Prosthetics is a time-honored field—a rare combination of art and science, meticulously practiced by skilled artisans. It has roots in ancient Egyptian civilization, yet is increasingly more in demand today, as people live longer with chronic and sometimes debilitating conditions.
“In the past, in spite of the desire to constantly improve patient outcomes, our field has faced challenges when it comes to innovation,” admits Goeran Fiedler, associate professor in the Master of Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) program. He says the relatively small size of the field results in limited research funding. In addition, there’s a hesitancy by some to change the way things have always been done.
“We realize that philosophy is not valid in clinical decision making,” Fiedler continues.
Today, Fiedler and his P&O colleagues are committed to educating the clinicians of the future by introducing them to the technologies of the future—technologies that have the potential to help clinicians make better decisions regarding prosthetic devices and can lead to better-fitting, more affordable options for patients.
Evidence-based practice principles are now permeating the curriculum. In addition, students have the opportunity to get a front row seat to research being conducted to create the next generation of prosthetic devices at Humotech, a Pittsburgh-based research and development company dedicated to transforming the way the world develops and uses wearable devices. Their work encompasses prosthetics and orthotics, as well as exoskeletons and other wearable technologies intended to enhance human mobility.
Humotech engineers and scientists take a holistic, human-centered approach to technological progress by streamlining the hardware and software engineering aspects of research and development. In the process, they enable their customers and collaborators to focus on rapidly ideating and evaluating new ways of assisting individuals with mobility challenges.
Humotech Founder, President and CEO Josh Caputo is determined to realize the promise of rehabilitation technology.
“I’m an engineer who naturally loves to dream about hightech solutions, but I’m on a mission to help the field better leverage the most practical of technologies to elevate quality of life.”
Josh Caputo
Caputo loves to bring P&O students into the lab to learn more about CaplexTM, Humotech’s unique system of hardware, software and robotics that emulates the mechanics of both novel as well as clinically available devices so that patients, students and researchers can experience and measure mobility across the variety of options.
Humotech’s first product, the Caplex Ankle-Foot Prosthesis, enables the students to actually experience the physical sensations of wearing different prosthetic foot models. As they explore this and other new technologies, they can envision a future where they could design, test and build a device using data from real users.
“It’s a way for clinicians to see what type of prosthetic foot would work best for a certain individual, without the cost and time of building an actual prototype,” explains Fiedler.
“The students can use Caplex to explore ideas they may have about improving gait performance, for example,” adds Caputo. “They can trial different ‘products,’ see how a certain device may fit, what adjustments need to be made, and so on.”
Joshua LaDuca (MSPO ’23) worked as a prosthetic engineering intern at Humotech the summer before his last year in the P&O program. Among other things, he designed and built an exciting new add-on to the Caplex platform: an ISO standard testing rig that enables Humotech to evaluate the structural integrity of prosthetic feet either in development or on the market.
“Seeing the integration of new technology into the world of P&O is exciting because it brings new light to the field,” comments LaDuca, who holds undergraduate degrees in mechanical and biomedical engineering.
“Technological introductions such as scanners, the use of CAD software, or Humotech’s PRO-002 Modular Ankle-Foot Prosthesis eliminate some of the strain of the prosthetic and orthotic fabrication process and provides the patient with a better overall outcome,” he continues.
“It’s been very enlightening to work with students and see their perspective,” notes Caputo. “They’re excited about technology development, academic science and clinical practice.”
Although Humotech’s technologies are not yet available in clinics or in university labs, Caputo hopes one day soon they will be. By allowing students to see firsthand what is possible, he believes he is expanding possibilities of clinics of the future.
Fiedler agrees. “By getting exposure to Humotech’s emulator, our students are presented with a practical application of the idea of using objective metrics— scientific evidence—to determine the best solution for their patients. They will be more inclined to embrace similar technology in their professional careers, challenging old-school approaches and advancing the field for the benefit of our patients.”
“This is not to say we should completely abandon the standard, tried-and-true techniques and practices that are used today, but I can envision how using them in conjunction with emerging technology can greatly benefit both the practitioner and the patient,” concludes LaDuca.
