Amongst the many choices, choosing a liner that offers the best care for your patient can be a struggle. 

A prosthetic liner is a cushioning sock made of a soft elastomeric material, designed to be worn as interface between a residual limb and the weight-bearing prosthetic socket. ADD SCHEMATIC / PICTURE TO ILLUSTRATE Functions of liners include improving comfort and suspension, as well as protecting the wearer's skin.

Prosthetic liners are typically made from three materials: polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), and silicone. Polyurethane has the ability to "flow away" from high pressure, which can improve pressure distribution in the socket. If polyurethane is know to be a great material when it comes to comfort, it has been reported to absorb sweat, making it harder to maintain liners fresh and clean. TPE, also called copolymer or gel is typically soft and highly elastic. It provides good protection for amputees with sensitive skin and/or lower levels of activity. For users of higher levels of activity, TPE tends not to be the first option, as it can display limited durability in some cases. Silicone has been used in the medical industry for years thanks to its proven biocompatibility properties, and it’s this chemical inertness. For prosthetics, the very wide range of available silicone materials make it a very versatile solution, able to match all kinds of needs. From very soft to hard, silicone can come in a wide range of rigidities to match any specific needs. Furthermore, silicone is typically a very hygienic material, which can be maintained clean more easily than alternatives. At MotionTech we work only with silicone only, as we believe that the very wide range of possibilities that the world of silicones offer enables to find optimal solutions for each individual user. Its biocompatibility and hygienic properties also make it the material of choice in our eyes. But our opinion on the question, given our activities, might therefore not be the most unbiaised... :)

For the prosthesis to stay properly attached to the residual limb, there are several systems, called "suspension system". Three systems which are commonly used are: Locking: The liner includes a pin at the distal extremity, which locks in a corresponding system in the prosthetic leg. Vacuum: The socket includes a valve which can be opened to allow the air out when the residual limb is inserted into the socket, and can be closed afterwards. Another sealing element allows to create a seal with the socket, to maintain vacuum between limb and socket, so that the prosthesis stays properly attached to the limb. The sealing element can be a suspension sleeve (for below-knee users), or a seal element between the liner and the socket. Anatomic: Some socket constructions allow for the socket to stay attached to the limb solely because of its shape. This typically only works with some specific limb geometries which allow for this natural suspension to occur, and can be assisted by using a "boa" system which allows to tighten the socket. At MotionTech we provide solutions for all of the above suspension mechanisms. Moreover, the suspension components of our liners can be configured by the CPO for each individual user, to optimise the function of the liner and provide optimally suited suspension features.

Most of the liners that prosthetic users are wearing are called standard or off-the-shelf liner. These are mass produced, usually by injection moulding, which enables better cost control in the manufacturing thanks to large scale operations. Standard liners and mass production have been a key element of the progress of prosthetic technology, enabling to bring the benefits of prosthetic liners to many users at an affordable price. Historically, custom liners were made mostly by plaster casting, mould making, and injection moulding. Due to the individualised approach, industrialising such a process has proven to be a difficult task, often leading to products with a lower "finish" quality, and a more expensive price. With the generalisation of digitalisation and 3D printing, many industries have seen the rise of new approach of mass-customisation, aiming at providing tailor-made products at a large scale, affordable price and without compromise on quality. Thanks to our first-of-its-kind silicone 3D printing technology, we at MotionTech are pioneering this mass-customisation approach for prosthetic liners.

Your ® Liner is the first 3D printed silicone liner for prosthetic users. We at MotionTech have developed a unique silicone 3D printing technology, and are today leveraging this innovation to bring the most advanced prosthetic liner solution to date. Your® Liner puts CPOs and users at the centre, by giving them the possibility to customise every aspect of the liner to optimally match the needs of each user. Shape: The shape of the liner is based on a 3D scan of its intended limb, and therefore optimally matches the unique shape of each user Thicknesses: Pads, filling of scars or concave areas, the local thicknesses of Your® Liner can be fully customised Silicone type: Your Liner comes in 3 silicone types, from very soft to harder cushioning Suspension: The suspension elements of the liner can be configured and combined Aesthetics: The pattern or photo printed on the liner can be chosen from our catalog, or fully defined by the user

