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Bill Wright shares his global healthcare and engineering journey spanning 36 countries over 50 years. His uniques experiences reveal how important it is to create lasting impact through sustainable solutions with good engineering.

•On one of his jourey's Bill was introduced to prosthetics in Bangladesh where he encountered the Jaipur foot made from sandals and rubber tire parts
• The design uniquely suited patients who walked barefoot and needed to squat for daily activities
• Working across 36 countries required addressing universal needs: water, wastewater management, electricity, and material supply chains
• Haiti stands among the most challenging locations due to extreme poverty and lack of infrastructure
• Solar power has revolutionized healthcare delivery, from small charging panels to systems powering entire hospitals
• 3D printing offers potential for on-site manufacturing but requires finding and retaining technically skilled personnel
• Success can be measured in individual lives changed – like Jose Manuel who now drives and studies law despite missing all four limbs
• Sustainable development requires training locals rather than relying on expatriate presence
• The most effective organizations focus on teaching

Special thanks to Advanced 3D for making this episode possible.

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Bryan Costello shares his incredible journey from nuclear power plant worker to prosthetic innovator after losing his leg in a workplace accident. Drawing on his mechanical expertise, he developed heating and cooling systems for prosthetic sockets that address temperature regulation problems that have plagued amputees for decades.

• Developing heating elements that integrate between carbon fiber laminations in prosthetic sockets
• Creating cooling systems with circulating water that prevent overheating and excessive sweating
• Designing moisture-wicking distal end pads that absorb sweat and protect sensitive residual limb tissue
• Working with Special Forces members who successfully climbed Mount Everest using his heated sockets
• Expanding his technology to orthotics and medical emergency cooling boards for trauma patients
• Pursuing L-codes to make his innovations more accessible through insurance coverage
• Finding success through direct marketing on LinkedIn and social media

Special thanks to Advanced 3D for sponsoring this episode.

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Matt Doering shares how Cypress Adaptive came to fruition.

• Entering the prosthetic industry through an unexpected path from Coast Guard service to selling cars
• Building Cypress Adaptive with a focus on superior valve technology using spring and diaphragm systems that work even with debris present
• Designing components with replaceable parts that prioritize patient convenience over planned obsolescence
• Introducing the Symphony Aqua system that captures limb shape under weight-bearing conditions
• Creating a repeatable "recipe" for successful socket fabrication that bridges the experience gap between senior and junior practitioners
• Addressing industry challenges of consistency and knowledge transfer as new master's-level practitioners enter the field
• Enabling practice owners to maintain quality standards across all clinicians through systematized approaches
• Fostering collaboration between traditional fabrication methods and new technologies like 3D printing
• Emphasizing patient-centric care while maintaining business sustainability

To learn more about Cypress Adaptive's products and the Symphony Aqua system, visit cypressadaptive.com or reach out directly through their website.

Special thanks to Advanced 3D for sponsoring this episode.

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Diana Hall shares her journey from chemical engineer to founder of ActivArmor, a company revolutionizing fracture care through 3D printed waterproof and breathable casts that allow patients to maintain normal hygiene and activities while healing.

• Started after seeing children with wet, dirty casts who couldn't practice basic hygiene
• Worked directly with FDA to develop test protocols for 3D printed medical wearables
• Created a turnkey point-of-care fabrication system that clinics can operate with minimal training
• Uses iPhone scanning technology for easy, accessible shape capture in under a minute
• Allows custom design while maintaining standardized mechanical properties
• Enables targeted immobilization that restricts only necessary joints
• Popular with pro athletes, pediatric patients, and workers who need hand washing
• 93% of patients choose Active Armor over traditional casts when given the option
• Now used internationally by top orthopedic surgeons in 15 countries

If you're considering innovating in the medical device space, surround yourself with experienced advisors who understand the regulatory environment—it's challenging but rewarding when you can improve patients' quality of life.

Special thanks to Advanced 3D for sponsoring this episode.

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The prosthetics and orthotics industry is witnessing significant consolidation and technological advancement, with Hanger's recent acquisition of Coapt being a prime example of this evolution.

• Coapt's pattern recognition technology transforms how upper extremity amputees control prosthetic devices
• Traditional myoelectric systems use only two sensors while Coapt's system employs an array of 18 sensors
• Machine learning algorithms decode neurological intent, making prosthetic control more intuitive
• Upper extremity amputations represent only about 20% of all amputations, creating a niche market
• Blair Lock, Coapt's CEO, built the company over 13 years without outside investment
• The "slow burn" approach to business growth can be necessary and beneficial in specialized medical technology
• Additive manufacturing plays multiple roles in prosthetics: from prototyping to clinical fabrication
• Regulatory requirements significantly impact the economics of prosthetic technology
• Myoelectric technology has potential applications beyond prosthetics: exoskeletons, industrial robotics, and other human-machine interfaces

Subscribe to the Prosthetics and Orthotics Podcast for more insights into the technological advancements shaping patient care.

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Ruud Rouleaux, founder of ColorFabb, shares the evolution of 3D printing materials from early PLA filaments to revolutionary foaming technology that's changing prosthetic and orthotic care. His journey from plastics engineer to materials innovator reveals how focusing on functional materials rather than competing on price has positioned ColorFabb as a leader in the field.

• Origins of ColorFabb in 2010 when the 3D printing market was just emerging
• Development of wood-filled PLA that sparked interest in composite materials
• Introduction of VarioShore foaming technology in 2016 for lightweight, comfortable devices
• Creating skin-tone matched materials that can be fine-tuned by adjusting printing temperature
• Obtaining compliance certifications for direct skin contact applications
• Integration with advanced software like implicit modeling for better textures and geometries
• Future developments including induction nozzles and better flow control
• How FDM printing with the right materials sometimes outperforms more complex technologies
• The shift toward data-driven approaches in orthotics while maintaining clinical expertise

Special Thanks to Structure for sponsoring this episode.

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Discover the transformative world of prosthetics and 3D printing alongside Josh Pelz, co-founder of Limber Prosthetics. We delve into the intricacies of designing lightweight, integrated prosthetic devices, exploring how simplification leads to enhanced user experiences.

• Introduction to additive manufacturing in prosthetics
• The concept behind a single-unit prosthesis design
• Importance of material testing and selection
• Engineer-clinician collaboration in product development
• Discussion of challenges in alignment and fitting processes
• Future outlook for innovation in prosthetic technology

Special thanks to Structure for sponsoring this episode.

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This episode explores the transformative shifts in additive manufacturing within prosthetics and orthotics, highlighting key insights from the AMS conference. A focus on open manufacturing options and investor relationships underscores the challenges and opportunities for enhancing patient care in this evolving landscape.
• Discussion on reflections and takeaways from AMS
• Emphasis on the importance of open manufacturing systems
• Insights from industry leaders about consumer demand for flexibility
• Analysis of the investor's role in driving innovation
• Examination of Proteor's acquisition of Filament Innovations
• Exploration of the potential for global consumer markets
• Reflections on the future of 3D printing in O&P

Special thanks to Structure for sponsoring this episode.

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