Slingshot Socket™ FAQ’s

Can I really fit my own Socket?

We’ve simplified fitting a socket into ‘Ikea-like’ simple step-by-step instructions. We encourage you to watch the training videos so that you can understand the full fitting process and determine if that is the right path for you. Access the full Slingshot Training here. You are also welcome to either come to our Slingshot Clinic or work with your local Prosthetist to be fit.

Do I need a Prosthetist to be fit with the Slingshot Socket™?

We recognize the value of an experienced Prosthetist, but we also recognize that the majority of the global amputee population does not have access to one. We therefore made a prosthetic socket technology so simple that a layman can fit the socket, anywhere in the world. Our Slingshot Bionics Clinical Team is on standby ready to help. We can join you via a Tele-Health video call to guide you through the fitting step-by-step. Or, if you have access to a trained Prosthetist, you can leverage their experience to help maximize your comfort, or come to our Slingshot Bionics Clinics.

Who does the socket alignment?

We recognize there is more to the overall prosthetic success than just a well-fitting and comfortable socket. There is also socket alignment, foot and knee component selection, etc. Our clinical team can typically guide the patient though simple alignment changes, though if the patient is not mechanically savvy or comfortable working with socket alignment, it may be helpful to have the alignment done through a nearby Prosthetist or come to a Slingshot Bionics Clinic.

Who makes socket fitting adjustments?

We believe in the value of a well-trained Prosthetist, but we recognize that not all amputees have convenient access to one, or the time to wait for an appointment with their practitioner.

We’ve tapped into something really powerful – the Slingshot Socket™ empowers amputees with a new sense of control of their own comfort. Most fitting adjustments can be managed by yourself, without having to schedule a future appointment with your practitioner to resolve socket fitting issues for you. If you need or want additional help, the Slingshot Clinical Team can serve you in one of three ways:

Via a Tele-Health video appointment
You can come to a Slingshot Clinic
We can work alongside you and your local Prosthetist via a Tele-Health video appointment.

What if I need clinical support after the fitting is complete?

Our Clinical Support Team is ready to help. Simply schedule an appointment with our Clinical Team to connect via a Tele-Health video or phone call.

Can I buy a Slingshot Socket™ myself?

The Slingshot Socket™ is available for purchase by amputees and Prosthetists alike. Purchase direct from us, without requiring complicated insurance hurdles, or go through Slingshot Bionics Clinics or your local Prosthetist to explore Medicare, VA, or insurance-based coverage.

How much does the Slingshot Socket™ cost, and do you accept insurance?

Slingshot Bionics is founded on making socket comfort affordable and accessible to all amputees – whether you have excellent insurance or have no access to conventional prosthetic care, and everyone in between.

The Slingshot Socket™ is a fraction of the cost of conventional sockets. For many amputees, its cost is comparable with what an insurance co-pay would have been with a conventional socket. We also offer financing options if you prefer to make monthly payments. The Slingshot Socket™ retails for around $3000, and can even be financed monthly. Conventional rigid sockets typically cost between $7000 – $12,000.

Not working through insurance companies puts control in your hands for your own personalized prosthetic-care choices. This also eliminates the time-consuming insurance hurdles such as waiting on approvals and fighting denials, allowing you to be fit much faster.

If you prefer being fit through a Slingshot Clinic or your local prosthetist, the Slingshot Socket™ is PDAC/Medicare, VA, and Insurance approved.

What is included with the purchase of a Slingshot Socket™?

The Slingshot Socket™ comes with everything needed to assemble and fit a complete socket, except for a pair of sharp scissors, a torque wrench, and a lighter (links are provided for purchasing these from Amazon in the training document). In most cases, your existing foot and/or knee components will integrate directly to the Slingshot Socket™.

Most Slingshot™ fittings will benefit from using a silicon or gel liner, and most amputees already have these from their prior sockets. If you need a gel liner for your fitting, contact our Clinical Team and we can help you select the right liner for you.

All Slingshot Sockets™ also come with a 30-day risk free trial, and a 90 day warranty.

What international countries do you ship to?

It is a core value of Slingshot Bionics to make affordable, comfortable sockets accessible to ALL amputees – EVERYWHERE. We provide Slingshot Sockets™ to users in many parts of the world. If you have questions about shipping to your country, simply contact us.

What levels of limb difference do Slingshot Sockets work for?

Slingshot Sockets™ are available for Symes, Below Knee, Knee Disarticulation, and Above Knee limb differences, with more levels coming soon.

What limb sizes do Slingshot Sockets™ work for?

Slingshot Sockets™ can be a great solution for nearly all limb sizes, including short limbs to long, and thin to large, and for geriatric to athletic. Slingshot’s unique adjustability and conformity enables it to remain comfortable regardless of limb volume increase or decrease throughout the day, without the need for socks.

Can Slingshot Socket’s™ be used for Pediatric users?

The Slingshot Socket™ is an amazing solution for pediatric users as the socket can grow with you – greatly reducing the number of sockets a child goes through. In conventional sockets, pediatric limbs can become detrimentally compressed against the rigid socket walls as the limb grows, which can constrict limb muscle growth. The Slingshot Socket™ however matches to the limb size in real-time, and can promote limb muscle expansion and growth.

How do I know if Slingshot Sockets™ will work for me?

Thanks to the uniquely conforming and adjustable materials, Slingshot Sockets™ provide an ultra-comfortable socket solution for most users. Our Clinical Team can join you for a free phone or Tele-Health video-call to help assess if it is the right solution for you and your limb needs.