What's unique about Your® Liner is the fact it is 3D printed. In itself, additive manufacturing isn't necessarily better. But it does allow to do things which are harder to do with other methods. Here's how Your® Liner makes a difference: #1 THICKNESS CONTROL Many liners are made by manual mould making. If skilled craftsmen can get great results with those methods, the accuracy with which thicknesses can be controlled is still limited. A digital workflow allows to accurately control thicknesses and adapt them to specific user metrics (weight, activity level, local sensitivities, etc.) to bring optimal cushioning where needed. Furthermore, some custom liners only have an inside custom shape, when the outer shape is standard. This simplifies manufacturing and can make sense in some cases. Such liners however can provide too much or not enough thickness in certain locations, as the thickness only results from the difference between inside and outside shape. Your® Liner is fully build on the shape of the limb: the inside comes from the 3D scan, and the outside is the inside shape + paddings, so extra material is only located where it needs to be. ADD ALL "KEY SUCCESS FACTORS" FROM THE INDICATIONS DOC #2 AESTHETICS To our knowledge Your® Liner is the only custom liner which allows users to customise the aesthetics of the liner. You'll tell us: what's the point, the liner is under the socket ?! Well, you can also customise the rest of your prosthesis, to have uniform liner + socket style. And all this at 0 extra cost. All customisation options are included in the Your® Liner package price.

We'd like to say OF COURSE, but we have to be honest: a custom liner is not always the best option. Indeed, with the current state of our silicone printing technology, our products remain expensive compared to alternatives. Here is some food for thought to help you figure out if Your® Liner is the right option for you: INSURANCE COVERAGE Insurance coverage vary substantially from country to country, sometimes even at the regional level. Our products are well covered in some geographies, much less in others. Check with your CPO or get in touch with us to get some specifics on the insurance coverage where you live in. PROSTHETIC EXPERIENCE What other liners did you try before ? Did you have issues with those liners ? What would you have changed on these liners ? If your previous liners felt great (and many do!), a Your® Liner might not be the right solution for you. But if you repeatedly had some issues, felt some local pain points, had repeated injuries in a location, or trapped air pockets between skin and liner, maybe Your® Liner can help solve these issues. SPECIFIC PROSTHETIC CHALLENGES Your® Liner is great for solving some clearly identified prosthetic challenges which some (but not all!) users face. Maybe you do face one of these challenges, feel free to check it out to see if anything rings a bell !

If you are using a Your® Liner, please read the Instructions for Use. You'll find important instructions and precautions to follow to make sure you safely use Your® Liner.

Your® Liner should be cleaned daily with lukewarm tap water and pH neutral soap. It is best to use a mild, fragrance-free soap to clean your prosthetic liner. Harsh soaps or detergents can irritate the skin and damage the liner material. We also recommend disinfecting the inside surface of Your® Liner once a week with ethyl or isopropyl alcohol. You can put Your® Liner in the washing machine, but beware not to use too long cycles and not to wash it at more than 40°C. Do not dry it in the drying machine. Beware that washing Your® Liner in the washing machine too frequently might generate premature wear. Do not let Your® Liner dry inside out. Always leave it to dry with the fabric cover out. For additional instructions on how to clean Your® Liner, please refer to the Your® Liner Instructions for Use manual.

The lifespan of a prosthetic liner varies depending on the type of liner, frequency and intensity of use, and individual factors such as skin sensitivity and perspiration. It is recommended to replace your liner every six months or sooner if it shows signs of wear or tear.

Store your prosthetic liner in a clean, dry place away from direct sunlight or heat. Make sure you do not leave Your® Liner in a place where dust, sand, or other substances might contaminate the inside surface of the liner, as those might be difficult or impossible to entirely remove from the liner. Avoid folding or crushing the liner, as this can cause it to lose its shape and effectiveness. Avoid leaving the liner inside out. When storing it, always keep Your® Liner with the fabric cover towards the outside.

If your prosthetic liner becomes damaged, it is important to stop using it and contact your prosthetist or healthcare provider, so they can assess the damage and determine if a replacement is necessary.