Pittsburgh company creates system to help amputees test prosthetic feet

Humotech, a Pittsburgh-based medtech company, is introducing a system that allows amputees to test different prosthetic feet in real-time, helping them make informed decisions before committing to an expensive choice. Amputee shares journey Christina Kenney, who became an amputee after a car accident in 2013, shared her journey of finding the right prosthetic foot. “I was in a tragic car accident right near the zoo,” Kenney said. The accident occurred shortly after Kenney gave birth to her daughter, but she maintained a positive outlook, finishing graduate school while in the hospital and learning to walk again with a prosthetic. “I think that this was supposed to happen to me. I even embraced being in an accident, and my university at the time, on top of my family and my church community, really, really supported me and made sure that I was able to have all of the resources,” Kenney said. Despite her resilience, finding the right prosthetic foot proved challenging. “I was often told, I wish I could give you this foot, or I wish that we could work with this type of material, but I can’t do that for you,” Kenney said. Process can be complicated and expensiveFor many amputees, the process of selecting a prosthetic foot is complicated and expensive, with hundreds of options available. Kenney has gone through about 10 different setups over the years. “There’s different components. Like sometimes you need a new socket and sometimes you need a new foot,” Kenney said. Humotech, founded by Josh Caputo while he was a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University, aims to simplify this process. “I realized that the world doesn’t need another prosthetic foot. It needs technology solutions, workflows to help improve and streamline data-driven decision making,” Caputo said. Walking device emulates prosthetic feetThe company’s system allows patients to walk on a device that emulates different commercial prosthetic feet, helping them choose the best option for their needs. “We imagine a world where it’s like going to get your eyeglasses, you go to the optometrist, use that Opter machine where you can try different lenses, and you find the lens that works best for you,” Caputo said. During a demonstration, Kenney experienced the immediate impact of the technology. “And I can feel myself kind of walking heel to toe,” Kenney said. Humotech has spent years conducting research and clinical studies, including collaborations with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The company is now preparing to bring its system into real clinical care through mobile clinics. “Well, we’re excited to see this translate. And, as you know, we’re looking to do that this summer with our first mobile clinic. And we’re excited to see the ‘aha’ moment for a lot of these patients when this service becomes available,” said Candice Caputo, Humotech’s chief executive officer. The innovative testing system could help amputees leave appointments with greater confidence and less fear of making the wrong choice. “So, I’m hoping that people will leave their processes office or the first physiotherapist office with hope and feeling more comfortable that we’ve gotten it right this time, right?” Kenney said. After years of research, Humotech is focused on making the process easier and faster for patients. “We enable that. We make it easy and a quick process,” Caputo said. Humotech is currently in its fourth clinical study and plans to launch its first mobile clinic this summer.

PITTSBURGH —

Humotech, a Pittsburgh-based medtech company, is introducing a system that allows amputees to test different prosthetic feet in real-time, helping them make informed decisions before committing to an expensive choice.

Amputee shares journey

Christina Kenney, who became an amputee after a car accident in 2013, shared her journey of finding the right prosthetic foot.

“I was in a tragic car accident right near the zoo,” Kenney said.

The accident occurred shortly after Kenney gave birth to her daughter, but she maintained a positive outlook, finishing graduate school while in the hospital and learning to walk again with a prosthetic.

“I think that this was supposed to happen to me. I even embraced being in an accident, and my university at the time, on top of my family and my church community, really, really supported me and made sure that I was able to have all of the resources,” Kenney said.

Despite her resilience, finding the right prosthetic foot proved challenging.

“I was often told, I wish I could give you this foot, or I wish that we could work with this type of material, but I can’t do that for you,” Kenney said.

Process can be complicated and expensive

For many amputees, the process of selecting a prosthetic foot is complicated and expensive, with hundreds of options available. Kenney has gone through about 10 different setups over the years.

“There’s different components. Like sometimes you need a new socket and sometimes you need a new foot,” Kenney said.

Humotech, founded by Josh Caputo while he was a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University, aims to simplify this process.

“I realized that the world doesn’t need another prosthetic foot. It needs technology solutions, workflows to help improve and streamline data-driven decision making,” Caputo said.

Walking device emulates prosthetic feet

The company’s system allows patients to walk on a device that emulates different commercial prosthetic feet, helping them choose the best option for their needs.

“We imagine a world where it’s like going to get your eyeglasses, you go to the optometrist, use that Opter machine where you can try different lenses, and you find the lens that works best for you,” Caputo said.

During a demonstration, Kenney experienced the immediate impact of the technology.

“And I can feel myself kind of walking heel to toe,” Kenney said.

Humotech has spent years conducting research and clinical studies, including collaborations with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The company is now preparing to bring its system into real clinical care through mobile clinics.

“Well, we’re excited to see this translate. And, as you know, we’re looking to do that this summer with our first mobile clinic. And we’re excited to see the ‘aha’ moment for a lot of these patients when this service becomes available,” said Candice Caputo, Humotech’s chief executive officer.

The innovative testing system could help amputees leave appointments with greater confidence and less fear of making the wrong choice.

“So, I’m hoping that people will leave their processes office or the first physiotherapist office with hope and feeling more comfortable that we’ve gotten it right this time, right?” Kenney said.

After years of research, Humotech is focused on making the process easier and faster for patients.

“We enable that. We make it easy and a quick process,” Caputo said.

Humotech is currently in its fourth clinical study and plans to launch its first mobile clinic this summer.