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above-knee amputee

Making Up For Lost Time

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In August’s blog, we catch up with Daniel Servantes, from San Antonio, Texas, who was fit with the Infinite Socket TF three months ago by Premier Prosthetics. After resigning to a wheelchair due to prosthetic discomfort, Daniel makes it clear that following the arrival of his adjustable socket, he has plenty of making up to do for lost time.

“Growing up I was extremely active, playing a variety of sports at a high level, in particular, baseball and racquetball. I will never forget the pride I felt when, in 1976, my Dad was able to pick up a copy of Sports Illustrated, with me, his son, promoting racketball on the front cover. In 1989, I suffered a meniscus tear to my left knee, on game point during a racquetball final 2-3 weeks before my daughter was born. I am lucky to report, I left on a high note and was able to win what was to be my last ever racketball point, to pick up the tournament trophy. Following the game, I went to the hospital to check on my injury, with the resulting outcome, “if you stay on the racquetball court, you will need a knee replacement in the next few years.” With the birth of my eldest daughter, it was an easy decision to give up the sport I loved. I have spent my professional years in the insurance industry, traveling the globe, picking up many fond memories along the way. In 1999, I had a knee replacement to help me keep up with my busy schedule, but after four years, the replacement came loose and had a second replacement.  

Infinite Socket TF seated comfort

Upon leaving, I was given a large dose of antibiotics I was told to take for the rest of my life. After two years of increased dosage to offset the pain, walking became unbearable. I was carrying a dead limb at this point and was on business in Germany when they put me on a splint. I revisited the hospital, where they said I had picked up a staff infection, and suggested I continue with stronger medication. After 2.5 years, and 5 doctor’s opinions, none of which wanted to touch me, I was referred to a cancer specialist; one of the best in Europe. My femur had eradicated, and his entire staff was amazed I was even walking. They were the first to suggest amputation; a scary thought, but one I would never look back upon given the pain I was in at the time. If I could point to one thing I have learned and would recommend to anyone from the process I’ve been through, it would be to always get a second opinion. 

 

On June 12, 2018, I underwent a transfemoral amputation on my left leg. Prior, the PA had asked what was most important to me, and I said my grandson, a thought which I cling onto to this day. The removal of my limb was the happiest day of my life. My amputation was very successful, and during rehabilitation, I found out about the Amputee Coalition; a great resource for any new amputee, and booked a ticket to their annual conference in Tucson, with stitches still in my limb. I attended a lot of the classes, on wound care, proprioception, technologies, and felt confident of my progress moving forward. I would recommend this event to any amputee.

I receive my care from Premier Prosthetics and Orthotics in San Antonio, who are conveniently located 100 yards across from my house. Upon hearing about my amputation, I was put in touch with a peer volunteer and was given the time to talk through my ambitions and goals with their staff. Rick Ramos and his team have always put my patient needs first. I just text him and he has someone from the office call that same day to answer any concerns. The peer visitation is a great method to learn the ropes of being a new amputee, and this year I was able to get my license. My first peer visit was a guy who didn’t like wearing the prosthetic device, and was in a wheelchair; a similar scenario to my first-year post-amputation. It’s a great feeling giving back to the community you are now a part of and one that I look forward to continuing with in the future.

I was fit with the Infinite Socket two months ago but have long shown a great desire to get one after previously being fitted with two different types of sockets. It’s as close to feeling like I have my leg back. The socket stability allows me to stand comfortably due to the way the lateral paddle holds up against my hip. The comfort encourages me to stand for long periods due to the socket’s design to encompass the entire residual limb. The way the struts are placed enables the distribution of my weight evenly between the four while allowing my limb to breathe. Being able to walk without a cane is a huge plus for me and I’m making progress to stride a little longer and a little straighter with each passing day. When I drive, I don’t wear the socket, preferring to take it with me in the car, but the beauty lies in the fact that it takes about 12 seconds to put on, something I never shy away from demonstrating to intrigued onlookers. I am getting close to walking around nine hours a day regularly after spending a year in a wheelchair, ‘staring at belly buttons’ as I like to say.  

It’s fair to say that I have a lot of catching up on life to do, and am currently working on renovating my daughter’s house. I have some more landscaping to complete in the front, so am using my newest purchase, a golf cart, to move around the garden and pot the sprinklers. That being said, I’ve made huge strides on the interior decorating, including redesigning the stairwell. I have recently had the golf swing mode added to my Ottobock C-Leg to reignite my love for golf, a sport that keeps tests both your physical and mental attributes. My long term goal is to go back to work within the next 2-3 years and continue to build relationships with my clients that I have established for the past 30 years. My son now coaches little league for his son, just as I did for him, and my father did for me beforehand. It’s amazing how life comes full circle, and I can proudly watch my family’s generations continue to shine.” 

 

Reflecting On Prosthetic Development

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In July’s blog, we speak to Donald Mandra, a 56-year-old, car enthusiast, who has been wearing the Infinite Socket TF for four years. 

When I was 17, I lost my right leg above-the-knee. When I was referred to my Prosthetist for the first time, I never thought about the progress of prosthetics or the care I was going to be given. I actually dealt with my current prosthetists, Tony Tufano’s, Uncle who owned Mutual Orthopedics on Long Island. Back then, the sockets were made out of wood, with a hinge on the knee but I was young and didn’t want to let anything slow me down in my rehabilitation. Comfort wasn’t necessarily the most important thing for me either. Now that I’m older I feel things catching up a little bit, and I have a chance to reflect on what’s important to me now, and how prosthetic technology has developed over the last 39 years. 

It would be fair to say that after my amputation, rehabilitation was learned through trial and error. My experience with Mutual Orthopedics has spanned 30 plus years, and I have always received great care, but when I started dealing with Tony, it was clear that he wanted what was best for the patient, but the technology was not there to match. Every time I fell, I learned something new; learning how to balance, how to utilize what I had to the best of its ability. The problem with conventional sockets was around the brim. Even with a softer inner liner, the comfort was never there, and I was receiving sores around the groin.

When I first saw the Infinite Socket TF on a news article on TV in 2014, I noticed that it was adjustable and had a soft brim. I informed my prosthetist Tony who investigated further, and within months he brought me into the office to be fitted with the socket. It actually fits pretty well out the box; I don’t remember any adjustments to my initial fitting, but one thing was noticeable; the comfort around the brim was immediate. I didn’t find myself having to take it off, or even wanting to take it off. I thought to myself, I can wear this all day and all night and it doesn’t give me any issues. Utilizing it increased my activity level as it didn’t create those sores around my groin anymore. Now that I can reflect, comfort should be the benchmark, as I went from being confident, but in pain, to not feeling like I have any limitations any more. 

As with all new technology, there were areas where the socket was breaking, predominantly the brim, and the tensioning device. What made the experience so seamless, however, was that for every part that broke, I informed my prosthetist, who informed LIM’s customer service, and they would ship the replacement part to be fit, all within three days. It was as though they never broke as I’d never been without the component for very long. I’ve actually been on the first Infinite Socket I purchased for 4 years now, and can’t imagine I’d ever go back to a conventional socket again. I’m now extremely excited to get my new Infinite Socket and a new knee. I had a trial with the Ottobock Genium knee and didn’t want to give it back. The combination has been working great for me especially as I spend a lot of my time working on the yard and working on a ‘67 Corvette.

One thing I have noticed is that there is still a lot of uncertainty around the socket on social media. People talk about the bulk of the socket, but in my opinion, it’s only marginally thicker, and that’s by the struts. I have no issues with the bulk and don’t really notice it as I’m comfortable. The weight is hard to quantify when you are wearing it, as the dynamic fit allows for a snug feeling around my residual limb that can be changed when I need it. As I have mentioned, comfort should be the benchmark, and I just wish everyone had the opportunity to try it. 

LIM Innovations now offers the Infinite Socket TF to candidates up to 300lbs. If you do have any questions surrounding the socket, please reach out on Facebook, or call us on 844-888-8546 and we will be happy to answer your questions.

Jill Takes Action To Regain Ability

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Jill exhibiting strength and poise in her Infinite Socket.

Jill, from Pennsylvania, recounts how she persevered through years of surgeries and rehabilitation to finally regain her active lifestyle with the Infinite Socket TF.

“I’m an energetic person. I’m out and about every day doing as much activity as possible.  I love to get myself into anything active, whether it’s outdoor activities or competitive sports–I’ve always been that way.  Then, in 2009, I received a stress fracture to my left foot. The exact moment it happened is unclear, though we suspect it may have happened when I tripped in a parking lot one evening.  Surgery was needed to fix it, and the doctor did a full fusion on my foot. The fusion and all the hardware in my foot ultimately came apart, though I didn’t realize it at the time.  A few years later I couldn’t take the pain anymore and went to have a doctor look at it. In 2013, they tried to reconstruct it. The reconstruction did not go well, and infection set in.  All the hardware in my foot was removed to allow it to heal, but a year later the pain was worse, and my foot was deformed. By the end of 2016, I’d had twelve surgeries to try to save the foot to no avail.  In December of 2016, I became a below knee amputee.  

I got myself a prosthesis and was walking.  However, I was still having trouble and couldn’t figure out why I was in so much pain.  It turns out there was osteomyelitis in my tibia, and in 2017 I opted for a shorter amputation.  A year from then, the pain in my knee from osteomyelitis was still persistent. In April of 2018, I became an above the knee amputee and encountered a whole new set of challenges.  

Below-the-knee sockets had been simple for me.  I had a traditional transtibial socket, and within three months I was out jumping rope and other activities of that nature.  However, when I got my traditional above-the-knee socket, it was the most uncomfortable thing I had experienced in my entire life.  When I first put it on, my reaction was ‘you have got to be kidding me.’ It was limited, heavy and restrictive.  The brim was incredibly awkward in the crotch area and so bulky.  It made me feel really bad. I tried my best but felt that I could only be as good as the socket I had to work with, and the conventional did not work for me.  For many months it sat against my wall, and I was non-weight-bearing for an entire year. The rashes and the rubbing made the socket unwearable, and for months I’d go in once a week for adjustments and band-aid solutions to try and make it bearable.  If I do something I really full-on go for it, and I really tried to make it work. Even so, it just wasn’t usable, and I became really depressed.  

I decided I absolutely had to get walking to stop feeling bad for myself.  A support group I joined on Facebook connected me with LIM, and in April of 2019, I received my Infinite Socket TF.  This thing is absolutely amazing, and I only wish I’d found it sooner. There are so many positive things about the design that make such a difference.  It doesn’t dig into my thigh and groin area because of the low trim, and it’s lightweight as opposed to thick and heavy. The steps I’m taking aren’t restricted as they were in the conventional socket.  The word “breathable” comes to mind; I don’t feel as if my limb is encased in something hard and unnatural. Sitting is also much easier as I can loosen and tighten my socket with the ratchet strap at the top, which is also great for volume fluctuation.  The difference between the Infinite Socket and my old traditional socket is night and day. I’ve done more in the past few weeks than I’ve done in the past year. It made me feel good about myself again.” 

 

Clinician Spotlight: Patrick Kelley of Oakland O&P

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The main draw of this industry is being able to get somebody up and walking again after they’ve had some sort of traumatic experience in their life.  Whether it be lower limb loss due to trauma or a disease, an ability is taken away from them. I like the sense of giving that back to patients.

 

Patrick, on the right, in front of Oakland O&P.

In 2002, I was fresh out of the military off of active duty Marine Corps and looking for a career that would be interesting and challenging. After making some phone calls, I ended up shadowing an orthotics and prosthetics company. From there, I started learning the industry from the fabrication side while working in the lab.  Eventually I ended up going to Northwestern, first for orthotics and then for prosthetics. Ultimately, I decided prosthetics was the way to go.

The main draw of this industry is being able to get somebody up and walking again after they’ve had some sort of traumatic experience in their life.  Whether it be lower limb loss due to trauma or a disease, an ability is taken away from them. I like the sense of giving that back to patients. Oakland Orthopedic Appliances is opening a new office location, which will allow for more patients to be reached.  We are aiming to target patient populations as needed, and up north is an underserved area.

Once patients are in the office, a lot of initial encounters really serve to lay groundwork for an ongoing relationship in addition to the assessment of the current clinical situation.  It’s worthwhile to get to know the patient, what their goals are for the future, how they see themselves as a prosthetic user. Really understanding how realistic the patient’s goals are and managing expectations while doing everything possible to get them there is so important.  In the prosthetics industry, your patients aren’t one time patients–you’re building a pretty intimate and long-lasting relationship together. That relationship is crucial in order to properly advocate for the patient’s needs. There’s a lot of conversations that need to be had in order to figure out what patient and practitioner feel would result in the optimal outcome, from choosing socket type to selecting the suspension and components.  

For the patients I’ve fit with LIM’s Infinite Sockets, I’ve been very happy with the outcomes.  I’ve had a great experience working with LIM from the beginning, and was a huge fan of the Infinite TF from the get-go.  Then there’s the transtibial socket which went through a redesign, and it has been vastly improved. It’s more aesthetically pleasing and less bulky; I have a few patients now on the new design who really love it.  The Infinite Socket is a great option to provide in our area and makes us stand out as providing a niche service. I can stand by the product. In general, technology in the prosthetics industry has advanced so much.  There’s new devices coming out every month to do different things or do to optimize current functions. The socket technologies and new materials being explored have incredible potential. LIM has been a part of that growth and is doing innovative design work.  

Chris Steps Up To Find A Better Fit

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Chris, from Kentucky, shares how he went from being dissatisfied with his situation to finding a solution for himself in the form of the Infinite Socket TF.

On November 14th of 2014, I started the day at the gym as always.  As I was leaving to pick up my daughter, it struck me what a beautiful day it was.  I decided to go home and get my Camaro to make the most out of the drive in the pleasant weather.  Once I got going, I went a little faster than I should have down the winding road and hit a spot that flung the vehicle into the guardrail. About forty feet of guardrail went in through the headlight and exited the tail end of the car. As the metal railing tore through, it took my leg with it. I stayed conscious through all of it until I flatlined in the helicopter and woke up at the University of Kentucky hospital a few days later.  Once I came to, I was told I might never walk unassisted again.

The first two years of recovery were frustrating. Finding the medical support I needed was a nightmare. Here in eastern Kentucky, it seems like we only have general medicine doctors. They know how to help with your typical ailments like the common cold or things of that nature, but I found they didn’t have a good understanding of my amputation. I decided to take matters into my own hands and did a lot of research personally. The electronic elevated vacuum system I was on just wasn’t working well for me; I didn’t have anything but issues with it.  It was always breaking seal, losing suction and falling off, as well as being uncomfortable on the back of my leg. I also wanted to be able to go to the gym and bulk up without it ruining my socket. The desire to have a socket that moved and changed with my residual limb is what got me started on the search that led to LIM.

I talked with my prosthetist at Kenney Orthopedics and got fit with my Infinite Socket. It took me about two days to get the new socket adjusted to accommodate my needs, and then it was good to go!  I literally couldn’t do anything until I got the LIM socket. The previous summer I had tried to hike to a waterfall and couldn’t walk the 6/10ths of a mile, but once I got my Infinite Socket I walked the whole way.  It made that much of a difference. My family lives in one of the best areas for rock hunting, some of the rarest agates in the world are found around here, and we get out and hike when I’m able. The convenience of the Infinite Socket allows that. If it becomes loose throughout the day, I can adjust it. It also allows my hip to flex, which in turn, allows for more walking. Honestly, the socket was the turning point in my healing process. I was in absolute misery, and then the Infinite Socket changed everything.

Premier Partner Q&A: Anthony Tufano of Mutual Orthopedics

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Anthony Tufano, CP, is the president of Mutual Orthopedics.  He strives to achieve an optimal outcome for every individual patient by combining new technologies with the traditions that have made his long-standing practice a success.

 

Infinite Socket, Mutual Orthopedics
Mutual Orthopedics CP Anthony Tufano with Infinite Socket TF patient

What brought you into the Orthotics and Prosthetics industry?

