Duraflex™ is a soft, semi-transparent thermoplastic that combines comfort, durability & strength for flexible inner sockets and inner boots inside of AFO's.
As a flexible liner it's attributes are as follows:
It bends with the patient which adds comfort at the trim line areas, it doesn't have any silicone or latex in it, absolutely nothing to irritate any patients skin.
It can be blister formed in a frame or draped with a seam (that will never come apart) plus the seam can be finished off so smooth & flush that it cannot be felt.
It will not crack or tear, plus it has very negligible shrinkage, also it will not turn yellow over time. It's very hygienic & non-toxic. Will not expand when patients use lotions & creams to donn & doff. It is also being used for above or below knees & elbows.
Even though it's flexible it is extremely strong.
It has less skin traction than other flexible plastics as well. It has tremendous bonding properties & does not lose it's memory after cooling.
Now let's talk about its use as an inner boot inside an AFO. Here are the benefits:
First of all it decreases the shear forces inside the AFO by introducing a layer between the skin & the hard thermoplastic shell. It is also easier to maintain the foot in the desired position as the inner liner allows the foot to be encompassed in a 360 degree wrap.
Here's a quote from a practitioner that uses it on a regular basis for his patients.
"Through the use of Duraflex™ for inner boots, patient comfort & skin tolerance have both been increased. The recent use of Duraflex™ has been incorporated in CROW's to reduce shear by further immobilizing the foot & ankle complex in difficult wound management cases. The inherent flexibility & moldable characteristics of this material have drastically improved both the ease of fabrication & patient donning."
There are a few other applications that the Duraflex™ can be used for also - I will briefly go over them.
A flexible AFO can be made for an adult or pediatric patient where comfort and strength would be needed.
A check shoe would be similar to a check socket only used for the feet for making custom shoes. It would take the guesswork out of making a better fitting shoe, excellent for feet that require precision design & fitting (such as diabetic) of custom footwear. It permits direct visualization, helps to assess fit & pedal load distribution.
Some practitioners have used it when making a cranial/protective helmet - due to it's softness/comfort strength.
Also wrist/hand orthoses are being made as well as thumb spica's so that a practitioner can have their patient wear something that's strong, soft, comfortable & non-toxic for biting. Also since it's clear they can see the patients skin through the device as well.
Duraflex™ is available in the following thicknesses:
1.5mm (1/16) 5mm (3/16) 9mm (3/8)
3mm (1/8) 6mm (1/4) 12mm (1/2
