Thank you for your interest in the heel up® range of inflatable pressure offloading devices for preventing & treating heel pressure ulcers. There is additional information together with video clips available on the following website link: www.heelup.co.uk Emailed or printed copies of this document can also be provided. The list of FAQs below is informative & should answer many of your questions. If there is anything further you would like to know, please contact us.
The heel up ®is recommended on all heels with an existing pressure ulcer, or with patients with a history or who are at risk of developing pressure ulcers. Pressure re-distribution devices are also indicated for high-risk patients with 2 or 3 of the following clinical characteristics:
Vigilance is key, the heel must always be supported in a protected space. Caregivers going off shift should open the heel up® & inspect the ankle & heel cord (Achilles Tendon) & leave the heel up® open for ventilation. Caregivers coming on shift should close the straps after inspecting the ankle/foot & heel cord in accordance with NICE Clinical Guidelines.
The heel up ® is currently available in 6 sizes (4 adult & 2 paediatric sizes).
Each heel up ®provides complete heel pressure offloading relief, whilst protecting the Achilles Tendon. We recommend the heel up® short (HU1) for petite adults/ large adolescents who are bed bound or have limited wheelchair mobility. Comes with an additional green strap for securing the device to the leg.
The heel up® medium (HU2) is designed for bedbound patients & comes with a red strap for securing the device to the leg. The heel up® long (HU3) is currently our best-selling size & is designed for bed bound patients & comes with an additional blue strap for securing the device to the leg. The heel up® max (HU4) is designed for larger patients, likely to be in bed for longer periods, and has an increased air chamber. It has a slightly longer heel-toe height of 30 cm, for those with larger feet. It comes with an additional yellow strap for securing the device to the leg.
We also currently sell 2 paediatric sizes – the heel up® kids extra small (HUKXS) & the heel up® kids small (HUKS) for bed bound young children & small adolescents.
The heel up® is manufactured using a four-layer material. Two inner layers are made from polyethylene film. The two outer layers are made from a combined polyethylene & polypropylene non-woven material that is skin friendly & moisture absorbent.
When offloading the heel we strongly advise to regularly inspect the lower calf area. All heel pressure is transferred to the heel cord & gastrosoleus complex. The heel cord (Achilles Tendon) has very thin skin & subcutaneous coverage & is susceptible to pressure injury. Close observation is necessary in accordance with NICE clinical guidelines.
We strongly advise that the heel up ®is not used for walking. Most patients who require a heel up® are disabled or temporarily bed bound & are therefore not regularly on their feet.
The heel up® is machine washable & has been tested on a 60 degree short cycle. We recommend placing it in a pillow case or mesh laundry bag with the straps folded/closed.
No. The heel up® is designed for single patient use only.
Yes, for 3 months. The heel up® also comes with a 3 year use-by-date from the date of manufacture. It has been designed, tested & manufactured in Denmark in accordance with ISO 10993-10 skin irritation & sensitisation.
A heel up® will typically last for a number of weeks (depending on how the device is cared for) & depending on the activity of the patient. The heel up® has been tested with a weight pressure of 150kg over a period of 14 days.
The heel up® comes in a sealed plastic package complete with an oral inflation device, valve patch & spare blue adaptor & is sold individually or in a small dispensing box of 12 units. Currently the heel up® is available for sale from V-M Orthotics Ltd & also via the NHS Supply Chain. If purchasing directly from ourselves there is no required minimum quantity when ordering. If purchasing via the Supply Chain the minimum order value is 12 units (of the same model/size). We also supply a Levabo manual pump which can also be used to inflate the heel up®. As a guide we recommend purchasing 1 x manual pump for each hospital location/ward or 1 x pump for the first 12 units bought.
The heel up ®is available in 6 sizes as detailed below in our guide.
Model Code Dimensions (Length, Height, Width) Typically used for a:
The heel up® must not be over inflated, as it is designed to be soft and pliable & not hard for optimal & comfortable positioning. Correct inflation makes the device highly patient compliant. If using the heel up® the heel should be approximately 25mm (two fingers) above the supporting surface for the heel up® short, medium & long & 28-30mm (three fingers) for the heel up® max as a guide.
Hold the heel up® valve between your finger & thumb, if you have bought the blue Levabo manual pump, insert the pump nozzle gently but firmly & then inflate to the required level. Please note that the heel up® comes with a card sleeve (called stop up®) which falls open & away as the device is inflated to a recommended minimum level. The device should be inflated to a level to suit the needs & anatomy of your patient. If you are using the oral inflation tube that comes free with the product, please attach one end of it to the blue adapter (also included with each device) & gently insert it & blow into the heel up® following the same inflation instructions as above. Our experience has taught us that you can inflate/deflate the heel up® as many times as you like or as/when needed. So please don’t feel you have to get it right first time!
Yes the heel up® has been effectively used on the European continent for all pressure ulcer category cases & is increasingly being sold worldwide where clinical evidence is being gathered.
The devices are currently being used at a number of key Trusts across the UK, where they have been well received, including Papworth Hospital, Royal Marsden, Eastbourne District General & Conquest Hospitals, Preston Royal, Salford Royal, Bristol Royal Infirmary and James Cook University Hospital. A number of other Trusts are currently, or are in the process of, trialling the range including: Leighton and Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospitals.
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