My practice is third generation.  First was my great-uncle in 1957, then my father, and now myself.  What is now Mutual Orthopedics was officially founded by my father in 1978, and I took over in 2002.  It is one of the oldest companies in the Long Island area. Some of our patients have been with us for forty years.  We have expanded to two offices, one in Brooklyn and one in Long Island, with a sizable prosthetics and orthotics laboratory at the Long Island location.

 

How have you seen the industry change over the course of your career in prosthetics?

The uptake in technology alone has changed the way we practice.  Today, we have access to a whole slew of technology that we did not have previously. We as prosthetists can make people much more comfortable than we could years ago. A while ago, everyone had a standard prosthesis.  That was the challenge back then. It was a lot easier to run the business before, but the technology wasn’t there. Currently, the struggles of operating a practice are related to the changing environment of health care, rather than technological limitations.  Prosthetists are now better able to understand patient needs and fulfill many more of their dreams due to those advancements. As a prosthetist, you want to make your patients more comfortable than they were when they came in. You want them to be able to do things they haven’t been able to do before and to maximize the potential that they have.  The best thing for me to see is a patient coming back after they’ve gotten their prosthesis with parts worn out because they’ve been using it so much.

 

Mutual Orthopedics, Infinite Socket TT-S
Mutual Orthopedics CP Anthony Tufano with Infinite Socket TT-S patient

Can you describe the working relationship you’ve had with LIM Innovations?

I have a long-standing patient who has been with Mutual Orthopedics since the 80s.  About three years ago, he came to me wanting to be fit with the Infinite Socket. After meeting with Geoff, a representative from LIM, we set the process in motion and got the patient fitted. The Infinite Socket is fun to fit, and getting it just right for the patient is a great experience.  Once the fit is flawless, it’s a slam dunk. The appeal of working with LIM is they evolve with you and listen to the input of the prosthetist. It is a collaborative process. Like any product, it has the occasional pitfall now and then, but LIM works efficiently with the clinician to find the optimal resolution.

What would you say are the benefits of the Infinite Socket versus a conventional socket?

In my opinion, the beauty of the Infinite Socket is the adjustability.  It allows for the socket to evolve on a continuous basis along with the patient’s residual limb.  I can get patients to the next level of comfort by tweaking and adjusting to accommodate fluctuations in volume.  The comfort of sitting that the Infinite Socket provides is a huge factor for patients as well. The flexible struts are a draw as well; having something that isn’t rigid when a patient is ambulating on it is a big deal. The Infinite Socket permits a dynamic fitting as opposed to a static one. I love the product.

 

Nancy’s Search for a Better Solution

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Nancy, from Texas, shares her amputation journey, her opinions on the Infinite Socket TF, and discusses her near and long term goals.

Until August of 1989, my life pretty much had been normal as a young mother of three. We had attended a family reunion where I was casually playing a game of baseball. The next day I noticed my left knee was sore but blew it off because of the activities the day before. However, within a few weeks, I wasn’t able to walk without being in severe pain.

This spurred a trip to the doctor, where they took some x-rays and ultimately found a tumor in the bone at the knee joint. I knew my life was going to change forever. On my 31st birthday, September 1989, I took my first step into MD Anderson, a cancer research hospital to undergo further tests. A few weeks later they confirmed it was cancer (osteosarcoma), prompting my year-long battle. In March of 1990, they removed my knee plus some bone above it, replacing it with a mechanical knee and rods.

In 1992 and 1994 the hospital undertook revision surgery because one of the rods cracked, and continued to come loose. The issues continued until 2004, where the doctors warned that if the same thing happened again, there wouldn’t be anything else they could do due to having no more bone to work with.

In 2010 the very same rod broke, with the family not expecting amputation. Every attempt had been made at salvaging the leg, only for them to all fail. That was a hard year! In September of 2011, the decision was made. On September 30 they took the leg; so began a new battle.

Over seven years I had attempted to use five traditional sockets, none of which were usable let alone comfortable. My Mobility was far from where it should have been. I would only wear the leg when I had to go to town or something similar in nature, but never more than four hours a day at most. I hated it! I just wanted to stick to my wheelchair and forget about everything I’d been through.

In searching for something new, something better, I came across the Infinite Socket. My mind said “This is it! this is what you need!” Now I just need to find a prosthetist that would do it, as the one I had wasn’t in favor of it. He wanted me to stick to the traditional socket types, which just wasn’t working out for me, so I reached out to LIM for help finding a prosthetist in my local area who has fit their product before. They duly obliged and connected me to a wonderful prosthetist at Prostheticare, here in Texas. The process of changing prosthetist was easy and simple, and the clinician there did a great job ensuring that I got the best fit possible.

Granted I’ve only had the Infinite Socket for two months now, but I have seen a BIG improvement. It is SO comfortable and my mobility has improved greatly. I’m now wearing my leg 8 to 10 hours a day, every day! I’m able to get around so well that my husband has told me I need to slow down. I feel like my old self again, and finally in tune with my artificial leg. I went with a pin lock system with the ratchet tensioner at the top. I really love the ratchet because it’s easy to adjust the socket throughout the day to find the best fit for me. You’ll never get me in a traditional socket again.

For the first time in seven years, I’m able to go shopping without using one of those electric scooters. I’m now able to walk around the whole store without regrets, pain or sores. With any luck, I should be able to lose some of this weight I put on since the amputation and enjoy living life to the fullest once more.

My goals are to be more helpful to my family and maybe get a part-time job. My family keeps me busy but there is so much more I could do for them.  I think getting a job would help me feel even better about myself to able to contribute financially.

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From Socket Pain to MIT

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Four years ago, Andrew’s parents anxiously watched as their only child was prepped and wheeled into the operating room for an above knee amputation. Struggling with a vascular malformation in his leg, Andrew’s childhood was spent in a quest for comfort and mobility. Although the decision was difficult, Andrew and his parents believed that the amputation offered him the best chance for a pain-free and normal life.

 
 

After healing from the amputation, Andrew was fit with a conventional socket. The family watched helplessly as their son lost his vigor and zest, opting instead to stay inside and to utilize his wheelchair. One morning Andrew confessed to the pain he was feeling when wearing his prosthesis. His conventional socket was so uncomfortable and painful that Andrew felt he had no options but to forgo wearing it altogether.

Undeterred, his parents began to search for a solution. Andrew’s life was set onto a different path when he experienced the adjustable Infinite Socket™ TF. After being fitted with an adjustable Infinite Socket™ TF, Andrew experienced a comfortable socket for the first time in his amputee life. According to his mother Mary, the change she witnessed was profound. “The minute he put it on and walked, it was just incredible. He immediately was different and never once has he avoided putting his leg on.”

Because he was comfortable in his socket, Andrew continued to wear his prosthesis throughout his high school career. Andrew continued to thrive, graduating at the top of his class and using his experience to advocate at both state and federal levels for prosthetic access. This past June, Mary and her family were beaming with pride as they watched Andrew take the podium at his high school graduation to deliver the Valedictorian Address. Mary tears up recalling the moment her son walked to the podium to deliver his address. “It’s hard to believe that just four years ago Andrew was recovering from his amputation. I’m just so proud of him.”

Earlier this week Andrew continued his story by moving to Boston. He has been awarded a full scholarship to study engineering at MIT. Because his first-hand experience with prosthetic advances with the adjustable Infinite Socket™ TF, Andrew is on a mission to continue to improve the prosthetic experience for every individual who utilizes a device. Please join us in wishing Andrew well as he begins the next chapter of his journey.

Back In The Swing

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In March of 2017, Kim received the news that nobody wants to hear. He was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer, and the treatment would require the amputation of his left leg above the knee. A few months after the surgery, he found himself learning how to walk again at the age of 66.  

He struggled with his conventional lanyard style hard socket. He and his prosthetist in Topeka, KS constantly modified and tweaked the conventional socket in order to obtain a comfortable fit. He quickly grew tired of the discomfort and limitations of the conventional socket and began to feel discouraged.

Slow healing, combined with the frustrations of constantly adding and removing pads and socks in order to remain comfortable, forced Kim to continue to rely upon his crutches for mobility support. Frustrated by the ill-fitting prosthesis, he eventually quit trying to use his current prosthesis and opted instead to utilize crutches without a prosthesis. Although he abandoned his conventional socket, Kim was not prepared to give up on his dream of walking with a prosthesis.

Undeterred by his experience, Kim began to search for a better option. A Google search led him to the Infinite Socket™ TF, and he reached out to LIM Innovations® for more information. After speaking with a representative and completing the preliminary screening, he was hopeful that he had uncovered the solution to his socket woes. “This was the concept/design I wanted – open, lighter, and comfortable.”  

Since receiving his Infinite Socket™ TF, Kim’s life has drastically improved.  “Now I am able to train and am learning to walk again. Without the socket pain, I have progressed to using just one Fortran crutch in just a few days, and I’m getting close to walking without the crutch! I can go more places and enjoy activities with my wife and friends, and traveling is now more comfortable.”

A golf rules official on both the local and national level, Kim is eager to resume playing the sport he loves. Because of his Infinite Socket™ TF, that goal is within sight. He is also looking forward to helping his wife around the house more and to living a life without pain.  Kim will soon be appointed by the USGA to a new Committee organized to conduct a new USGA national golf championship for the disabled. With his adjustable Infinite Socket™ TF, we know that he is up to the challenge.

Honoring Robert “Spots” Spotswood

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It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of our dear friend, #LIMLegend and longtime employee Robert “Spots” Spotswood. During his short 36 years, he left an impact that will ripple through many lifetimes. Robert, an above-knee amputee himself, was a fierce advocate for and mentor within the limb loss community.

He was always quick with his wit, his smile, and his support as he generously shared his experience with new amputees. Spots worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for the community through his professional and personal endeavors. He will be deeply missed, but the world is better because of his efforts.

The entire LIM Innovations ® is devastated by the passing of Robert:

Andrew Petke, CEO, and co-founder of LIM Innovations® wrote upon learning of Robert’s passing, “We will all miss him more than words can express. He was not just our co-worker, but our good friend as well. Robert leaves behind many great memories and achievements at LIM Innovations® and the amputee community. This is truly a great loss to our company, our team and to our community as a whole. He will be profoundly missed by everyone whose lives he touched.”

George Burnard wrote of his co-worker and friend, “Robert Spotswood was a legend, the epitome of a good time, and a friend who would drop anything in a heartbeat to assist you. Whether working on a project together or searching for a wayward golf ball, everyone worked better when Spots was around. His attitude brought out the best in people and that’s a quality that defines true greatness.”

Fellow above-knee amputee and longterm friend, Ranjit Steiner added his heartfelt message, “He didn’t care what anyone thought. He lived life the way you’re supposed to. I looked up to you in so many ways and was so glad to have known you. Life is brutal, and this shows it, but at least I got to spend some of mine with you; something I’ll never forget.”

Last summer Robert became engaged to the love of his life, Olivia. We all extend our deepest sympathies to his family and to Olivia in their time of profound grief. Robert will be missed more than he would ever have imagined.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Robert’s memory to:
Lakeshore Foundation
4000 Ridgeway Drive,
Birmingham,
AL 35209
www.lakeshore.org
PHONE:(205) 313-7482

Challenged Athletes Foundation
9591 Waples Street,
San Diego,
CA 92121
www.challengedathletes.org
PHONE:(858) 866-0959

Happy Holidays from LIM Innovations

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As 2017 draws to a close, we wanted to take a moment to reflect upon an amazing year. As LIM Innovations has continued to grow to meet the unique and diverse needs of the limb loss/ limb difference community, our core commitments to empowering the community through innovation and philanthropic outreach have remained unchanged.

With the struggles and frustrations of an ill-fitting socket eliminated through our adjustable technology, amputees across the country are rediscovering the freedom that comes from seamless comfort. As more people are utilizing our adjustable Infinite sockets, LIM Innovations has experienced exponential growth in our social media communities. Our Facebook following has increased an astounding 95% over the past year! If you are not already connected with us, we invite you to join our growing Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram communities.  

Our commitment to innovation continues, demonstrated by the release of our new medial relief brim in November. The brim, which conforms better to the residual limb using new proprietary materials, enhances the moldable experience for patients and clinicians alike while maintaining its structural integrity. Through improved materials, internal durability is strengthened while reducing the bulk by 50% medially. This reduces the overall socket proportions, improved medial relief and support minimizes medial pinching for the patient allowing for unparalleled day-to-day comfort.

In addition to empowering the community through our adjustable Infinite sockets, LIM Innovations has reached beyond our borders to assist those struggling in developing countries. Through our sponsorship of Range of Motion Project (ROMP) through the Atlas Run app, LIM Innovations has donated $1000 towards the prosthetic needs for those living in Central America.

On December 14th the San Francisco HQ of LIM Innovations was transformed into a holiday wonderland. Decorations and food were abundant as we hosted our Party With Purpose. With more than 200 tickets claimed for the event, we were proud to highlight two nonprofits with admirable missions. Because of the generosity of the donors in attendance, communities were transformed. Capping our fundraising efforts for 2017, we were able to raise more than $6,000 for Upright Africa and ROMP.

Thank you for allowing LIM Innovations to be part of your life. We are approaching 2018 with both excitement and optimism. Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

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According to the 2012 United States Census Report, 56.7 million people identify as having at least one disability. In other words, one in five people (or 19% of the population) are living with some sort of disability. This statistic is not unique to the United States. Worldwide, the disability community is the largest minority group in the world. Although many times living with a disability can feel isolating, knowing that everybody’s life is connected to somebody with a similar struggle can be empowering.

In 1992 the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 47/3, officially declaring December 3 as International Day of Persons with Disabilities. With the goal of promoting “the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life,” the movement has gained momentum. Organizations serving the disability community from across the globe utilize the designation as an opportunity to highlight both the continued obstacles and triumphs of those living with a disability.

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. According to the United Nations:

  • Over 1 billion people in the world have some form of disability, that’s 1 in 7
  • More than 100 million disabled persons are children
  • Children with disabilities are almost four times more likely to experience violence than non-disabled children
  • 80% of all people with disabilities live in a developing country
  • 50% of disabled persons cannot afford healthcare

LIM Innovations® is committed to empowering the limb loss/ limb difference community. In the United States, we launched our adjustable Infinite™ system. Enabling the wearer to adjust their socket throughout the day is revolutionizing modern prosthetics. Wearers of our adjustable sockets report unparalleled prosthetic comfort.

Globally, LIM Innovations has supported both Range of Motion Project (ROMP) and Upright Africa. These nonprofits work to bring access to prosthetic care and mobility devices to those living in the most economically disadvantaged regions. Families and entire communities have been rejuvenated when an individual’s mobility has been restored.  

LIM Innovations is proud to empower the disability community through both our adjustable prosthetic sockets and our philanthropic work. To learn more about the International Day of Persons with Disability, including ways to become involved, we encourage you to visit the United Nations website.  

 

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

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In 1945, October was designated as National Disability Employment Awareness Month by an act of Congress. Led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, the purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

At a time when only 17.9% of individuals with disabilities are employed (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/disabl.pdf), it is important to acknowledge the talents and abilities within the community that are often untapped because of the loss of a limb. National Disability Employment Awareness Month is an opportunity to spark a discussion about employing individuals across the ability spectrum.  LIM Innovations® is proud to be a leader in the industry when it comes to hiring within the limb loss/ limb difference community.

Nearly 20% of our employees are living with some form of limb loss. From the VP to a contractor, the limb loss community has strong employee representation in every facet of  LIM Innovations. Empowering individuals with limb loss isn’t just a passion for the company. For our employees, living with limb loss is personal.  We are invested in our adjustable socket technology because many of our employees and friends depend upon our products.

Having employees living with limb loss has helped LIM Innovations continue to develop cutting edge socket technology. Feedback on ideas is often only a cubicle away, allowing us to thoughtfully innovate our products. When our engineers and designers need input, they need to look no further than their peers. Knowing that our sockets are being worn by our coworkers and friends provides an intimate incentive to continue to push the boundaries of innovation.  

