception, all improving stability and confidence of the user. To preserve skin health the elevated vacuum draws blood into the residual limb, providing better circulation. The elevated vacuum improves tissue oxygenation during walking and compared to other prosthetic suspension methods, decreases trans-epidermal water loss and attenuated reactive hyperaemia. A study carried out suggested that decreasing trans-epidermal water loss preserves the skin barrier function, which protects against ulcer formation. The Silcare Breathe liner is highly recommended for use with AvalonK2VAC. Its unique design transmits moisture away from the skin to ensure a comfortable, cool and secure fit.
To take a more in-depth look into the Avalon range, discover our White Paper ‘A Study of AvalonK2’ where the biomechanics of the limited community ambulators gait are considered along with the latest clinical evidence for biomimetic hydraulic technology. Then uncover how the biomechanical performance of AvalonK2 can improve mobility and independence.
DownloadImprovements in Clinical Outcomes using Avalon compared to non-hydraulic feet
Improved gait performance
Keel and ankle designed for Activities of Daily Living
Patient reported outcome measures indicate improvements
Improvements in Clinical Outcomes using Avalon compared to non-hydraulic feet
Fewer falls and less chance of multiple falls
Better balance in functional clinical tests
Better balance reported in patient-reported outcome measures
Decreased pistoning
Maintain residual limb volume
Healthier residual limb tissue and skin
Reduced interface pressures
Improved wound management
Less painful than other suspension methods
Clinical Outcomes using the Avalon/Navigator keel design
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