Hx of liners, responses 1

Hx of liners, responses 1

Ben Lucas

8/24/2008

Dear List,

Sorry this is so late getting out, but a lot of things have diverted my
attention to this. Thanks for all the feedback, there was a ton and may
have be sent in a few packets.

Ben Lucas, MS, CPO

Here is the original post

I am trying to recreate a visual representation and time line of the
development of the soft interfaces used in prosthetic interfaces. Starting
from the early 1900's to the latest in silicone, urethane and thermoplastic
elastomers. I recently found information and a well preserved example of
the Michigan Silicone Gel liner, first fabricated in the mid 70's, and Tim
Statts use of fishing lure gel development in mid 80's. It's what transpired
in the early 1990's that a lot of development and research took place, but
failed to be published. So if you have anything that you think would be
useful, Old ads, old product, research that references a gel use in it,
contact me and if I don't have it, then I'll use it.

My hope is to publish an article from the historical perspective, giving
credit, were credit is due and have a poster presentation ready for next
years AAOP conference.


Reponses:
Excellent topic and I want to invite you to publish your work in the O&P
library if you so choose (but I'll pick that topic up later). Have you
talked personally (email) with Tim Staats? He mentioned that he was talking
with someone on this topic. I don't have the patent number handy, but if
you check Carl Casper's liner patent (www.uspto.gov) he references a patent
from 1968 or 1967 patented by a guy in MI, but I can't place him to
specifically with the michigan gel liner development (but there has to be
some connection).

It may be fun to see an old Kemblo liner

Get in touch with Michael Fillauer at Fillauer in Knoxville or Gerry Stark
at Fillauer in Chattanooga TN. Mr. Fillauer was a key in the development of
the 3S system and they would have some of his old notes and research. That
is where my family got started by my grandfather working for Karlton in the
60's. Tell them one of the Graybeal's sent you to them.

I thank you for your deep interest especially in liners, however do take
interest
in socks too as per recent demand towards global warming , the skin needs to
breathe...!!

You try and speak with Robert E. Arbogast at Ohio Willow Wood company.
I have heard interesting stories about how their Alpha liner was presented
to them by the inventor.

 any history of liners (or for that matter almost anything else in O&P) you
definitely need to include Carlton Fillauer in the mix. Call Jack Richmond
at Fillauer, he
keeps track of quite a few historical O&P things.

Try this article for generating leads. Good luck!
<URL Redacted>

Back in the early 1970s I was using a gel product from 3M that I stitched
between two layers of leather. In the 1950s the Bardach-Schone company of
Chicago had a rubber like liner for BK prostheses, and Joe Martino of Boston
showed me literature on what their company was doing about the turn of the
century with a rubberized liner for the frame type sockets they were
fitting. Regretfully the industry did not want to spend the money to
preserve some of our history that is now lost forever.