Our strong history of hiring within the limb loss community is another example of LIM Innovations living up to its tenant of empowerment. We strive to empower the individual through our adjustable sockets. Tapping into the talents and the unique perspectives of our employees with amputations allows us to further empower the greater community by seeking input and feedback at every stage of innovation. We are proud to honor National Disability Employment Awareness Month because we know that our company is stronger because of the unique talents, experiences and perspectives of every employee, regardless of disability status.

 

Amputee Coalition Conference 2017 Recap

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We are honored to give back through our diverse philanthropic commitments. Whether it be through the sponsoring of a local support group’s endeavors or by organizing a Climb for ROMP to raise awareness and funds to service amputees in developing countries, we are proud to stand behind the limb loss community. One of our most important philanthropic arms is through our relationship with the Amputee Coalition.

LIM Innovations is a proud to be a National Sponsor for the Amputee Coalition. Through our sponsorship, we are supporting the organization’s community outreach and education. Earlier this month the Amputee Coalition hosted their National Conference, one of their most visible and highly anticipated community outreach efforts, in Louisville KY. We were delighted to both sponsor and exhibit at this amazing event.

Our LIM Legend Ambassadors arrived in KY a few days before the National Conference in order to complete the Certified Peer Visitor Program (CPV). We believe strongly in the power of mentoring and encourage our representatives to become CPVs through the Amputee Coalition. We were honored to sponsor our Ambassadors through the course and are proud to report that they all received their certifications.

During the three-day conference our LIM Legend Ambassadors met with hundreds of amputees, forging new friendships and answering questions about the Infinite fully adjustable sockets. Our booth received a steady flow of traffic throughout the event. We enjoyed meeting new friends and reconnecting with those who have already decided to #DitchTheSocks and are currently wearing our product.

We were delighted to host formal presentations designed to educate the community about the personal and medical benefits behind using our fully adjustable sockets. After the presentation our LIM Legends fielded a variety of questions from the audience. We provided a live stream of the presentation through our Facebook profile.

Although there were over 1,000 people in attendance at conference, we recognize that the majority of the limb loss community was not able to travel to KY for the event. In an effort to include the greater community into the experience, we hosted a series of Facebook Live videos throughout the conference. All of our live stream videos, including those from our presentation, are archived on our Facebook page.

Jessica Hendry – LIMLegend Ambassador
“For 6 days I was immersed into a world that was understanding. For one whole week I lived, breathed and existed in 100% understanding without one single word having to be spoken. A world where I was not the oddball, monster or weird one. The intact were (which really helped my husband understand at a new level). The words that were impossible to conjure were on every face that walked, crutched, or hopped by me, the layers of pain, failure and triumph in every eye.”

Climbing For ROMP

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Giving back to the limb loss community is a core value of LIM Innovations. We were founded with the premise that amputees should be enabled, not limited, through their prosthesis. We developed the Infinite TF and Infinite TT sockets to empower amputees by giving them the ability to adjust their sockets to suit the needs of their activity and body. Putting comfort through adjustability first, LIM Innovations has helped hundreds of amputees redefine the prosthetic experience.
Our commitment to the limb loss community transcends our patient base. We are proud to host monthly community events in our San Francisco office which are open to everybody in the amputee community and their supporters, regardless of the level of limb loss or the devices that they utilize. Our events focus on a different experience each month, encouraging amputees to reach beyond their comfort zone in a safe and supportive environment. This week (Sunday, July 16) we are hosting an adapted boxing clinic. If you are in the San Francisco area, please join us for this interactive and fun activity.  Please email George at GBurnard@liminnovations.com to register.
Being a global steward for limb loss empowerment is a corporate priority for LIM Innovations. In this spirit, we are proud to support Range of Motion Project (ROMP). 80% of the world’s amputees live in developing countries. Currently only 2% of this population have access to even basic prosthetic care. ROMP works tirelessly to fill the void by providing prosthetics to individuals in these developing regions. By empowering an amputee in a developing country through providing a prosthetic, ROMP is changing the lives of the individual and the welfare of the entire family.
We have partnered with Atlas Run to raise funds for ROMP. For each mile logged, LIM Innovations donates to ROMP, directly impacting amputees in developing countries. The Atlas Run app is now available for both Android and iOS devices, and we invite you to join our global movement.
On August 26th, LIM Innovations is hosting a Golden Gate Bridge Climb as part of a global fundraising event for ROMP.  The hike will take place along the Presido’s  Golden Gate Bridge Promenade trail and will span roughly three miles. Our waterfront “climb” traverses through San Francisco’s most iconic locations: The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Crissy Field, and the Marin Headlands. We have chosen a route which is entirely wheelchair accessible.

We invite individuals from all ability and disability levels to join us in this global movement. Information about the Golden Gate Bridge Climb can be found here and on our Facebook event page.  If you can’t participate but would like to support our efforts, please consider making a tax-deductible donation through our Crowdfunding page.

While we are hiking in San Francisco, climbs are being hosted across the world in solidarity for ROMP and to support amputees in developing countries.  If you would like to participate but don’t live in or near San Francisco, you can find information about other climbs here.  Please share your climbing photos with us through our social channels so that we can publicly applaud your efforts!
We empower our patients through the development of sockets which adjust to the needs of the patient. We strengthen our local community by hosting monthly events. We strive to change the world and the lives of amputees in developing countries through our support and fundraising efforts for ROMP.  LIM Innovations accomplishes giving back through empowering the community through a variety of efforts, each as unique as the members of the limb loss community.

Worth – Researching A Better Solution

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Four years ago, Worth suffered a devastating ski accident. Although the doctors were initially able to save his leg, he faced an arduous rehabilitation process that included multiple surgeries. After an ankle fusion left him with constant pain, and desperate to return to an active lifestyle, Worth began to investigate a below knee amputation.  Eventually he underwent a delayed amputation in November of 2016 and immediately knew that he made the correct decision. “As soon as I had the amputation surgery I had no more pain.”

 

 

A self-described curious person, Worth fully investigated all prosthetic options before undergoing his amputation. After an initial fitting with a conventional socket, Worth was disappointed with the outcome. “The socket felt antiquated and outdated. The fit I needed to reach my quality of life was not being met by a traditional socket. Rather than being married to a prosthetist, I decided to investigate and see what else was available.”

 

Worth’s research led him to the Infinite adjustable sockets by LIM Innovations. After watching the videos, he felt like he found an answer to his issues and he reached out to investigate adjustable socket technology.  “LIM Innovations seemed to answer the questions I was having about fit and long term comfort. This is a life changing experience for me. For the number of days I have left, the quality of my life is going to be determined by the quality of the fit of my leg.”

 

An active person, Worth needed a socket that was up to the challenges of his busy lifestyle. As a new amputee his residual limb is changing quickly, a situation which traditionally requires numerous visits to the prosthetist office for adjustments. With the Infinite TT socket Worth can adjust the socket to fit his changing limb, freeing up his schedule and allowing him to resume an active lifestyle.  “When my prosthesis feels too tight I can just loosen the boa closure. If I need it tighter I can pump up the air bladder or tighten the straps. My socket responds to my needs rather than trying to work with socks and pads to be comfortable. It really is remarkable.”

 

From the first encounter with the LIM Innovations team, Worth knew he was part of something special. “Walking in the door I just knew something cool was happening here. This was something cutting edge that I wanted to be a part of because it was going to change lives.” After he was fit with an Infinite TT socket, he began to experience prosthetic comfort on a new level.  “I encourage all amputees to stop settling for old technology. Keep asking questions and learning about what is out there. You never really know if something will work for you, or how big of a difference it will make in your quality of life, until you give it a try. Don’t let anybody stop you from pushing the boundaries because you are the one wearing the device.”

Summer Is Here – #DitchTheSocks

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Summer is finally here.  Across the country the temperatures and the humidity levels are on the rise.  Every season presents unique obstacles for the limb loss community. The heat and humidity of summer often combine to create a perfect storm for residual limb volume fluctuations.
Traditionally donning and doffing prosthetic socks has been the only solution to combat residual limb volume changes. Managing socket discomfort with socks is contradictory as they tend to shift and bunch throughout the day, causing different but just as frustrating prosthetic issues. Excessive sweating, pinch sores and compromised suction are all implications of wearing prosthetic socks.
To accommodate for volume fluctuations and socks bunching, numerous adjustments to the device throughout the day are often necessary. This forces many amputees to constantly search for private areas to adjust their prosthesis. Not only is this frustrating, but it is inconvenient when activities are paused in the never-ending quest for temporary prosthetic comfort.
Until recently, amputees have been relegated to stashing prosthetic socks throughout their homes, offices, cars, purses and any other location they frequent in order to be prepared for inevitable volume changes.  They have accepted wearing heavy fabric in the sweltering heat under the guise of finding comfort. They have made apologies as they slipped away to add or remove socks. At last, the sock dependence cycle has been broken!
With the development of the Infinite TT (below knee) and Infinite TF (above knee) Sockets by LIM Innovations, the need for prosthetic socks has become obsolete.  Instead of carrying socks and struggling to figure out the correct ply needed to achieve comfort, adjustments for volume change can be made through the socket. The fully adjustable Infinite Sockets can be adjusted by the user quickly and discretely without the use of prosthetic socks, providing liberation from the inconvenience of having to store, carry and wear uncomfortable prosthetic socks.
With the Infinite Sockets, the patient is in control of their own comfort. Socket feeling a little snug?  Relief is as simple as deflating the air bladder or loosening the Boa closure. Do you feel like you need a little more support in the socket? The socket can be tightened with a few clicks or with the tug of some Velcro straps. Finally a comfortable and individual fit is possible by adjusting the socket, not by padding the limb.
The fit of an Infinite Socket is as unique as the individual, which is why we custom fabricate each one in our San Francisco facility. After measurements are provided by the prosthetist, the socket is meticulously crafted and proudly delivered within 10 days for the TF and 21 days for the TT. Recognized as clinically valuable, the Infinite TT and Infinite TF adjustable sockets are covered by most major insurance policies.
This summer, we invite you to Ditch the Socks forever and discover the freedom that comes from wearing a fully adjustable socket. We encourage you to utilize our #DitchTheSocks hashtag across social media to share your journey.  Whether you are an experienced LIM Legend or new to our technology, we are excited to share your experiences through our social platforms.  Who knows, you may be featured in an upcoming blog!
Redefine comfort and stop accepting the inconveniences that come with the standard rigid socket. Your body changes throughout the day, and so should your socket. #DitchTheSocks this summer and rediscover comfort.

A Mother’s Mission To Find Comfort

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Infinite TF user and woman walking on boardwalk

Childhood should be spent climbing trees, playing hide and seek, exploring the neighborhood and building new friendships. For Andrew, this carefree world came to a crashing halt when he was diagnosed with a vascular malformation in his right leg at the age of seven. 

Instead of youth sports and hanging out with friends, Andrew was shuffling between specialists and in and out of the operating room in a quest to treat his condition. Four years after diagnosis and after thoughtful research, he opted for an amputation.  The family was confident that the removal of Andrew’s impaired and painful biological limb would allow him to return to an active life.

He healed from the amputation and was quickly fit with a conventional socket. Mary, his mom, was optimistic that her son’s struggles were in the past. Utilizing his new prosthesis, she was excited about her son’s future.

Andrew began to forgo his prosthesis, a move that frustrated his Mom. One morning the prosthetic tension reached a boiling point, and Mary confronted her son about his aversion to the prosthesis. Finally he confided that he was struggling with the socket and couldn’t wear his prosthesis.

Mary was heartbroken when she heard her son’s discomfort confession. Before the amputation the family did their due diligence researching the surgery, the recovery and prosthetic components. Nothing prepared them for the possibility that Andrew could be disabled by the very device designed to restore mobility. “He just knew it hurt and wasn’t comfortable.  I wasn’t getting it. No one prepares you for what comes. No one prepares you what it is like trying to get a fit into a socket. We did all the research on the legs but nothing on the socket. The socket is the most important part.”

Refusing to allow her son to abandon prosthetic use, Mary doubled her research efforts making it her mission to find a solution. A friend introduced the family to LIM Innovations and suggested that they explore an adjustable socket. The exchange was life changing for Andrew.

After being fitted with an Infinite TF adjustable socket, Andrew experienced a comfortable socket for the first time in his amputee life.  “The minute he put it on and walked it was just incredible.  He immediately was different and never once has he avoided putting his leg on.”  

Mary explained the difference she has seen in her son since he started using the Infinite TF socket. “He can go to a restaurant and not have to take his leg off. He could not sit down for more than 5 minutes without complaining.  He is comfortable so he can sit and not have any discomfort.  He never complains about it. He had to take it off in class and now he keeps it on all the time.  It is the most amazing socket on the planet. I have watched what it does. It changed his life.”

Mary refused to allow her son to give up on his prosthesis. She continued to research until she discovered the fully adjustable Infinite TF socket from LIM Innovations. She offered this message to others who are experiencing issues and discomfort with their conventional socket. “Educate yourself and don’t limit yourself to thinking that this is the best it can be. You have choices.”

ROMP and Atlas Run Collaboration

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We are delighted to announce our collaboration with Range of Motion Project (ROMP) and Atlas Run. ROMP is dedicated to providing high-quality prosthetic care to amputees living in Guatemala, Mexico, Ecuador and the United States.  The organization works with the most vulnerable populations, empowering them through prosthetic care.

We are committed to having a positive impact on those living with limb loss. Whether it be through improving the quality of life for the wearers of our Infinite sockets or through sponsorships and donations to worthy causes, giving back to the community is a cornerstone value for LIM Innovations.

Did you know that 80% of the world’s amputees live in developing countries?  Extreme poverty and a broken rehabilitation system further disable these individuals by restricting access to prosthetic care and devices. In fact, only 2% of amputees living in developing countries have access to basic prosthetic care. In other words, 78% of the world’s amputees lack basic prosthetic care. By contributing quality prosthetic care, ROMP provides the devices needed for amputees to live their best lives and to rise above their disability.

Many times, providing a basic prosthetic for one individual will create a ripple of change to empower an entire family. LIM Innovations understands the life-changing impact that arises from having access to a comfortable prosthesis. We are proud to sponsor ROMP’s mission and are excited to announce our collaboration with Atlas Run to help raise much needed funds for this life changing organization.

Atlas Run For a Cause is a mobile app where funds are pledged to a nonprofit for each mile logged. Available for free download through iTunes, Atlas Run For a Cause is an easy and fun crowdsource fundraising platform for nonprofits. With this app, exercising is not only good for your body but it helps to power an entire community as well!

LIM Innovations is proud to be a corporate sponsor for ROMP through the Atlas Run For a Cause app. When ROMP is chosen as the beneficiary, LIM Innovations is pledging to donate $0.25 for each mile logged by runners and walkers. The premise is simple. The more you move, the more you raise for those in need. There are no out of pocket charges for those using the app, yet users are empowered to make a substantial difference for the community through
exercise.

We encourage you to download the app, pick ROMP as the beneficiary and start logging your miles. Know that each mile you move helps someone struggling with limb loss to regain their quality of life through providing prosthetic care. Your moving creates a ripple that will change a life thousands of miles away.

We hope to raise $1,000 or 4000 miles. This is a community effort, so grab some friends and start logging your miles. When using the app please tag us in your photos to help build a wave of support for this movement. Together we can make a difference for amputees in need.

Cancer Free for 2 Years

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In May of 2014 Irene received devastating news when she was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a pediatric bone cancer. On May 14th, Irene Blum celebrates two years cancer free, and we couldn’t be more happy for her. She has an amazing outlook on life, supports the community, and is bringing up her incredible son all at the same time. 

She immediately began a valiant battle against the disease, which began with surgery followed by one year of aggressive chemotherapy treatments. The treatments took a toll on her body but did not impact her spirit or her thirst for life.

Although the doctors initially saved her leg surgically, the effects of the chemotherapy treatments wreaked havoc on her limb. Six months into treatment her leg was ravaged by uncontrollable infection. She went into septic shock because the chemotherapy suppressed her immune system to the point of nonexistence. In order to save her life, she underwent an above knee amputation of her right leg in December of 2014.

