There are a number of instances when it would be handy to monitor the level of vacuum in the socket as the patient is walking. When the Harmony system was first taught, TEC recommended temporarily installing a "t"into the vacuum line and connecting a small vacuum guage to the line. You can walk along with the patient and look at the guage. While this is a handy clinical tool, it gives no accurate data and does not record the data. A record would be useful for trouble shooting problems that patients may experience out of the office environment.

Maria Gerschutz reported in the July 2010 JPO that Ohio Willow Wood developed the LimbLogic VS Communicator which is a tool which monitors vacuum levels as they vary with time and with patient usage. The data is collected via a wireless connection to a computer. Presently this is only available for research applications and it is integral into the Limb Logic System.  It should have promising clinical applications for adjustments, for troubleshooting, and for comparing various vacuum pump and socket design strategies.

Good work!!

Mechanical hand vacuum pumps can be used to elevate the vacuum for testing purposes in the prosthetist's office as well as by patients for applying thier prosthesis (if the socket  was designed with that in mind).

We have tried a number of pumps and by far the best is the Craftsman all metal brake bleeding pump from Sears. It is much more durable than the plastic version. Inexpensive. and easy to find at Sears. It has a good guage, and it pumps up higher than any of the other pumps. And Craftsman has a good warrantee to boot.

It is the heaviest of the hand pumps so it  may not be appropriate for patients to carry around. But if a lighter pump is preferred, I would still recommend also having the all metal pump for use in the office or at home. It is so much better.