Is the Slingshot Socket™ suitable for users with sensitive residual limb skin?

The unique conformity of the Slingshot Socket™ is significantly more forgiving for your limb tissue than conventional rigid sockets, and therefore it is less likely to cause sores and abrasions on sensitive skin. The Slingshot Socket™ design relies on the limb resting into a ‘hammock-like’ Fabric Inner Socket, without any rigid materials to hit. The socket’s adjustability allows you to adjust your own fit, in real-time, and accounts for daily volume adjustments without the need of adding socks.

Which type of activities is the Slingshot Socket™ made for?

The Slingshot Socket™ is designed to match to your life, versus your life being limited by what the prosthesis can handle. It provides a long-lasting comfortable socket solution for geriatric users to athletes and everyone in between. It is machine washable, durable, and modularly adjustable.

What Are ‘Structural Fabrics’?

Seatbelts, climbing harnesses, and hammocks are all examples of structural fabrics. They are designed to fully conform to the dynamic human body, but are strong enough to durably support the body weight. In a similar way as climbing harnesses and hammocks, the Slingshot Socket™ uses Structural Fabrics to support the limb 360º with conforming hammock-like fabric support, and helps prevent the limb from contacting rigid structures. Its fabrics are soft and supple, yet are strong and durable.

Is the Slingshot Socket™ Waterproof and Durable? What is the Warranty?

The Slingshot Socket™ is designed for long-term durability and to withstand whatever life throws at it. The Fabric Inner Sock-et is removable and machine washable, and therefore it is fine to get it wet. The Exoskeleton frame is made from long-lasting non-corrosive materials.

If anything on the socket ever needs replaced, nearly all parts are modularly replaceable. The Fabric Inner Sock-et can be replaced if it undergoes normal wear and tear over time, though it is long-lasting. Replacement cost for the Fabric Inner Sock-et alone is considerably less expensive than the full Slingshot Socket™.

If the Slingshot’s comfort is not satisfactory to you, simply return it for a full refund within the first 30 days of purchase, or we’ll keep working with you until it is. We’re that confident you’ll love the fit of the Slingshot Socket™. The parts and materials warranty covers defects in material, workmanship, and construction, which are reported to Slingshot Bionics within 90 days.

How much do Slingshot Sockets™ weigh?

Perceived weight in prosthetics is highly influenced by how intimately the socket is contoured to the limb shape. An ill-fitting socket feels like a weight hanging off the body, whereas an intimately contoured socket feels like an extension of your own limb. The Slingshot Socket™ will typically be lighter than your conventional socket counterpart, but will likely feel even lighter since it fully conforms to your limb shape in real-time.

Does the Slingshot Socket™ work with my other prosthesis components?

The Slingshot Socket™ attaches to the knee and/or foot components with the same 4-hole pattern that is standard in all other prosthetics, therefore it is compatible with your existing knee and/or foot.

How do I clean the Slingshot Socket™?

The Slingshot Socket’s™ Fabric Inner Sock-et is machine washable. Machine wash on gentle only, and air dry or dry on cool temperatures only – never on high heat. There are no other ongoing maintenance requirements for the Slingshot Socket™.

What happens if my Slingshot Socket™ Breaks?

The uniquely modular Slingshot Socket™ is designed for long-term durability and to take whatever life throws at it. In the unlikely event you need any replacement parts, simply contact the Slingshot Bionics Team.

Do I need to wear a Silicon or Gel Liner with the Slingshot Socket™?

Gel or silicon liners not only provide cushioning but more importantly they provide a method of holding the socket onto the limb for many users (suspension), and so most users will benefit from wearing a liner with their Slingshot Socket™ as their form of suspension. While the Slingshot Socket™ technically does not require a liner for certain limb types, it is recommended to use the liner within your socket if you have access to one, so that you have an integrated suspension method. If you do not have access to a liner, the Slingshot Socket™ with Base Layer™ is a great solution, using Apex™ for suspension.

Will my insurance cover the Slingshot Socket™?

If you wish to pay through your insurance provider, a licensed Prosthetist can fit your Slingshot Socket™ and submit it to your insurance company.

Do I need a prescription?

Similar to any other prosthetic socket, the Slingshot Socket™ requires a prescription for U.S. orders, since a Prosthetist can assist in fitting the socket to the user – whether via a Tele-Health video call, a Slingshot Clinic, or your local clinic. Your Primary Care Physician, Orthopedist, Neurologist, or other Local Physician can write a prescription for a “[BK or AK] socket” or “[BK or AK] prosthesis”. Simply email a copy of your prescription along with your Order Number to or****@sl**************.com, and we’ll ship your Slingshot Socket™ right away.

Slingshot Socket™ Tele-Health Tips

Set up your smart phone or tablet using a tripod or on a stationary stand, mounted at the socket height. (Hand-held devices create a shaky video that is difficult to see.)
Make sure there is limited background noise or distractions. Talk clearly and directly at the smart phone or tablet’s microphone. A wireless headset can be helpful.
Have an assistant to help, such as a spouse or friend.
Do the Tele-Health fitting near a long straight path away from the camera for dynamic alignment.
Have your assistive devices available, such as a walker or crutches to ensure safe balance during the fitting process.
Be sure to have all the required tools available, including a sharp pair of scissors and the included Allen wrenches.
Watch all Slingshot Socket™ training videos ahead of time, so that you are already familiar with the fitting steps.

Still Have Questions?

Schedule a call or send us a message and we will be happy to help you.