Despite the setback, Irene was determined that the amputation and cancer were not going to get the best of her. She was fitted with a conventional socket soon after her amputation but she struggled to maintain a comfortable fit. The chemotherapy, coupled with the weight loss due to the treatment, created a perfect storm for volume fluctuation. In March of 2015, her prosthetist recommended that she try the LIM Infinite TF Socket.

The Infinite Socket liberated Irene from the socket issues that were holding her back. She no longer struggled with a prosthetic fit, allowing her to focus her energies on finishing her chemotherapy treatments without the frustrations of socket issues. “When I got into the Infinite Socket, I was spoiled. I never had to deal with socks. I never had to deal with volume issues because I had the Infinite Socket early on.”

Irene went on to finish her cancer treatment and was declared free of the disease in 2015. Her Infinite Socket allowed her to remain mobile and comfortable throughout the ordeal. She lost 50 pounds due to the treatment and underwent two additional revision surgeries, but her Infinite Socket proved up to the challenge. Despite the drastic changes to her limb, she never needed a new socket. Because her Infinite Socket adjusted to her limb changes and her body, she focused her energies on her health instead of her prosthesis.

Due to the residual impact of the chemotherapy as well as the multiple revision surgeries, Irene began to experience issues with the shape of her limb. It was recommended that she return to a conventional rigid socket at the end 2016 to reshape her remaining limb. She wore the standard socket for six months and quickly became frustrated with its limitations. “I really missed my Infinite Socket because I had to deal with socks. I had to deal with swelling and not being able to get in because of pain. I was spoiled with my Infinite Socket.”

After what she describes as six long months, Irene eagerly returned to the Infinite Socket. “I was so happy when I finally got back into the Infinite socket. I’m not even touching socks anymore. I can fit in the morning and don’t have to worry about volume.” Irene resumed her active lifestyle and no longer feels limited by her socket restrictions.

Irene is cancer-free and can focus her energies on caring for her six-year- old son and finishing school. She is delighted to again feel the freedom that comes from the adjustable socket. “I can put it on and get back to my normal life. I am going to live and be happy and do things I enjoy in life. I am not going to settle being in an uncomfortable socket. I didn’t want to be uncomfortable.”

Ben’s Recovery in Mind and Body

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Hello my name is Ben Castillo, and I have been an amputee for a little over two years. I have come a long way both in my mind as well as physically. 

I was working at a place that deals with cattle hides, with my main role getting their skin ready to be processed and shipped to make different products with. On December 17th, 2014 around 3:30am I had an accident at work and had to drive myself to the ER. Things got really bad, and within 24 hours, I was diagnosed with flesh eating bacteria on my leg. The specialist was supposed to perform a micro surgery, where only a chunk of my left leg were going to be cut off, but on the table ready to be operated, things turned for the worse. My kidneys were failing, my liver was shutting down, the infection was in my blood stream, and I was dying, all while still under anesthesia. I woke up with the news of my leg being amputated; there was no preparation for it, it just happened… and it was devastating.

I had the support of my family and friends, but my church definitely helped me to get through the toughest times as the process of recovery was extremely slow. I wanted to run but instead had to learn how to walk again; it was frustrating. I was an independent man that now needed help to even get a glass of water, and with that, I quickly spiralled down a rabbit hole of frustration and depression that was hard to climb out of. Little by little I started to find small ways to become active. Max, my personal trainer, has been helping me for just over a year regaining my strength; not just my muscles but my spiritual and mental strength also. I owe him so much, I can’t put it into words.

I got my Infinite Socket a bit more than a year and half ago, and it changed the game entirely. Before with my standard socket, I had to take it off every two hours in order for me to have some relief and comfort, as it was painful to be on it for long periods of time. Two weeks after receiving my Infinite Socket, I was able to go to Six Flags Magic Mountain (theme park), and even though I was restricted to get into some rides, I had an amazing time. Weeks later I was able to go on a hike for the first time since the accident, something that with the other socket I could only dream of doing. It wasn’t a perfect hike, I was dead tired at the end of the day, but I was a happy man having accomplished something I thought was never going to be possible ever again.

Recently for my birthday I was able to go for another hike to the beach in San Francisco and it was amazing. I am so thankful the Infinite Socket was introduced to my life, because it changed the pool of dreams I thought were at some point out of reach. Now my Infinite Socket looks beat up, and dirty but every little dent or rip is a sign that I’m mobile that I’m active; that I can do things again I thought were long gone. Thanks to the Infinite Socket I am a broken man on the outside but entirely in one piece in soul and spirit.

My mother told me as soon as I came out of the anesthesia from the first surgery, “Son you are more than just a leg!” That has always been with me throughout this journey. I am more than just a leg, I am more than just an amputee, I am more than just a broken man. Amputation does not define who I am at all.

Meet Jessica, Defined By Her Actions

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I am in no way, shape, or form defined by the disorder I have, the limbs I do or do not have, or what I look like. I am defined by my heart and the actions I choose every day.

As the victim of a car accident in 2008, I was left with a disorder known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Through the course of a VERY long nine years I was in and out of the hospital more times than I ever like to imagine, and have had over 20 surgeries to aid this illness. I was in a wheelchair from 2008 to 2016, and underwent three years of ketamine treatments including a 5-day intensive ketamine treatment in Cleveland. In 2015 the disorder had nearly claimed my very existence. With a continuous IV drip, many strong antibiotics and medications, by April 2016 the infections had gone to the bone (Osteomyelitis) and was successfully killing me. It was the common consensus that my leg needed to go, so on April 28, 2016 at 4pm my left leg was taken, seven inches above the knee. I was kept in the hospital for three days then sent to a rehab facility to learn to deal with the amputation.

Rehabbing the body is more about rehabbing the mind; results will not happen until you are ready to push through hell to find heaven. I was placed in an inpatient rehab facility for about three weeks following my amputation, where my care was nothing but tremendous and a great help. While I was assisted in learning how to regain strength, keep flexibility and how to walk on a prosthetic, one huge area was neglected. No-one in the facility gave support in the psychological department. Nobody was there to help with the “why?, or how come?”, or any of the other Kubler-Ross stages of death and dying every amputee goes through. No matter how positive or hopeful an amputation may be, it is TRAUMATIC on all fronts. I left the facility blind to the truth of how you begin this new life that has been inevitably thrust upon you. Your body is weak, traumatized, and  your mind blind to what you are going to have to learn to hurdle before you can begin sprinting. Life after amputation is an alien existence, with obstacles you could not even imagine. The obvious impediments pertain directly to your missing limb; what is foreign are the small things you were accustomed to, yet have to learn to do differently.
Arriving home, I could not bare to look in a mirror. The concept of not seeing a part of me made me feel somehow incomplete; like a monster in my own skin. The anger that became a regular tenant in my heart felt comfortable. I had lost all empathy and while I did not feel sorry for myself, I felt broken in many ways. It felt as if everyone saw me like a deformed beast that would infect them if they did not stop looking at my missing limbs previous residence. I saw no empathy, only utter and complete horror. I stopped wanting to thrive and exist, and began to give up on my own life. One day sitting in my recliner I stared outside and watched a pair of beautiful yellow finches dance, with tears running down my face; I felt no one would ever see me as “normal” again. I leaned forward and saw that one of the finches had no foot yet was dancing, singing and appeared to be the epitome of joy and happiness. Being shown in such a beautiful way that life can be great again, the tears slowly transformed into tears of joy and gratitude. I no longer looked at people with two legs with anger but as a goal, my thoughts shifted to watching people’s gaits, when and how their knees bent ,what positions their feet were in, and when their knee broke into the next step.

Over the next few weeks I was hell bent of mastering this new life! The socket I was given, a cup fitted at the limb was extremely uncomfortable, leaving me at times with bleeding sores and bruising up and down my residual limb. Two months later I was walking and ended up breaking my ankle. I was in a cast for nearly three months so rescinded to my wheelchair once again. As soon as the cast was removed I was fitted with my Infinite Socket by Oakland Orthopedic. Tears rolled down my face as the realization of the new ‘normal’ concept became so bright it was blinding. That day, about 45 minutes after I received the Infinite Socket, I walked half a mile unassisted. This may not seem much but please keep in mind I had been completely immobile for nearly 9 years. The muscles in my legs jumped to attention and walked like I had never stopped. I jammed out to Hamilton while walking the track at a local YMCA and before I knew it I had walked a half a mile with EASE! None of this would have been possible on my old cup fitting, it was painful and took the majority of my energy to not hurt myself further inside the cup itself.
Looking back now I am amazed at the concept of what I am achieving having only been up on a prosthetic for only 7 months. I AM A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH! Life has tried its hardest to end me so many times, and all I want is to be a person whose life can be used to help others achieve their own happiness and contentment. We are all given tasks and hurdles that seem like they will be too much or that it will be impossible to ever move past them. It is no-ones responsibility to find your joy, pride, contentment or drive, only yours.

Meet June, On Her Feet At 91

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I was born in New Jersey before moving to Port Richie, Florida in 1975. Ever since I can remember I’ve always been a do-it-yourself kind of Woman, raised the old fashioned way, moving on my feet, and making a living. I worked in a supermarket years ago behind the deli counter, before moving into electronics, where I did everything from designing, to building, to fixing different electronic devices. I’m already 91, yet have always had the drive and determination to do everything myself, including all my own yard work. Even to this day, I get out there in my electric scooter to pull out all the weeds.

Years ago, I had a hip and knee implant, and I wasn’t able to kneel or walk with my new knee. The doctor said I was throwing down scar tissue and put me into surgery three times to resolve the issue. The third time in surgery, I picked up an infection, which lasted for five months. On Mother’s Day in 2013, just after the infection had cleared, I went out to eat with my friends and Daughter. On the way to the restaurant, my knee buckled and the replacement fell apart. As a result I had my leg amputated above the knee.

I found out about the Infinite socket through James Bond at our local Florida amputee meeting. I went to a meeting and saw Lynn De Cola, a representative of LIM Innovations. The initial reaction to seeing the Infinite Socket at this meeting, was that it looked far more padded and comfortable. I wasn’t going to get cut around the groin because the brim seemed padded all the way round.

Since wearing the Infinite Socket, the biggest change I have noticed is how comfortable it is when I drive. It just doesn’t bother me anymore, whereas with the other one, if I drove for two hours, it would cut me across the top of my limb. I call it my dummy leg, and have a bracelet around the pylon by the foot; replicating the same setup I had when I was a child in New Jersey. If I leave the house, I always wear the socket, and bring my scooter to ride the long distances as well.

The biggest thing I’ve accomplished so far was to be able to drive my car again. When I was a child, my Uncle had a fishing business and used to fall asleep behind the wheel after hours pound fishing and delivering his catch. I’ve been driving since I was 14 years old, back when you had the letter H as a gear shift. After my amputation, my independence was greatly affected by the painful experiences I had when driving in my old prosthetic socket.

Another great difference is the adjustments I can do myself. My old prosthetic was like a barrel, with adding or subtracting socks being the only form of getting a good fit. The guys at Sonlife P&O are amazing. They really care about my happiness, and sorted out the alignment so I can wear a little heel or a flat shoe when I get dressed. I also wear a cover on my hardware, as people have said it doesn’t look natural. It’s like a sock, that slides over the socket and components, and gives me the confidence to do what I want to do.

Currently, I’m taking care of my friend who helped me through my amputation. He has dementia now; the good Lord wants me to help people and so I do. I just came back from a cruise hosted by Amputee Coalition. We went to Saint Thomas, and it was beautiful. One of the amputees in my group fell off the footpath in his scooter and tipped over sideways. So my time currently is filled with helping out some of the people who need it most.

My oldest Daughter and her children live in South Dakota, and my goal for the next year is to go see them in the Spring. I’ve already picked up the map, and it’s now up to me to go and see them. Due to the mobility I now have, and the comfort I experience when driving, this dream no longer seems out of reach.

Merry Christmas from the LIM Ambassadors

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2016 is coming to a close, and throughout the year, you may have interacted with LIM’s Ambassadors. With Christmas being celebrated across the World this Saturday, we handed over the blog to our LIMLegends to share their words of wisdom with the entire amputee community. Here’s what they had to say:

Tammy Myers words of wisdom:

“You can still accomplish anything you want with a little creativity! Everyone travels at a different pace! Surround yourself with others like you. Knowledge is power! amputeecoalition.org. Your story could help someone else. Be proud of who you are!”

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Pamela Selinski words of wisdom:

“I recently have had the opportunity to speak with several new amputees and their first question is how long does it take.  I’ve been telling them patience is not only a virtue it is a necessity when you have limb loss. Pearls of Wisdom = Be Patient”

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Carlos Gonzalez words of wisdom:

“I am humbled by The grace of God, I have become an advocate for others who don’t have the courage. Allow me to be your voice by being a example of hope and faith. Walk on!”

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Doug Van Pool words of wisdom:

“Don’t let amputation define you. We are so much more than that. Advocate, educate, elucidate. Lead others that share your fate. Be that shining light, like the morning star, always steady, always bright. And Never, Never quit!”

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Deborah Smith words of wisdom:

“I’m fortunate to be part of the LIM team in the Midwest, and was fit with our TT socket in May.  As an amputee one of the most rewarding aspects of my role with LiM is working with others with limb loss. When I became an amputee 1½ years ago I quickly realized I’d joined an incredible community of people. I’m grateful to hear their stories, learn from them, and help with journeys towards increased comfort and mobility.

Just as we prepare and plan step by step for holiday celebrations, our incremental efforts each day toward our goals as prosthetic wearers can culminate in wonderful accomplishments and celebration. There are so many organizations out there to help us be as active as we can dream, whatever our physical challenge may be. Thank you dare2tri.org, juddgoldmansailing.org, adaptivegolf.org!

Merry Christmas, Happy Celebrations, and New Year to all!”

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Jim Demas words of wisdom:
“At the Holidays, it’s always a time to reflect on things for which to be thankful.  As a recent amputee in April 2015, it has been important for me as an active person to get my life back.  Since May 2016, as one of the first beta testers of the Infinite TT and now wearing the final version, I’ve experienced spectacular improvement over using traditional sockets.  It has truly been a remarkable 7 months with the Infinite TT.
So in this season of gift giving, my wish is for anyone in need of a below the knee socket to give yourself the best gift ever… greatly increased mobility and freedom with supreme comfort.  There’s no better feeling than getting your life back!  I’m so thankful for the Infinite TT and all the wonderful people at LIM who have made it happen.”

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Tess Deddo words of wisdom:
“I remember hearing that the road from amputation to running is a long, slow process. But me – I wanted to run before I walked, but they kept saying “first you walk, then you run.” And it was a long, slow process; a day at a time, but once I was walking and comfortable in my prosthesis, I found I could do things I couldn’t do with my biological foot. Others’ perception of “disabled” is interesting: before my amputation no one could see how painful it was for me to walk; I felt disabled then.  Since my amputation, I would say most people see me (or anyone with a prosthesis) as disabled, when I feel, now more than ever, very “able.”  I think anyone who knows me does not see me as disabled, since I can physically do more now than I had ever done before. Happy me.”
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Carlos the Adaptive Martial Artist

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Hi, my name is Carlos, and I want to share my story with you all. It all began on February 10th 2005. Getting off work from a tiring day I was on my way to visit my Mom in her violent neighborhood. I became a victim that day. A gang shoot-out occurred and I found myself caught in the middle of a crossfire. Shot down and left to die, I was blessed to have the Ambulance arrive to my aid within ten minutes.

The last thing I recall was breathing through a oxygen mask, arriving to SFGH getting prepped for surgery in the operation room. The lights went out completely, and I remained in a sedative coma for over two months fighting for my life. The grace of God kept me away from death. Upon waking up, to my surprise I saw my right leg was missing. Confused and scared, I can remember my Mom telling me she loved me no matter what. It was in that moment that I realized this was no nightmare, but a harsh reality.

