Prosthetists are the gatekeepers of mobility, independence, and livelihood for those with lower-leg amputation. They are not only responsible for providing the physical prosthetic device, but more importantly, they enable individuals to regain their sense of self. Today, prosthetists and patients face challenges with insurance reimbursement policies that demand extensive documentation for medical necessity while also restricting the time available for meaningful clinical interactions, hindering the care provided. 

The mission for this project became personal for me after hearing countless stories like that of skilled prosthetists who struggled to document a justification for critical component replacements to insurance despite knowing it would preserve their patient’s freedom to cross-country ski, to play with their children, and to simply have a prosthetic leg they could wear comfortably. In these cases, the prosthetist had the expertise to fabricate the device, the patient had the motivation to use the device, but they lacked the quantifiable evidence to enact the proper plan of care. Our solution bridges this gap, where technology translates patient experiences into measurable outcomes, where data informs actions, and where every amputee can access mobility solutions that empower them to live without limits. 

Through innovative wearable sensor technology, we provide prosthetists and patients with continuous, real-world data about prosthetic fit and function, preventing complications in real-time, improving mobility outcomes over the lifetime of the prosthesis, and enhancing patient quality of life. This technology transforms subjective patient feedback into objective information that extends beyond the prosthetists’ clinical setting into patients’ daily life, which can be used to document outcomes, justify medical necessity and make precise adjustments to prosthetic devices. Similar to how physicians use A1C blood tests to quantify diabetes progression, our data quantifies prosthetic care progression and effectiveness. 

At the heart of our work is our commitment to both patient well-being and the sustainability of prosthetists’ practices. By seamlessly integrating monitoring solutions into patients’ lifestyles and clinical workflows, we help artificial limb users prevent medical complications before they occur, and we also support reimbursement-efficiency in the clinic by documenting the ongoing care that prosthetists provide. In an evolving healthcare landscape where payers require ever more evidence, our technology is poised to transform the prosthetic care ecosystem by providing objective data needed to support and supplement clinical decision making.