Pin-Lock Suspension
A suspension mechanism in which a metal pin at the distal end of a prosthetic liner engages a locking ratchet inside the socket to secure the limb.
Full Definition
Pin-lock suspension relies on a stainless-steel or aluminium pin threaded onto the distal tip of a roll-on liner. When the user pushes the residual limb into the socket, the pin threads into or clicks into a ratcheting lock mechanism mounted in the distal socket. Release is achieved by pressing a button on the socket wall. Editors should hyphenate the compound 'pin-lock' throughout. It is distinct from locking-liner suspension in that the locking mechanism is mechanical rather than relying on the liner's material properties alone.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate throughout. Do not abbreviate to 'pin lock' (without hyphen) in formal documentation.
In Context
- "The prescription indicated pin-lock suspension for the patient's transtibial prosthesis." — Prosthetic prescription form
- "Auditors noted that the claim referenced pin-lock suspension but the supplied liner lacked a distal pin." — Insurance audit report