Months of further surgeries occurred. I had infections, which led to more amputations to my leg, leaving me at mid thigh. After a year I got fitted for my first prostheses and that’s when my determination kicked in, working hard in Physical Therapy. I cried when I took my first steps; it was like being a baby learning to walk again. Going through pain and feeling discouraged, depression and hopelessness took its toll. I felt the need to give up due to being tired of struggling. My anger built up as my personal life was suffering with poor relationships as I felt less of a man.

One day I got on the internet and searched for others like myself; looking to find a way to be adaptive and change my perception of life. I had to know if someone else was struggling like myself. I love martial arts, so looked around for others with the same passion. I found myself a local MMA gym by the name of ‘Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu,’ and attended scared, not knowing how people would treat me differently. I came out confident after being treated with the utmost respect. Martial Arts is about confidence and courage; somewhere where you often find yourself in a position where you think you can’t make it work.

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Martial arts is not about being better than the next guy. It’s about finding yourself and trusting your heart that you are able to adapt. I’ve learn adaptation, determination and perseverance, while not getting treated with special care when training with others; I was an equal. That’s the code of martial arts… respect! I learned of confidence and modification for months. Our minds and bodies are not designed to be repetitive. Martial arts taught me how to modify my movements, and in turn taught me to modify my life. I gained balance and strength, to where my life became modified to fit for me, not the World. I received my blue belt and even competed many times. Despite some losses on my record, I’ve alway gained love and respect from others. My life has changed, not because I needed an outlet, but because martial arts gave me the tools to deal with the World and allowed me to adapt instead of feeling bad for myself.

The injuries have piled up, but I have no regret because I am living an awesome life. God is now using me to help others achieve goals and bring others to realize their potential. I’m amazed how far I’ve come, often humbled and blessed  from what I’ve learned from martial arts. Utilizing my new skillset, I can help others achieve their dreams and goals. My life tragedy turned into triumph, why can’t theirs?

There was a time when my prostheses wouldn’t cooperate with my active lifestyle. When I was doing martial arts in the beginning you can imagine how difficult it was sweating inside my socket and then losing traction to the point where my leg would slip off. I started off with a traditional socket that didn’t work to well with my high level of activity. Then came the vector socket 5 years after my amputation. It was a hard fiberglass type model that had open struts that allowed my tissue to flow and expand while walking or doing martial arts. I rolled on a liner onto my limb and connected it into the bottom of the socket via a pin. It stayed on pretty well, but there was a down side. It caused so much pain in my groin area due to the hard material of the socket, causing nasty cuts and burns.

LIM innovations came into my life just recently. Upon using their Infinite Socket, I instantly noticed how easy it was to get my socket ordered. Instead of getting casted or molded, they used top of the line technology, using just photos and measurements. Piece by piece they assembled this comfortable socket. I have been on it six months and noticed major changes, like wearing my socket for over ten hrs. My cuts and burns healed, and I no longer get them. It’s easy in my groin area, which allows me to maintain a high activity level. The most awesome thing is the ease of making adjustments without getting molded again and waiting for a new socket. It’s the newest technology out there and it’s only improving. I’m a proud user of the Infinite Socket for it has made my life less painful and an above the knee amputee.

 

LIMLegend -Carlos Gonzalez Jr.

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Growth Leads to Office Move

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LIM Innovations is proud to announce we are moving Headquarters from our Divisadero Street office, where we have been located since our launch in 2014, to a new office in San Francisco’s SOMA district.

NEW ADDRESS:

424 9th Street,

San Francisco,

CA, 94103

As of December 1st please send all mail, including casts, to the above address.

The move comes as a result of the company’s phenomenal growth over the past two years, which has seen our products sold in over 40 states and used by over 550 amputees worldwide.  

Since beginning life four years ago in 2012, LIM Innovations has grown to become one of the world’s largest independent prosthetic socket manufacturers. Switching our operation to new, state-of-the-art offices and larger production facilities means we can now progress with our positive business plans for further growth and development.

CEO/ Co-Founder Andrew Pedtke comments: “The relocation of our operation to 424 9th Street is the culmination of an exciting 2016. It’s amazing to think that just two years ago the first sockets were manufactured in a facility hardly greater than a few hundred square feet.  Now, as LIM continues to push the boundaries in prosthetic socket development and manufacturing, we are finding greater opportunities in front of us such as distribution and connected technology.  We think that the SOMA district offers the perfect environment to blend talent and harness opportunity. The new premises are an exciting progression for all of us at LIM and our partners around the Country.

This move is the latest in the ongoing development of LIM’s vision to set new standards in care for those with physical disability.  Stay tuned or contact us below for opportunities to visit LIM’s headquarters. There will be several events centered around the coinciding JP Morgan Healthcare Conference as well as marque visitors to LIM related to our social impact, technology and innovative efforts in general.  

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Thanksgiving with LIMLegend Jeff Kern

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I was nine years old when I lost my leg to bone cancer. When living your life as a kid looking to explore, it’s difficult learning how to grow up in a world not made for amputees. Walking around school, having my leg come off in social settings, while playing sports like hockey, baseball, lacrosse; it was just a part of life in high school. Over time I learned how to become comfortable with myself, but it was a long road to get to that stage. If people had a problem with me playing, it was something they just had to get over. This Thanksgiving, I get to look back at those times and see how far I’ve come.

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Me at the age of 9 shortly after I was diagnosed with bone cancer.

Since then, I’ve been through college, worked full time jobs, but my life hit a big stopping point around a year ago. All the chemo I had when I was younger had caused irreversible damage. My phantom pain to this day is worse than it has ever been. Learning how to live with it has been extremely hard, and at times it’s been unbearable. At times, the pain has been so intense that I felt sick to my stomach. I wasn’t able to work, and things I normally did, such as shooting at the rifle range was put on hold due to the crippling phantom limb pain. I take medication for nerve damage so I can use crutches, but these completely detract you from reality. Nobody wants to live their life like that.

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Target shooting is my favorite hobby, and this rifle I’m holding in the picture is very special to me because it is from World War II. It’s an M1 Garand rifle, and my father and I restored it together. I’m really excited to be getting back out on the range.

During my time as an amputee I’ve had a lot of different sockets made for me. They were making sockets with belts when I first was fit. After wearing it for about 20 minutes you were ready to take it off. Since then, I migrated to suction for many years, before moving to liners, which is where I’m at today. The traditional socket was too rigid and became difficult to wear. It was recommended that I pursue other avenues of mobility. I went from becoming a very individual amputee to becoming reliant. I lost a lot of independence, and tasks a lot of people take for granted such as going for a shower, going to work became a chore. When you can’t muster the strength to even get out of bed in the morning it really affects your outlook on life. My life was this way for three to four months, when I could not wear a prosthesis.

Christian Been at De La Torre O&P in Pittsburgh always took really good care for me. It’s important for every amputee to have a good working relationship with their practitioner; someone who can share their life experiences on a personal basis. I would tell any new amputee that a practitioner is asking for a lot of blind trust in allowing them to have the patient’s best interests in mind. You have more of a chance getting struck with lightning than meeting a practitioner that suits the bill, and you need to learn to trust one person with life decisions in a second. You can’t try before you buy, and if you get the impression that they are not hearing you, find somebody else. Christian is like my best friend. This is where it all starts. When I discovered the Infinite Socket, I talked to him about the features and he had the answers.

I learned about the Infinite Socket from an article online about the advancements in prosthetics. I looked at pictures of the many people in it and my initial thought was “what on the earth is this. I’ve never seen anything like this in my 30 years of being an amputee.” You wore a bucket and that was all i knew. It looked like it would fall apart in a matter of steps, but I youtubed it and found people utilizing the tensioning system. I was just amazed, the more I read, the more I was intrigued. I spoke to my prosthetist about how the socket conforms to you. Christian had heard many good things about it, and after long discussions about the medical necessity I was excited to proceed.

It took about two months to get fit with the socket because we coordinated with another amputee to be fit around the same time. From the moment we opened the box, you can tell it was thoughtfully made for comfort. It took some time to get the adjustments made, as I was having a problem with the ischial seat, but I knew it was something special. My first impression was that it felt bizarre. I didn’t have the high lateral wall, and it didn’t feel like the material went up into my groin. Initially walking with it has been comfortably slow going, however, I still marvel at how easy it is to put on and how quickly I can seat in, adjust, and walk. It’s truly a life changer. The bottom of the socket is far more comfortable than my other one, feeling almost as though I’m wearing a slipper. It’s a wonderful product, that I could tell from the moment I put it on, was unique. If you are a new amputee, and you’d never worn a traditional socket you would find this pleasant for sure. It gives your limb the opportunity to breathe.

I know that it will take awhile to get accustomed to, as I’ve known and conformed to the traditional socket for over 30 years. There is an adjustment period where you will feel pleasantly strange. It’s a very forgiving period, where sitting down in a car is a lot more comfortable than with a traditional socket. I can tell you for sure that I’m not giving the socket back. When it breaks I’m going to get another one! That’s a testament to how much I love the feeling of the Infinite Socket.

I’m 40 years old now, and the first thing I’m proud of is that I don’t really think about the small challenges that amputees face every day anymore. Foremost, I’m immensely proud that I beat the odds at such a young age to celebrate my 40th birthday. The doctors gave me a 50% chance of survival, but as an amputee I’m proud of the independence that sockets give you. I now have that get up and go spirit again. I don’t need to think about being an amputee going throughout my day, and the fact I can live my life again is a major accomplishment.

As far as things I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving, I would like to mention that I’m very thankful for my girlfriend for her unwavering support through what has been a very difficult year for me. She’s been my rock. I’m also thankful that due to the Infinite Socket, I’m now able to be out of bed a bit more and moving around, working towards gaining my independence back. It’s just difficult to describe how much your life can take a turn for the worse when you lose that independence as an amputee. While I’m not where I want to be yet, I feel that I’m making progress, and it’s a wonderful feeling. I couldn’t be where I am now without my Infinite Socket.

I’m hopeful that I can regain my health and the ability to live my life, completing the goals that I set out to do before i was diagnosed with neuropathy. I want to finish my criminology degree, and refuse to let the pain stop me. I want to get back on the road of more independence without the pain I feel every day.

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My CPO, Christian Been, myself and LIM CPO Dana Rock after being fit with the Infinite Socket.

Honoring Those Who Served in the Forces

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I’m Eileen Miller, born in Saint Marys, Pennsylvania to a wonderful mother Gloria and father Robert Sr. I was raised with Family at the forefront of my mind since I lost my mother at a very young age of 13. I have three sisters: Marilyn, Sandy, Judy and four brothers Robert Jr, Andy, Chris, and James. We range in ages from 40-54, and I am the second youngest. From being a truck driver I managed to juggle travelling cross country to 47 out of 48 states with spending quality family time; honoring my families past-time.

I joined the CA National Guard at the age of 35 on September 12, 2007 and was stationed in Sacramento, CA then deployed with a unit from Madera, CA. I went to basic training at Fort Jackson, SC in October 2007 and at Fort Bliss, Texas. I joined the military as an 88m a Motor Transport Operator. I signed up to be deployed in August 2008 to Iraq. We started training to leave in July 2008 and left for Kuwait in August. There we trained more and then headed over to Iraq in October 2008. While in Iraq I was a driver of a MRAP and we did convoy escort. We were stationed at COB Speicher right outside of Tikrit Iraq. I learned a lot of wonderful things over there. I learned how to rely on other people for my safety and to have their backs at the same time. I met so many people in the unit I was deployed with. I still have those friendships today. We are still watching over each other.

It was the evening of October 28th 2009, an I was on my to Fort Bragg from Sacramento I hit a snow storm and I was involved in a 19-vehicle pile up outside of Wyoming. A truck jack-knifed on a bridge whilst I was in my truck, and people were in need of assistance. As a former EMT, I felt the urge to get out to help. I went to a tractor trailer behind my pickup to try and notify the other trucks that there was an accident in front of them. When all of a sudden a truck came rushing towards me I tried to jump in the semis front seat but didn’t make it. I was hit by the front wheel of the truck where my left leg was amputated on scene. I passed out for a while after that. I was put in my pickup while people waited for emergency services to get to the accident scene. A wonderful gentlemen by the name of John Binford found me and directed the paramedics to help me. He stayed with me while we waited for other ambulances came to help the injured. I was transported to Cheyenne Regional Hospital where some amazing people helped take care of me. My accident was one of 279 accidents that day from the freak snowstorm that shut down 5 states. To this day he is my guardian angel. We exchange Christmas presents and stay in contact regularly. Without his help, I don’t know if I’d be here to this day. He spent 13 days in hospital with me by my bedside. I also stay in contact with the nurses that helped save my life that day through Facebook and I go out to visit everyone every few years. My daughter Alyssa and brother Andy had the pleasure of meeting everyone about 2 years ago.

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I was moved to the Cheyenne WY VA for another 7 days to finish my recovery and wait to have my stitches removed before I was able to fly home and be with my family. I was sent to my first prosthetic appointment at the beginning of December when I was moved back to the Pennsylvania VA to be nearer my family. From there, the rehab was fast, I was up and mobile in 3 days on a walker after my accident. This was incredible progress for me as I was terrified I’d never be able to walk again. I was put straight into a hard plastic socket the I wore for about 6 months, but the sores my socket generated on my residual limb forced me to give up walking for three years. The reality struck that my mobility may never be the same again, prompting my journey through severe depression that lasted for over 3 years and still to this day I battle each and every day but trying to get better.

Depression is a horrible place, but one amputees and Veterans experience regularly. Fortunately for me, my family guided me out of depression and once my granddaughter Zoe was born in March 2015 I realized something had to be done. I went to see my prosthetist, Mark Hinton at Allegheny Orthotics and Prosthetics where he made my second socket in December 2014. I’d gained a lot of weight due to my lack of movement and the medication I was taking for the phantom pains and health issues associated with being an amputee which was affecting my confidence.

My nephew Justin pointed out that I needed to start talking to people to get back in the swing of things. We went out for drinks (of course non alcoholic for me) where I met an amazing man named Mark. He only lived 15 miles away from me and only worked less than 2 miles from where I lived. He drove past my house 5 days a week. It was like fate that I met him when I did. Now my partner of over 2 years Mark Zuraski has never been bothered by my leg and when I approached him at the bar he was so friendly. Nervous about the thoughts of what he would say regarding my prosthesis, Upon explaining I had a prosthetic, he showed the attitude I’d been longing for, and said “yea so” over the last 2 years we have done so many things together and me being an amputee has never gotten in the way of that.

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In January 2016 I went in to talk about new sockets. I had asked for the Martin Bionics socket, but my Clinician recommended I tried the Infinite Socket, as there was no support in the other one. It took a bit for me to be approved for the Infinite socket as it had to be coded through Medicare for the Veterans hospital to use it for their patients. When we first tried to fit it after the casting it was to tall and the plastic cup just didn’t fit my sleeve even though we casted it with it on. So we had to try something else and that’s when he suggested I come back when he had one of the LIM clinicians out to help with the fit. At first I didn’t like the Infinite Socket, it kept rotating while walking and completing simple movements. It just didn’t work for me. However much I adjusted it, it kept causing me issues. I was on the verge of giving up on the socket, but realized my other option of stuffing my leg into a barrell was just not ideal.

After LIM’s clinician came out to help with my fit, the difference is incredible. I love the fact that the socket moves with my leg rather than fighting against it. It is so much more comfortable than an ordinary plastic socket. It is also so much easier to put on then the plastic socket. You know, I’m very proud to be alive after everything I’ve been through and done,but since i’ve gotten this leg I’ve moved more than I have down in the previous six years combined. I love having my freedom back.

In the future, I want to run and dance The funny thing is that I have always hated running but I really want to do it now but I love to dance. I believe it’s due to the fact that with any other leg, I didn’t have the mobility. What this leg has allowed me to do now though for the meantime, is the ability to go out there with my 19 month old granddaughter Zoe Jean and 21 year old daughter Alyssa Paige, and be myself. I’m free!

