POA’s original socket system for hip disarticulate amputations was created by Stan Patterson for Sgt. Josh Olson at the request of Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC). Olson, who lost his leg as the result of an RPG blast in Iraq, wanted to remain in the Army, but the hip disarticulation prosthetic system he was wearing was rigid, bulky, and so uncomfortable that he found it hard to function in. So in 2004, WRAMC sent Josh to POA to create something that would serve him better. Fourteen-hour days and several prototypes produced a low-profile model that was not visible through Olson’s uniform. The fit was intimate and secure, preventing the socket movement that beset older versions.

Improvements to the socket have evolved since then. Instead of silicone shorts, the silicone is now incorporated into the socket itself, making for a more comfortable interface.