John Gallina, pictured here on the cover of Time magazine (left), is wearing a prosthesis designed by a team including no other than Innovate3D’s own Kenan Wollborg.

I asked Kenan a few questions about it.

What is the make and model?
It is made by College Park, Inc. and it is the Soleus product.

What was the role you played in its design or manufacture?
I helped from the early concept to production. My role involved design and manufacturability evaluation. I also helped tune the dynamics of the springs to hit specific criteria. In additon, I developed the processes used to produce the product.

Is this foot specialized for any particular purpose?
It is designed for a smooth walking gate, this helps the amputee have less fatigue on the residual limb. The product also benefits from the unique spring arrangement.

Tell me more about the spring.
The springs work together to provide a balanced and dynamic energy return. Any one spring alone would not have the dampening characteristics that the Soleus spring assembly has. From the time of heel strike to toe off, the springs work together to absorb and return energy.