The time I spent in the military prior to my accident has shaped my life so much. I am here to live my life to the fullest. I waste no time. My daughter and I have done so much traveling since I came home. We have gone on cruises to Alaska, the western Caribbean, and Mexico. We have taken a 10 day-15 city tour around Europe as her graduation present 2 years ago. Now we are waiting to go to the last state that I haven’t been to yet. A beautiful trip to Hawaii is on my bucket list. Hopefully In the near future when my granddaughter is a bit older and the funds are available. I want to show her the world.

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LIM Updates Online Ordering System

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We are proud to announce our updated online ordering system. LIM is now paperless, allowing for account setup and online ordering to be easier than ever.

Please note the following changes to our training, ordering, and warranty take place immediately:

  • Measurement sheet
  • Online order form
  • Newly added collection of clinical LIM Tech Tip videos

MEASUREMENT SHEET
Because of our rapid growth we are no longer accepting orders via paper order forms.  From this point forward, orders can only be placed through our website to allow for accurate data collection and order processing.

Why did we make a ‘Measurement Form’ and eliminate a hard copy paper intake form?  There are several reasons.  This new process will:

  • Standardize order intake across suspension methods
  • Ensure complete, thorough, and accurate measurement information
  • Provide a uniform assessment script for patient evaluation
  • Allow ordering partners to capture the required patient information and transfer the information to the online form if a computer is not available in the exam room.
  • TT Measurement Form
  • TF Measurement Form 

We have also launched new tech tip videos, including an in depth casting tutorial, Out of the Box Quick Setup, and many other common socket adjustments.
Tech Tips

As always, if you need any assistance with the ordering process please contact LIM Customer Service.

General Inquiries
(844) 888-8546
info@liminnovations.com

Clinical Support
(855) 658-0711
customerservice@liminnovations.com

Supporting Those Who Protect

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Back in 2013 I was serving on deployment to Helmand province Afghanistan. My role was force protection and I was the patrol commander deployed on a Tesseral Patrol; in order to protect the aircraft arriving and departing. Whilst on the second day of the patrol, our only tasking wasn’t until the hours of darkness so our commander back at unit radioed through and instructed us to head to a nearby village to have a chat with the village elder. As we moved off, second vehicle in formation, we drove over and initiated an IED. The IED ejected me clear of my vehicle but resulted in an immediate loss of my left leg above the knee. After being collected and mobilised back to the nearest medical unit, I was flown back to the UK where I remained in an induced coma for 2 months.

When I awoke the extent of my injuries became apparent, Right AKA, Left BKA, Fractures to my Shoulders Scapulas, Arms, Jaw, Sternum, Ribs, Spine and Pelvis. Massive shock to the system and only when I regained some function was I able to move to Headley Court the UK’s rehabilitation centre for Armed Forces.

The prosthetic centre at Headley court helped get me back on my feet sooner rather than later. However it became aware that straight away, traditional sockets would be a difficult issue regarding the left high amputation. I persevered even though I was in excruciating pain. Various rubs and frictions gains from the socket and the loose tissue upon the stump made wearing a normal socket pretty unusable. It was only towards the end of my time in rehab, I was told by my prosthetist of a new socket that may be available. The Infinite Socket, a fully adjustable more comfortable one. I immediately wanted to try it to protect my limb.

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The guys from Lim Innovations came across to the UK to measure me up and were very hopeful of a good fitting socket. I was more and more intrigued and couldn’t wait to get started. With the amount of love tissue still proving to be an issue, I still required a stick to help stabilise myself whilst mobile.

Having now left the Military and moved on with my life, the guys at LIM Innovations have been in constant contact ensuring the socket is still working correctly. Over the last 2-3 months, the socket has really started to click. I fully fit within the socket, it feels fully secure and has enabled me to come away from using the Stick and walk independently mobile. Without the need for the traditional carbon fibre socket, the comfort and adjustability of the Infinite Socket is second to none.

Adding on to the that, I have recently been offered the opportunity of Osseointegration Surgery on my left stump. Whilst I was in rehab I would have snapped their hand off, however since the socket is now working perfectly and I am more independent, I have declined the surgery to focus on working with the socket and getting on with my life.

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Nathan the Invictus

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Nathan was one of our very first adopters of the Infinite Socket in the UK. He has showcased the Infinite Socket with the Invictus Games, and his determination has stuck firmly in the mind of everyone at LIM during his interactions with us.

“I served in the British army for ten years. During my third tour of Afghanistan I was blown up by an I.E.D that resulted in me losing my left leg below the knee and above my knee on the right. After spending a few months recovering from my injuries, and numerous operations later I started my rehabilitation process to learn to walk again. It took me around two years to be confident in using prosthetics on a daily basis. I was lucky I had the best prosthetics available to me, yet sockets were the main issue. Losing weight and volume around my residuum required a new socket. When the fit was right again, I would put weight on and a new socket would be necessary. I caught MRSA 7 times and have had 29 surgeries so far, each resulting in the revision of my limbs, resulting in more sockets.

It was then that I was introduced to LIM Innovations about six months ago where I had an opportunity to try a LIM Infinite Socket for my above knee prosthesis. After a few teething problems, which were promptly rectified by my clinical team at Headley Court Medical Center in England, I have been using my new socket every day with little discomfort. I can confidently say I wish I had tried the socket earlier as it’s been really good for me. With an intimate fit, that flexes with my limb as I walk, I can carry out my daily activities without skin breakdown and painful sores that affect my gait.

With the release of their below knee prosthetic, the ‘Infinite TT’ around the corner, I am hoping they carry on with the same adjustable, dynamic features that makes the Infinite Socket so unique to the individual wearing it. I will be pursuing the acquisition of the Infinite TT for sure.

I recently went to San Francisco with the team from Invictus Games and the British Benevolent Society to have a guided tour of LIM’s facility. I met the whole team involved from start to finish in the production of my socket and it’s great to see the care they offer on a daily basis. They hosted a happy hour event based on a Veteran’s road to recovery and what they do to become more involved in a civilian capacity. I was invited to speak in front of 85 people who intently listened to my story and offered support. It goes to show the level of respect that LIM has for every one who has either been affected by amputation or wishes to achieve more freedom than ever before.”

Louisa and Nathan 2, SF Giants

Relationship Goals

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The patient-prosthetist relationship is characterized by the socket fit experience. This means that a prosthetist’s signature is our socket design and the quality of clinical care that supplements it. As such, the Infinite Socket uniquely partners three people – a LIM Clinical Specialist, a prosthetist, and a patient user. The three of us work closely to build this crucial relationship for success. My job as a LIM representative is to direct and manage our trio’s knowledge, perceptions, and needs. There are many things that create and maintain a happy outcome. I often make the analogy to our clinical partners and #LIMLegends that starting this relationship is much like a first date.

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The prosthetic socket so intimately represents our literal and conceptual expectations, much like two individuals coming together. They overlap common interests with the expectation to discover something new. Despite unfamiliarity, both people want to have a good time and learn new things in the process. A prosthetist approaches a fitting with an established set of clinical expertise and principles. The patient actively participates by providing feedback and functional cues. Together, this patient-prosthetist date evolves like any close relationship.

As a LIM Clinical Specialist, I enter the patient-prosthetist formula at various stages. I carefully navigate and adapt to the existing relationship, sometimes remotely via online support and sometimes visiting in person. It’s a delicate approach, but also a privileged one. From it, I always learn new clinical styles and use this insight to become more relatable in future encounters. Introducing myself in this way has been warmly welcomed at all of my LIM Supported Fittings (LSFs) domestically and internationally. This is especially important given the pressures imposed upon the patient and the prosthetist by the payor process. These realities can often create confusion and miscommunication between me, the prosthetist, and the patient. Things only get more complicated when introducing personality and product nuances. Herein lies the critical aspect of managing our date.

Providing clinical support is very different for a socket product than a prosthetic knee joint or foot. I mentioned that the socket is a prosthetist’s signature, while the patient relies significantly on the socket interface as the primary means for walking. So, this puts me in a very strategic position to support the clinical relationship apart from technical troubleshooting. I view this opportunity as a way to bond over professional and industry challenges faced by the patient and prosthetist. It’s a think tank, it’s a support group, and it’s a moment to connect. This differs very much from my personal experience with prosthetic device manufacturers. Our industry has cultivated a vendor culture where service and support are concretely defined by the product itself. Establishing and sustaining the Infinite Socket’s impact at various levels is a much larger responsibility. In this way, I find my role as a Clinical Specialist to be very dynamic.

Like with any date or new experience in life, long term successes are built from thoughtful and genuine attention to the relationship. Thank you to all our partners and #LimLegends for this opportunity.

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Driven by Data

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Carol Davis was fit with a highly custom socket to address the lack of comfort and motivation that had left her without a leg for over a year. She always looks above and beyond the past, and with the help of data, her progression in recent months has been nothing far from astonishing. Read what Carol had to say.

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“I wanted to thank you guys again for constructing a wonderful adjustable and easy to put on socket. I know my residual limb was a challenging fit with a pediatric circumference, long length, and fragile skin. It’s so amazing as I had been out of a leg for over a year, and now I am up walking a couple of miles a day, working in the garden outside, and spending time with my grandkids. My favorite activity however is spending time with my husband going on walks near the beach.

Thank you also for the Fitbit™! I love being able to track my steps, active minutes, how many stairs I climb, and how much energy I am exerting per step. I think everyone could benefit from having this on their leg. The first day I put the tracker on it was pretty late in the day and I logged 250 steps; not a lot, but in the grand scheme of things to come it was a step in the right direction. The first week I took around 1,500 steps a day and that has increased from there. I now regularly have been doing over 6,000 steps a day and have approximately 40 minutes of active or sustained walking. It challenges me to keep moving and do more. Recently, I was able to do a 5K fun run/walk at our 4th of July event. In case you are interested, my Fitbit™ showed that it was over 8,000 steps and 88 minutes of constant movement! Thank you for giving me a life back!

Please keep on doing what you are doing. I hope that the data device gets added to all of your new sockets. The socket works well, providing comfort in an adjustable fashion. Understanding the data that I generate on a daily basis keeps me moving forward, setting new goals to achieve rather than just sitting around. When you see progress it is easier to stay motivated, and for that I will always be grateful.”

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“My final step count for today 🙂 love this leg 🙂 :)” – Carol Davis Facebook Post of fitbit™ step count

Keeping the Beat

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A drummer who was seriously hurt in a bus crash whilst on tour with his band, is fighting his way through therapy by doing what he loves, keeping the beat.

The metalcore band The Ghost Inside was headed to another concert venue in November when life took a devastating turn. Their bus was involved in a head-on crash with a semi-truck just outside of El Paso, Texas.

Drummer Andrew Tkaczyk was sleeping before the crash and woke to find himself in wreckage. He wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to drum again after sustaining extensive injuries — 51 in all, including the loss of his right leg, which is critical to his drumming career.

“There was definitely a point where I was still telling myself, ‘Yes, you can do it and we’ll make it work,’ but there was definitely doubt in my mind, like, what if it doesn’t?” he said. “What if I can’t play drums ever again? And it’s a terrifying thought.”

Luckily, Andrew’s Doctor, Dr. Stephen Bloom had a hidden passion of playing the drums himself. So, about three weeks into it, he brought in a pair of drumsticks and put them in Andrew’s right hand.

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During rehabilitation sessions, Andrew uses a specialized prosthesis to play the drums. A creative recreational therapist helped modify Andrew’s leg prosthesis so he could press the pedal that works the bass drum.

In daily life however, he uses the Infinite Socket, and Genium X3 knee combination to walk. None of this would have been possible if LIMLegend Irene Blum hadn’t sent Andrew images on the Infinite Socket and a story about another LIMLegend, Enrique Alvarez, and his recovery story two months after Andrew’s amputation. 

“I brought it to my prosthetist Mark Bennett at Mary Free Bed Rehab, and he encouraged me to choose something that I feel comfortable with. It’s comforting to know that they were considering all these options. Everything to do with amputation was new to me, and Mark reassured me that i will have full control of my prosthetic choices.

I was already up and walking around in a check socket, using an Ottobock c-leg on therapy days. I had been using it for about six weeks and the time came for me to step up and use my own leg.

Mark got the cast mould of my leg and sent it to the folks at LIM. Within a couple of weeks I was fit with the Infinite Socket and straight off the bat was up and walking. I needed a few adjustments to correct my alignment, but following a few tweaks, I felt great. Steve Hoover the clinical specialist for LIM, provided a demonstration on how to adjust the brim whilst I was walking, which has proven to be a huge benefit.

The whole scenario for me was seriously night and day. I lost a lot of volume over the first two months. My limb was slipping out from the check socket. It was slowing me down and i wasn’t getting anywhere, then all of a sudden I had this socket that felt like a part of my body. It didn’t feel like a prosthetic. It was infinitely… (no pun intended) right off the bat, more comfortable. The ratchet strap has to be my favorite feature. I can loosen the socket by my upper thigh with just a few clicks of the ratchet.

It was hard, because when I had first woken up I didn’t know who was OK or who was hurt or even alive or not, and it was difficult. But having such a wonderful team at Mary Free Bed and state of the art prosthetics has given me the opportunity to go on tour again. The bandmates and I have big plans. We are scattered throughout the country recovering, but we keep in touch daily online through whatsapp and encourage each other. We are planning on being ready to return to the stage for the “Van’s Warped Tour” in 2017.”

Andrew’s prosthetist Mark Bennett had this to say. “Working with Andrew and being part of his healing process here at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital is extremely rewarding. From our initial visit and being present when Andrew took his first steps on a prosthesis, to watching him progress to the Infinite Socket and re-gain his independence is what it’s all about.  Steve Hoover and the LIM team have been with Andrew and I every step of the way with great information and recommendations to ensure continued prosthetic success.”

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One Step at a Time

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Graham Gill is the longest active user of the Infinite Socket. He was fit with the Infinite Socket™ over two years ago, and is LIM Innovations’ first test-user. Graham was kind enough to give us a first person account of his deeply personal story below, highlighting the impact the Infinite Socket has had on his life allowing him to become more mobile one step at a time:

“Combining the ability to have modular parts that make fittings and adjustments so much easier along with daily comfort gives me the ability to live my life away from the doctor’s office. I used to be confined to a wheelchair and spend the majority of my time on the sofa. I used to live on what I started to call a 1-for-3 schedule. In other words, I would have one good day of being active for every three days I was confined to a wheelchair or resting at home. Essentially I had two days a week to live.

20160115 LIM Graham SF net-0067Since being fit with the Infinite Socket I have the ability to get up every morning and put my leg on, as you would your shoes, and go on living my life.

I’ve been able to walk down the aisle and get married, re-sign my modeling contract and continue doing what I love. I have been left to travel around the world without any pain or discomfort. The Infinite Socket has given my life back.

The only sadness I still have is that every amputee deserves to experience what I have with the Infinite Socket. It may not be the right choice for everyone, but in my experience, it gives me optimal comfort that can be utilized as I see fit. I want to thank Garrett Hurley and Andy Pedtke, the co-founders of LIM Innovations, and the rest of the LIM Innovations team that made this socket available to those who need it most.”

 

Claudio's Recovery

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Two weeks ago we learned of the recovery period of one of our #LIMLegends, Claudio Cappabianca through the eyes of his son Marco. This week we asked Claudio himself, a true renaissance man, to tell the amputee community about the struggles and victories he faced during his recovery period. Let’s hear what he has to say:

“Six months had passed since the accident. I had fought and won many setbacks that I’d faced, but it was the eve of the fitting of my ‘new’ leg, where hopefully I would be finally free to walk again! There were so many questions running through my mind: Will it work? How easy is it going to be? Did I have any regrets for having been so reckless and stupid? Will I be ridding myself of the crutches like I did with the wheelchair?

I couldn’t believe this day has finally come. From the moment I got hurt I had been waiting for this day. I thought it would have taken at most two months, not more, but I didn’t account for all the setbacks in my recovery process.

