How to choose a silicone inner bushing? Top 5 Brands (2026 Edition)

Why is the inner liner so important?

When choosing a prosthesis, many amputees focus entirely on the prosthetic foot and knee joint, but ignore the "invisible hero" of the Liner. In fact, the quality of the inner liner directly determines:

Whether it is comfortable to wear (whether it is worn or blistered)
Whether the prosthesis is stable and stable (whether it is walking) Leg swinging, loosening)
The long-term health condition of the skin of the residual limb

An unsuitable inner sleeve, no matter how good the prosthetic foot is, is useless. This article will give you a systematic understanding of the purchasing logic and mainstream brands of lining sleeves.

1. The basic structure and function of the inner liner

The inner liner is a soft sleeve that is placed outside the skin of the residual limb, usually made of silicone, polyurethane (PU) or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

Main functions:

1. Buffering protection: Provide soft buffering between the skin of the residual limb and the hard socket to reduce friction and pressure

2. Suspension fixation: fix the prosthesis on the residual limb through pin locking (PinLock), sealed suspension (Seal-In) or negative pressure adsorption to prevent falling off

3. Skin protection: reduce sweating, soaking, skin infiltration Friction injury, maintain the health of the skin of the residual limb

4. Shape compensation: It has a certain compensatory effect on the slight atrophy of the residual limb (superimposed with multiple layer thicknesses)

2. Main types of inner lining sleeves Type

According to material:

Silicone Liner: good elasticity, strong skin affinity and durability, it is the most mainstream choice< /p>
Polyurethane (PU) Liner: light and breathable, suitable for users with sensitive skin or high activity level
TPELiner: lower cost, elasticity between silicone and P Between U

According to the hanging method:

Pin Lock type (PinLock): There is gold at the end of the inner bushing It is a pin that is inserted into the lock at the bottom of the socket. It is easy to operate and is the most common suspension method.
Seal-In: There is a sealing lip on the outer wall of the liner sleeve, forming a negative pressure with the socket. The suspension is more stable and suitable for users with high activity levels
Negative pressure suspension (ElevatedVacuum): With the active air extraction device, it continuously maintains high negative pressure and the most stable suspension, suitable for K3-K4 high-activity users
According to thickness: 3mm (thin and light movable type)/6mm (standard type)/9mm (buffering and shock-absorbing type)

Three and five major mainstream brands Hengping< /p>

Brand one: ÖssurICEROSS series (Iceland)

Recommended index: ★★★★★

Representative product: IC EROSSSeal-InX, ICEROSSComfort

Core advantages: The highest global market share, mature material technology, excellent silicone elasticity and durability, and the Seal-In suspension system is the industry benchmark

Suitable for: K2-K4 users with various levels of activity, those with sensitive skin recommend the Comfort series

Reference price: please consult the local sales company

Note: Some models are thick and require initial adaptation.

Brand 2: Ottobock Liner Series (Germany)

Recommended Recommendation index: ★★★★☆

Representative products: TechnogelLiner, Harmony series

Core advantages: tacit cooperation with Ottobock prosthetic components, The Harmony negative pressure system is highly integrated and has complete after-sales service

Suitable for the crowd: Users of Ottobock prosthetic components who need an active negative pressure suspension system

Reference price: Please consult the local sales company

Note: Negative pressure system components are relatively expensive and require a complete set of accessories

Brand three: Alps (USA)< /span>

Recommended index: ★★★★☆

Representative products: AlpsEasyLiner, AlpsSeal-In

Core advantages: relatively affordable prices, rich product lines, and special models for a variety of special skin problems (such as scar areas, allergic skin)

Suitable for people: users with limited budget but unwilling to compromise on quality, and those with complex skin problems

Reference price: Please consult your local sales company

Note: Some models are slightly less durable than Össur

Brand 4: WillowWood (USA)

Fund index: ★★★★☆

Representative products: LockingLiner, Alp ha series

Core advantages: Alpha series uses a unique gel formula with excellent skin affinity and excellent decompression effect on stump bony protrusions

Suitable for people: obvious bony protrusions, Users with easily damaged skin

Reference price: please consult the local sales company

Note: There are relatively few domestic sales outlets, so you need to confirm the after-sales channel

Brand Five: Domestic Brands

Recommendation Index: ★★★☆☆

Representative Products: Each manufacturer’s own Model

Core advantages: The price is significantly lower than imported brands, suitable for users with limited funds

Suitable for the crowd: K1-K2 low-activity users, amputees with high financial pressure

Reference price: Please consult the local sales company

Note: The quality varies, it is recommended to choose products certified by regular manufacturers, not recommended for users with high activity levels

Four. Core considerations when purchasing

Activity matching: The higher the activity, the higher the requirements for suspension stability. It is recommended to choose Seal-In or negative pressure suspension type
Skin condition: Users with sensitive skin and many scars should give priority to gel formula or skin-specific type
Residual limb shape: cylindrical residual limb optional For accurate, conical residual limbs, it is recommended to choose a model with better elasticity
Sweating level: Users who sweat a lot are recommended to use lining sleeves with perspiration function or use residual limb socks to manage sweat

5. Daily care of the inner liner

Service life: usually 6-12 months, users with high activity may need more Short
Daily cleaning: Clean the inner wall with warm water and mild neutral soap every day, and let dry (avoid direct sunlight and high temperatures)
Check the label Accurate: Replace immediately when tears, perforations, obvious aging (elasticity decreases, hardening) occurs
Accessory matching: Use with residual limb socks (1 layer/3 layers/5 layers) to fine-tune the girth and extend the service life of the socket

Summary

1. The lining sleeve is the basis for the comfort of the prosthesis. Don’t just look at the price when choosing.

2. Those with high activity levels should choose sealed or negative pressure suspension types; those with sensitive skin should choose gel formulas

3. ÖssurICEROSS is the most balanced choice in terms of overall performance; if you have a limited budget, you can consider Alps or domestic brands

4. The inner liner needs to be replaced regularly, once every 6-12 months is the normal cycle

Further reading: The whole process of calf prosthetic socket production/What is the K-level assessment? /How long does prosthetic gait training take?

The market reference price shall be based on the quotation from local institutions.