I don’t remember driving to the clinician office, but for some reason I remember standing on the balancing rails. Looking to my right side I saw Andrew, Mac and Dave, surrounded by my wife and daughter. I could see their nervous glances as my son prepared to film the first step of my new life. I assumed it was going to be a breeze to walk again on two legs. How wrong I was; it was just about impossible, with no equilibrium. I couldn’t walk, and could not stand unless holding to the parallel bars or crutches.

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It wasn’t an easy couple of weeks learning how to walk again. After multiple falls, the only thing you can do is pull yourself up again. The rehab crew worked on me both mornings and afternoons to see how much I could take. I had the best time of my life since the accident, I was so happy and eager to do as much possible. When I was ready, I walked through the rehab revolving door all by myself with no assisting device, just me and my new leg on the way to challenge myself and the world again with a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

A little over a year has passed and nothing has passed by without hard work and sacrifice, mostly physical. I did experience a few days of depression but managed to get over it thanks to my wife’s tireless support. I have been able to get back to my life as it was before the accident but with a few exceptions. I can’t run, can’t bike and can’t ski. I have tried skiing and after five days and dozens of runs and very risky situations, I had to give it up as my knee joints are asymmetric and therefore it’s impossible to kneel down, which is the prime requirement for turning. Well, we’ll have to work out a solution for next winter, I’m not done yet, at least I have another challenge to look for.

I have returned to my mountain, back to landscaping, cutting trees, splitting logs, driving my tractor and walking the lawn mower. I even managed to go by myself on the train to the Center for Medicare to help prevent them depriving disabled Americans of certain critical benefits and to assist Andrew to help persuade the administrators to approve coverage for the LIM Infinite Socket.

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How much credit is due to the LIM? I could have not been able to accomplish much if it wasn’t for the adjustability of my Infinite Socket. It’s just like wearing a ski boot with its side buckle. Bi-weekly visits with my clinician and dear friend Dave Bow who has been my pit crew all these months; making sure the Infinite Socket would perform to my capability and satisfaction was vital.

I can definitively say that I’m living an almost normal life, I’m used to my new leg, I feel normal when I wear it but not as much when I have to park it for the night.

I am very grateful to Nedim, Andrew, Geoff, Mac, Dave, Marco and GiuGiu’ with Christine and David, all the friends who visited me while at Albany Med, all the doctors and nurses, the rescue team, the medevac pilot who bravely decided to continue flying thru the rain storm instead of putting down and finally my dear and loving wife Silvana who stood by me and tirelessly putting up with this crazy bum!”

Family First – The perspective of a Son

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Claudio Cappabianca has been wearing the Infinite Socket since his amputation in 2014. During the rehabilitation period following his accident Claudio’s son Marco helped him take his first steps and get to where he is today. Here is his account of his Father’s process following limb loss.

“Limb loss is a staggering event, but as shocking as the circumstances may be that led to such an incident, the family must cope trying to understand the recovery process in hopes of their loved one walking again, perhaps with no idea whatsoever where to start.

My Father Claudio, truly embodies the old school Italian renaissance man; fashionable, athletic, hard working, and intelligent. At the time of the accident he was at his home in upstate New York standing on a ladder, cutting down some trees. Out of sheer determination he somehow managed to find his way to the hospital.

With the very real prospect of amputation on the horizon, we were introduced to LIM Innovations within days of my Father’s accident, through my friend who knew Andrew Pedtke and it was clear this company had a mission to help people. Andrew, as a medical professional, understood exactly the physical aspect of the situation, and further opened up the team at LIM to aid in the mental aspect we faced. We felt cared for, important, and understood. The recovery process in my father’s case has been long for various medical reasons, but LIM Innovations has a never ending patience in an effort to see my Father, a highly active, seasoned individual (71 years old), get back to life as it was before the accident.

For the younger generation of amputees the benefits of working with LIM and the Infinite Socket must be amazing. For us, I hate to think where we would be today if left to work with a “one-size-fits-all” company and product.

Choosing a future with LIM Innovations is choosing a forward looking company and product that comes with hope, care, attention, and a return to life! Thanks to LIM, Claudio can spend time with my daughter and can advocate for those in need through his never give up fighting attitude”

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The Infinite Socket – Custom to you

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Sean Boatwright from Diablo Prosthetics has been working with LIM Innovations since the start of the year. During that time he has come up to LIM’s head office twice to show potential patients the in’s and out’s of the Infinite Socket.

“I have personally visited The LIM Innovations facility on a couple of occasions. I was able to provide my patients a hands-on experience and exposure to the product and have them decide if it would be the right socket for them.

Three different environments are present within the LIM facility. On one level, enthusiastic engineers equipped with 3D printers and countless amounts of materials used for testing various interfaces. On another level, you get the feel of the “typical” start-up. Energetic marketing team on laptops and phone calls or working on the next graphic design project or social media, reaching out in any way to make sure that their patients are satisfied and thriving.

Then there is the more familiar area. A bustling lab, similar to what we are all accustomed to. Multiple technicians each immersed on their specific task in creating the end product.

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“Plaster models fill one area with hands-on modifications taking place while carbon fiber struts are cut to size, heated and shaped over a recently vacuum formed flexible plastic socket.”

Tucked away in another area are multiple brims, ready to be customized for each patient. LIM has a special mix of technology and high quality hands-on craftsmanship a practitioner like myself can appreciate.

Seeing first hand how labor intensive and actually customizable the Infinite Socket is, is an impressive accomplishment that LIM Innovations appears to have mastered.”

Adjustment Made Easy

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Hi my name is Lynn De Cola. I have been an amputee for 23 years following a motorcyle accident that claimed my right leg above the knee in 1993.

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I received my first conventional socket in 1993 and it’s rigidity had always caused me issues. The funny thing is that it looks exactly like the conventional sockets offered in 2016, with its flexible inner liner and rigid frame. I became a prosthetist in 1994 when my prosthetist invited me to come see the work he did. I instantly fell in love and he hired me as an O&P assistant, which spurred me on to become ABC certified by Florida state. I learned of the Infinite Socket through O&P edge, and believed the technology could prove a valid alternative to the sockets I fit on a daily basis. I reached out to LIM Innovations and was fit with the Infinite Socket at AAOP 2016.

The first thing I instantly noticed was the shock absorption from the dynamic struts was incredible. Whilst wearing my previous socket, I felt every bump in the road reverberating up my femur. Now it feels like I’m walking on a soft sponge. As I wore the Infinite Socket and became familiar with the functionality of it, I came to notice other benefits. One big difference was that the brim does not stick to skin like a proflex type flexible liner. The soft goods feel great around my groin and rather than trap the limb, capture it along the top. This leads to the Infinite Socket being cooler. I live in Florida, which has a humid climate that affects the way I maintain suction in the socket. While sitting out in sun, my residual limb does not feel like it’s baking in socket either, which is of huge benefit.

On a daily basis, I drive to work and noticed over a period of time that I had an increased range of motion in my hip flexors when I sit. This allows me to drive long distances without the need of removing my prosthesis and redonning upon my arrival. I can use the rowing machine at the gym and even bend down to pick up things I drop by accident. Convenient and comfortable has been unheard of since 1993…

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Naturally, I slow down at the end of the day, but not from painful sockets, but rather from being tired. My activity level has increased dramatically since being fit with the Infinite Socket, and when I arrive back home, I can use the adjustment feature by loosening the ratchet to free the grip around my residual limb. Whilst keeping the socket on, I can actually feel someone’s hand on my lap, the affection of a cat and it’s little paws stomping around in between my struts.

The socket did however, take some getting used to. At first I wanted to take full advantage of the adjustment, and attempted to over tighten the velcro tensioner because I thought the brim should be as tight as possible so as not to slide off.

Of course the tensioner broke, and I was left to make do with my old socket for one day until a new one was shipped. The turn-around times at LIM’s production facility is impressive and their flexibility to cover damages to the socket is unheard of these days.

On another occasion, my brim failed. The version which I was fit with originally had foam around the top of the brim. Once that had flattened out, I was able to feel the plastic interior digging into my groin. I provided feedback and images to the clinical team, and LIM sent out a brand new model with silicon rope along the top to counteract this issue. GOLDEN!

The adjustability of the Infinite Socket is always going to provide some durability kickbacks with parts as consistently seen on anything that moves. The important thing to remember is the quality of my life has dramatically improved as a result of my adjustable modular prosthetic socket.

A Clinician's perspective

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Amalia Gruman Laird, Clinician of Winkley Orthotics & Prosthetics, MN has been working with LIM for a year. From ordering the Infinite Socket™ the first time, she fit Pam Selinski and provided feedback that helped us fine tune our product to better perform not only for the patient, but also for the Clinician.

After fitting three Infinite suction sockets to patients I feel that I have seen a significant amount of growth in the fabrication of the Infinite socket. To me, seeing the difference between fitting my very first socket, while experiencing the need to troubleshoot a great deal and fitting another one about a year later with ease speaks volumes for LIM itself. The socket itself has already been updated several times with increases to the durability of the brim, as well as improving the socket fabrication process which has made it easier for the prosthetist to fit to the patient.

The benefits of the Infinite socket are great. One of the biggest things that I believe helped my patients the most, is the ability to don and doff easily, and be able to tighten the proximal brim up to truly get the support needed for high function. This improved proximal support which would otherwise be compromised to allow for a patient to don and doff.

One of the other benefits although it seems quite overwhelming at first, is the ability to swap out parts without having to remake a socket if incorrect. The molding capability of the struts is very helpful if that type of modification needs to be done. Re-moulding a strut is somewhat worrisome as heating up the piece to allow you to move it, also removes any prior curves that once existed. I’ve also been able to decrease the amount of flexion by swapping out plates for one patient to allow her to progress in therapy and experiment with getting back into her Zumba movements.

Something that I would hope could possibly be changed in the future is the bulk/weight of the socket itself, though it is not necessarily heavier than a traditional socket.

For the more conservative female population the socket is a little bulky appearing, and the distal plate appears quite large in terms of aesthetics. I’ve also noticed there are a lot of places for things to rub together and make noise, which I’ve managed to subside by adding some neoprene in the said area. The only other issue that could possibly keep someone from wearing the Infinite Socket is if they cannot tolerate the addition of a roll-on liner, which some patients would really hesitate to try.

I do look forward to working with the Infinite socket in the coming years and hope that it continues to be a beneficial part of my practice and improve the lives of my patients.

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– Amalia Gruman Laird CP, CTP

Introducing the Pin Lock

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Two years ago we successfully fit our first Infinite Socket.
To celebrate, we are adding to the current Infinite Socket suspension line with the introduction of the pin lock.

We are excited to expand our product line, to include all three major suspension options. The pin lock provides a light and reliable option for amputees. It consists of a drawdown clutch-lock and cushioned end-pad, easing the donning procedure, minimizing pistoning and rotation, and providing a secure fit.

The pin lock interfaces with a locking liner to engage the patients residual limb. The liner is placed into the distal end of the socket, and can be tightened down with the shuttle-lock, located on the medial side of the prosthesis. The prosthesis will remain securely engaged, and can only be released if the patient presses the shuttle-lock.

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To find out more call (844) 888-8LIM or email info@liminnovations.com today.

Access Your Life

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On August 13th 2015 I became an above knee amputee after years of surgeries to my left knee due to Type II CRPS/RSD. 12 days after the operation I had access to a training leg, and was up and walking even before my stitches were removed. I was soon fitted with my first socket, and at first things were going really well, but the more I wore the socket, the more pain I would endure. I also had major problems with my stump swelling and shrinking whilst wearing it due to lymphedema. It became a nightmare! It would take me 45 minutes to just get the socket on and then within minutes my leg would shrink so I’d take the socket off put socks on and then after putting the socket back on for ten minutes my stump would swell again.

My awesome Prosthetists, Helen Brigham and Steven Purcell at Specialised Ability Centre in Manchester, tried everything to make it comfortable but nothing worked. Eventually it got to the point where I was told that when my stump was swollen, to just not wear my leg. The longest I could wear my leg was no more than 3-4 hours once or twice a week, which was so frustrating as my physiotherapists said that my walking was spot on! I had worked so hard to get my fitness back and then to be told “don’t wear your leg” was a kick in the gut. My leg was in the corner of my room becoming an ornament gathering dust.

I decided on researching other socket options and in December last year I came across LIM Innovations whilst going through my twitter stream. I did some research on them via their website and was in awe! I thought I would send LIM a tweet asking them if this was available in the UK, and within ten minutes they responded. I went straight in to show all of my physio team and my prosthetist to see what they thought. Everyone at Specialised Ability Centre actively want to help patients to live fully independent lives, so they are always open in to looking at new technologies coming through.

In March, the LIM team came along and met my team. I was completely overwhelmed, excited, and shocked; like a kid at Christmas. The next day I had my cast taken which was then sent back to San Francisco, so that my Infinite Socket could be made. They came back over to the UK in April and spent the day fitting my socket as well as showing the prosthetists and technicians how to do all the adjustments. I was so surprised at how soft and light it feels to wear.

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Within the first week I was invited by Limb Power and British Cycling to go to The National Cycling Centre in Manchester to have a try at track para-cycling on the Velodrome. I haven’t been on a bike in over 20 years! Even then it was on a mountain bike not a racer. The wheels are 2cms in width, which left me nervous at first but I managed to do 12 laps! I will be going back again for sure, as I want to beat those 12 laps. It felt amazing to be able to take part in sports again!

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Then in week 2 I was able to tick off another goal. I wanted to be able to walk all the way round the supermarket I go to and do my shopping whilst holding a basket. I did it! I must admit that when I got back to my car I was so hot that my face was bright red, it was a full on workout but I did it! I had not been able to do that in well over 10 years.

In a couple of weeks, I will be going to the Limb Power Anniversary Games. They have an introduction to sports where you can go along and try out lots of different sports. I’m so excited to go along and just give everything a go.

There are plenty of other amputees out there that want to wear their leg but can’t because of socket problems. I also think that the Infinite Socket would be a perfect solution for new amputees to help getting them used to wearing a prosthesis, as the socket can accommodate and be adjusted to stump changes that happen within the first couple of years. This would mean goodbye to 5 -10 castings, test socket fittings and the time it takes to get for those appointments. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Here is my rundown of the traditional socket Vs the Infinite Socket:

The old socket is hard, rigid, unforgiving, painful around the groin, doesn’t hold my femur steady and most importantly it will never accommodate my leg swelling throughout the day. I had padding added to stop my bone tapping on the sides of the socket, which hurts! It would cut off the feeling in my stump when standing for any length of time. I couldn’t sit comfortably at all. I would have to lean over to one side to sit as it would cut into me. I couldn’t drive whilst wearing it because it would cut off the feeling in my stump and it would jab into my hip and groin. My prosthetists tried everything to try and make it comfortable but nothing worked.

The Infinite Socket is soft, extremely sturdy, doesn’t cut off the feeling of my stump when I’m sat down, flexes when walking, which holds the femur in place for a more confident stride and the very best part…. Its fully adjustable! I can adjust it throughout the day, which means no more having to carry 1/3/5 ply socks and having to take my leg off and on to add or remove socks. I can sit down in comfort without having to lean to stop it cutting into me. I can drive long distances too. I now love my socket! I want to show my whole leg off now not just the bit below the socket.

Control Your Comfort

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I’m a 46 year old medically retired veteran who loves fishing, family and playing guitar. I have three boys: 17, 18, and 21 with my partner who I’ve been married to almost 23 years.

The root cause of my amputation was Osteosarcoma followed by a nasty bone infection that eventually took my leg on January 23, 1992 when I was just 21. I was young and the advancements in prosthetic socket technology were not there yet, but was happy to get my first socket, a quad-style, around August ’92. Three months later I was playing basketball on my church team and that season was able to jump and grab the rim again; something I never thought possible again since my amputation. It was a dream come true.

A few years later, a new prosthetist came in and as an amputee said I should be in a narrow ML socket instead; well that screwed me up. I began to develop cysts on the tendon that runs to the leg through the groin and have had issues ever since that day. It was something I should not have let happen, but believed the prosthetist knew what was best for me.

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I soon moved on to another prosthetist who was supposed to be one of the best in the country. I asked him to fit me back into a quad-socket as I longed for that comfort and mobility I was used to. He refused due to the quad-socket being considered old tech as he only looks forward to up and coming technologies. After almost a year of not getting fit, I went without a leg for three more years. I couldn’t stand the sockets I was being fit into. They didn’t support my lifestyle or myself as a person.

I needed to become mobile again however, and started trying prostheses again as I longed for the freedom to move. I tested total contact sockets, then seal-in suction sockets, which I really like, and even tried elevated vacuum but didn’t really see a big benefit. Finally, my prosthetist fit me into a modified quad and I remained wearing that style to the day I tried the Infinite Socket.

Now the Infinite Socket felt good the first time you put it on. Sure, it is a little tough getting the alignment consistently right when donning it, but that comes with time. The good thing about the socket is that the struts are malleable, and my prosthetist was able to reheat the struts to fit the shape of my limb. During my assisted fitting with Anthony, one of LIM’s clinical training staff, both my prosthetist and I learned a lot about the benefits of the Infinite Socket.

However, the turning point was when I decided the alignment issues were too much bother and I insisted on going back to the quad socket. I was not aware of just how comfortable the Infinite Socket was until I put my old socket on to set up my backup leg. It was so hard and rigid! I couldn’t believe it! I put my Infinite Socket back on and it felt like a pair of worn in slippers.

I now enjoy spending time with my kids, fishing with friends and generally living life to the fullest, pain free. No one socket is right for everybody, the old style quad-socket fit me brilliantly for years, and now I have modern technology, that if it weren’t for my prosthetist looking to test new technologies, I would never have had the chance to try.

As a person who has lost a limb, you must work hard to reach your goals, and results are best when a group of professionals come together to provide the tools to succeed. A good working relationship with your prosthetist is very important so you can achieve the best possible outcomes for your prosthetic use. It is therefore in your hands, as it was in mine, to get the socket that’s right for you.

Doing it for the Kids

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On November 7, 2013, I was scheduled for a Gastric Sleeve procedure for weight loss. I woke up November 23 with a huge dialysis machine next to my bed and a bunch of other medical devices connected to me. At this moment, I learned that my surgery was unsuccessful and I had just woken up from a 15-day induced coma. The doctor explains that my legs had been amputated due to complications with the procedure. During the surgery, a surgeon had punctured my aorta and I lost 4 liters of blood. My legs had died at this point and were amputated above the knee.

I went back to my hometown on Jan. 1, 2014, but reality started to sink in, and I knew nothing from now on was going to be easy.  After a few therapy sessions, I regained strength in my upper body and received my first set of traditional sockets around June. I could not even take a step without falling. However, I had to get my mobility back no matter what, even if it was on a wheelchair. I work 40+ hours a week and have two toddlers (Charlie 5 and Sofia 3) and I had to do this for them.  They deserved their Dad, to be taken out to the park, play games, and have a father to look up to as a role model.

A few months later, I was fortunate enough to get hand controls installed in my truck. My Kids and I went everywhere together; life started to feel normal again, but, I was still not walking. I started gaining weight, which was a huge deal because that was what got me here in the first place. I attended a few therapy sessions a month, but it was not enough for me to learn to walk again as my sockets would hurt so much. I started packing socks for comfort and I finally started walking with one hand on the rail. In early February 2015, I started to let go of the parallel bars and finally started walking unassisted, though I spent 90% of my day in the wheelchair.

I attended a Bilateral above the Knee Amputee Bootcamp and met other amputees who encouraged and taught me so much in regards to dealing with my amputation. I was so inspired that in July 2015 I hung my wheelchair to collect dust in the garage and haven’t touched it to this day. During all this time, my legs had reduced dramatically and I was wearing four to five socks in each socket. They were so large, that I was able to fit most of my arm on the sides of the sockets. I was casted for another two pairs of sockets later and I could not walk on them at all.

I kept seeing pictures and videos on Facebook of this company called LIM Innovations. So I began to research what this adjustable socket was all about. Since I fluctuate in volume so much from my leg, I was very interested in this technology, which I hoped would put the end to my use of socks.

In December 2015, I received my Infinite Sockets, and although it took a while for my sockets to fit properly, the tweaks and fittings that my Prosthetist was able to make with the clinical specialist from LIM present, it really proved a worthwhile experience.

They’ve been the most comfortable socket I’ve had; I am able to walk all day with no pain in my groin area nor in my stump area. My old socket pegged me into walking one particular way and it has nearly ruined my whole body in the process. The Infinite Socket, feels as if it is allowing me to reclaim a fair amount of meaningful space for control. Today, I put my sockets on at 7am and take them off at 11pm, Monday through Sunday. I am able to work like I used to and take care of my family. I love the confidence that I have with them; I am able to be a drummer playing live gigs again.

My Fiancé Tracy and I got engaged recently. She’s been by my side since I was on wheels, through watching me fall face first on the floor when trying my stubbies even to this day. We’ve been through thick and thin for sure. I know that there’s so many challenges ahead for us, but with each other’s support, we get through anything.  We are crazy in love and will be getting married in August in Laredo, Texas. I love life and I’m so happy that I get to share moments with my loved ones!  We only have this one life, and I’m grateful for this second chance. It’s made me stronger than I’ve ever been.

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Lifting Weight and Limitations

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We welcomed Enrique Alvarez to the Infinite Socket family back in August. Enrique had always lived an active lifestyle, varying from bodybuilding to motorcycle riding, and surfing. Enrique shares his story exclusively for the first time, and proves that with the right mindset you can overcome any challenge by literally lifting it out of your way.

In November 1995 I went out to see my friend’s band play at a local nightclub. That night changed my life forever. Had I known that it would alter the ways I did things like surfing, snowboarding, motorcycle riding, and even the little things we take for granted like running, biking and climbing, I would have gladly stayed at home. Next thing I know I was in an ambulance en route to the hospital, bleeding out and barely alive with a stab wound to the femoral artery and vein.

The doctors tried to treat it and save the limb but compartmental damage to the calf and tibialis muscles was too much. The lack of oxygen due to blood loss and necrosis of the tissue, which became infected resulted in amputation before it spread further throughout my blood stream. I hesitated and declined to get my leg removed, it was a surreal and scary experience; the thought of your life changing and the persistent battle in my mind of “why me? What did I really do to deserve this?” After a couple of days of fevers and pain I gave in and they amputated below the knee. Unfortunately, the infection had spread further than they previously had thought and they were forced to cut at the knee. I was finally released after 3 and a half weeks in the hospital. This is when the real challenges began, both emotionally and physically.

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Adjusting to life as an amputee was challenging: having to learn to be my new self again, learning to perfect and customize movements I often took for granted, and how to develop stability in a simple walk. I was fortunate enough to adapt quickly, becoming comfortable with these new process in my life as well as becoming comfortable in myself, I was determined to regain the strength to enjoy what I enjoyed so much as an abled bodied person. I pushed my physical, mental and emotional boundaries. Doing new things, meeting different people, constantly fighting to overcome my self doubts.

Frequent trips to the gym rapidly became a way I could easily take my mind off the tribulations of being an amputee, which has led to me competing in bodybuilding competitions, where I placed in the top five in all events. However, due to the discomfort and lack of suction in my previous sockets, I struggled to push myself to the maximum. My traditional socket could hold the strain of the weights I was lifting, but the restriction in movement and discomfort I felt when applying 300lbs. to my bodyweight was beyond belief on my distal end. I had to find an alternative and searched around.

That’s when I found LIM Innovations, a company from San Francisco, who designed and produced the Infinite Socket. I saw the modularity, adjustability, and the various suspension types this socket had to offer and requested more information. One month later from discovering the socket, I was wearing it. The added comfort and stability has made such a big difference to my training. From the top where my ischial bone connects with the socket down to the residual limb. I haven’t had tissue breakdown due to my activity levels, whether it be working out, doing cardio on any of the machines or even walking long distances. In comparison, the conventional socket would be hard and rigid and would require major adjustments or even a new socket if I was to partake in any of these activities. It was also highly uncomfortable or would tear my skin after long periods of use.

“The ratchet system is a Godsend, it has given me to opportunity to drop up to 10 lbs. so far without any major adjustments other that simply cranking on the ratchet to a comfortable and snug fit.”

My goal this year is to be number one and also win in any event or challenge handed to me. I am looking forward to returning back to competition form in the upcoming weeks with no worries thanks to the versatility of this socket. I want to prove to myself and inspire others that obstacles in your way can be pushed aside and applied mentally to every facet of your life to become successful. My life has slowly come full circle, gaining the acceptance, admiration and respect from my peers and getting treated as an equal with no questions asked along the way.

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To Infinite(y) & Beyond

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The initial fitting of LIM Innovations’ patient adjustable socket, the Infinite Socket™ at Pace Rehabilitation has yielded a positive outcome for the UK’s 1st amputee adopter.

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Following a successful trial of the adjustable socket system, transfemoral amputee Rob Ball has become the first person in the United Kingdom to purchase the system.

Rob explained the challenges that he would experience with his existing socket, “For years I’ve used rigid carbon fibre sockets, which were a perfect fit for about 2 hours in the middle of the day, but couldn’t be adjusted for the changing volume of my residual limb throughout the day.” He added, “To manage this I would have to find somewhere to take off the leg and add ‘socks’.  However, this more realistically meant avoiding walking as much as I’d have liked.”

So when Rob had the chance to try a user-a  djustable socket system at Pace, he was very keen to see if it was a benefit for him.

Following a two week home trial, during which a small adjustment was required to the socket in clinic, Rob was able to feedback his experiences to the team.

Rob said, “I found that with the Infinite Socket it can be loosened to fit perfectly first thing in the morning.  Then, as my residual limb loses volume throughout the day, I can just tighten the ratchet strap a couple of clicks and it’s a perfect fit again.”

A delighted Rob added, “The Infinite Socket has given me a new sense of freedom.  I don’t think about volume changes any more.  I just click the ratchet and carry on walking!”

Jamie Gillespie, Rob’s prosthetist at Pace, commented, “We are very happy with the outcome achieved for Rob and are evaluating how effective this could be for others.”

More details about the system can be read here.

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LIM Innovations™ Gets Medicare Approval

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LIM Innovations™ are proud to announce that the Infinite Socket® is now covered and reimbursed by Medicare.

LIM Innovations, a medical technology company, announced that it’s prosthetic socket, the Infinite Socket, has been granted Medicare insurance coverage. This new advancement in prosthetics that improves comfort, freedom and access to care, is now more readily available to amputees around the country.

“We appreciate Medicare’s thorough evaluation of the Infinite Socket,” says Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Dr. Andrew Pedtke. “Our product can now be considered as an alternative to conventional socket technology and we aim to show patients, providers, and the health care system as a whole the value we bring to the O&P industry.”

LIM Innovations is a prosthetics design company empowering people to live beyond the limits of their disabilities. LIM’s Infinite Socket is a custom-molded modular prosthetic socket that makes it possible for amputees to walk with greater comfort and freedom than before. With this latest Medicare ruling, it’s safe to say that the Infinite Socket is just the start of a series of prosthetic breakthroughs from LIM in advancing the options for amputees and those with other physical disabilities.

Pain Free Comfort Everyday

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6:00AM every morning my alarm goes off and I wake up to one of the most beautiful views overlooking San Francisco, CA from my apartment in Tiburon. Another day, another chance to transform someone’s life and provide them opportunities to walk without in pain free. After I finish my morning ritual of the usual wakeup: breakfast, shave, shower, I slip into my suction Infinite Socket, adjust the ratchet to the necessary tension, and head over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Arriving at LIM Innovations HQ, I will spend the next 10-12 hours on my feet. I kick my morning off with coffee, a quick production meeting, and then we start the socket building machine, aka the production team! Building an Infinite Socket requires multiple stations, and multiple people working together. The fact of the matter is once we start the day, we are all on our feet and constantly moving. My socket keeps me pain free all day and most of all I am comfortable while on my feet and working.

Despite the long day, I take pride in the fact that LIM Innovations and I are establishing new standards for amputees to live by. I head home before unwinding with an evening walk of a mile or so accompanied by my girlfriend Nadia and our dogs. The rolling hills and incredible sunset provide me with a perfect backdrop to realize that no matter how long I’m on my Infinite Socket, I never stop to even think about it. I haven’t had a blister or skin breakdown in over a year of wearing this unique alternative to traditional prosthesis. That is quite an achievement in the grand scheme of things.

After cooking our family dinner, I wash the dishes and finish a few emails before heading to bed. I unleash the ratchet strap, release the air in my suction cup and give it a quick clean. I fall asleep relaxed knowing I can fulfill my daily activities just as anyone does, whilst exploring new paths that shape who I am today.

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LIM Innovations at CES Digital Health Summit

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Last week, LIM Innovations® attended the CES Digital Health Summit in Las Vegas. With more than 160,000 attendees, the equivalent of 28 football fields of exhibitor space, and an impressive contingent of healthcare experts the experience was as exciting as it was informative.

 

New technologies are beginning to drive transformative change to the fundamental business models supporting healthcare delivery. Current products and services on the market focus on analyzing what is out there with the ultimate goal of being able to take the resulting data and turning it in to something that is actionable. The overall result is care based on individual patient requirements. Patients are now empowered to choose which provider to engage with and have a greater say in what it is they need.

With this in mind, CEO/Co-founder of LIM, Dr. Andrew Pedtke and #LIMLegend Dan McMullan were invited to present at the Summit with the concept on how digital health not only changed Dan’s life, but is also saving lives across the World. With the spotlight on Dan’s story of him walking comfortably in his Infinite Socket™ alongside family into the sunset after a whole day of being active on his feet, the focus turned to Dr. Pedtke who highlighted the importance of innovation in the prosthetic industry.

 

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Dr. Pedtke addressed the fact that LIM Innovations® aims to solve the rigidity of traditional sockets that struggle to capture volume fluctuation, as well as offer comfort and control. The Infinite Socket™ provides a simple solution to these issues and allows us to work with everyday amputees who face these everyday problems. The collection of feedback data collected from amputees donning our socket allows for R&D opportunities through analysis of data that will ultimately continue to develop not only the Infinite Socket™, but also drive innovation of future products down the line.

The invitation to present at the Digital Health Summit was not only a great opportunity for #LIMLegend Dan McMullan to share his eye-opening story but also allowed us to firmly stamp our commitment in supporting where digital health is heading in the disability space through our prosthetic technologies developed from data solutions.

You’ve got to fit a socket or two…

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Here at LIM Innovations™ we deeply value feedback from our users. With such a diverse group, we invite you to join us for an in-depth look at their story. Hector Crawford discusses his struggle to find a socket that fits in order to participate in new daily activities which will improve his quality of life. Here’s his story:

When I was 24 years old, I was diagnosed with bone cancer. This aggressive strain required strenuous and lengthy treatment in order to save my life. We made the difficult decision to amputate my right leg above the knee to improve my chances of survival. I am happy to say that the treatment worked and I am here to this day.

Over the last 20 years, I have had multiple prosthetic legs. One thing has always been clear to me; no matter how advanced the foot or knee, it is the socket that will determine your ability to use prosthetic leg. Conventional sockets are rigid, non-adjustable, and uncomfortable to the point of sometimes breaking open the skin. As a result, it got to the point that I gave up on wearing a prosthetic leg eight years ago.

I heard about LIM Innovations’ Infinite Socket™ from a friend who is also an amputee. Their new approach to sockets addresses the issues I had with conventional solutions. It is flexible and adjustable which makes the whole leg much more functional. It has opened doors to new daily activities of living, which will improve my quality of life.

On top of great new technology, LIM provides a friendly knowledgeable service.  They took the time to understand my personal situation and develop a solution tailored to my needs. In all our interactions they have explained what was set to be accomplished during the visit (e.g. install a new component) and welcomed my feedback on how well the leg was meeting my needs. The staff at LIM is clearly driven to make prosthetic legs more accessible for all amputees, and their Infinite Socket opens new avenues to compete and transform the prosthetic culture as we know it.

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