Why Are Prosthetics So Expensive? Researchers ...

I had always dreamed of becoming a biomedical engineer &#; or maybe &#;dreamed&#; isn&#;t the right word. I had always planned to become a biomedical engineer because of my obsession with futuristic limbs. From my preschool best friend&#;s parents to my fifth-grade teacher, everyone sat through my elementary school version of a TED talk, in which I presented detailed plans for replacing people&#;s &#;faulty&#; natural limbs with my superior &#;ying-rocket feet.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website lower limb prosthesis for sale.

Also, I was probably the only eight-year-old to request and receive a tour of Stryker&#;s New Jersey facility to see for myself the factory production of prosthetic devices worn by hundreds of thousands of people. I knew what I wanted to do, the future was bright, and I was ready for it.

Fast forward to me smack in the middle of getting an undergraduate biomedical engineering degree, contributing to the restoration of proprioceptive feedback for a neural-enabled myoelectric arm (a.k.a. adding &#;touch&#; sensation to arms controlled by nerves in the body). I felt certain that my great-uncle &#; I&#;d been reliably assured he is listed on the patent for the &#;rst arti&#;cial heart valve &#; was smiling down on me as I forged my scienti&#;c legacy. And my mom was thrilled that I was smashing the patriarchy by doing calculus and wearing lip gloss at the same time. My life was going to plan.

At least I thought it was. 

At the beginning of experiments with a highly advanced prosthetic arm, I started interacting with the people I had dreamed for so long of helping. In the quiet moments at the research lab, as the patients and their families filled out consent forms, they presented me with questions &#; not only about the prosthetic arms, but about living a life that requires a prosthetic arm. &#;Can we take this one home? How much will it cost?&#; &#;What do I do if my insurance doesn&#;t cover arms anymore? How am I supposed to keep a job?&#;

Initially, I didn&#;t know the answers. Then I did. But I didn&#;t know how to tell patients the truth: The American medical system makes no real accommodations for the vast majority of amputees. Prosthetic arms and legs, unless they are truly rudimentary, typically cost more than $60,000. They require replacement parts every year that can cost thousands more, and only a small fraction of the cost of limbs and spare parts is covered by insurance.

This new knowledge dampened my enthusiasm for engineering. While many of my friends aimed for graduate degrees or high-profile jobs in the field, working on new devices and prosthetic parts, I felt haunted by a feeling that I was knowingly walking down the wrong path.

One day in my senior year of college, I attended a conference at a university hospital for clinicians treating patients with limb loss. Four hours into the conference, the discussion had only focused on a review of state regulations. I was ready to go back to my thermodynamics homework, but the promise of getting to try the featured myoelectric arms kept me in my seat.

What is Lower Limb Prosthesis?

A lower limb prosthesis is the partial or entire artificial replacement of a lower limb such as your hip, thigh, knee, ankle, and foot. These artificial components, or prosthetics, are used either simply for cosmetic purposes or restoring lower limb function.

Two common amputations of the lower extremities are transfemoral (above your knee) and transtibial (below your knee).

For either cosmetic or functional restoration of your limb, prosthetists will design and fit a prosthetic to your residual limb depending on your particular needs and measurements.

Types of Lower Limb Prosthesis

The three major types of lower limb prosthetics are ankle and foot systems, prosthetic knee systems, and sport-specific foot and knee systems.

Ankle and Foot Systems

• Hydraulics for dampening impact
• Automatically adjustable to walking speeds
• Active propulsion to reduce energy expenditure for walking
• Endoskeletal torsion units for enabling twisting motions
• Ankle adjustments for different shoe heights

Prosthetic Knee Systems

• Body-powered
• Single or multi-axis joints
• Electronically controlled to reduce effort while walking and improve stability

Sport-Specific Foot and Knee Systems

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• Can be designed for multiple recreational activities
• Can be specified for particular activities including running, sprinting, skiing, or swimming.

Lower limb prostheses are either exoskeletal or endoskeletal:

Exoskeletal Prosthesis: A fixed, non-adjustable prosthetic limb made of hard plastic or metal for high durability.

Endoskeletal Prosthesis: Less durable and adjustable, containing an inner pseudo skeletal structure covered by soft material and synthetic skin.

Most lower limb prosthetics tend to be endoskeletal for flexibility.

What Are Lower Limb Prosthetics Made Of?

Lower limb prosthetics typically consist of the following components:

• Socket
• Interface (the inner lining that touches your skin)
• Suspension
• Frame
• Knee Unit
• Foot/Ankle Complex
• Hip Joint

Options available for lower limb prosthesis

Although patients with partial-foot amputations can typically stand and walk without a prosthetic, partial-foot prosthesis can enable ankle motion and support slow to medium walking speeds. Some prostheses can even support running or climbing stairs.

Syme Ankle Disarticulation

This modifies a Syme amputation for better prosthetic fitting and the cosmetic improvement of your ankle.

Below-Knee (Transtibial)

Below-knee prosthesis improves balance, stability, and movement with a range of foot/ankle components available, depending on your particular needs.

Above-Knee

Above-knee prosthetics involve socket, knee/ankle joints, as well as foot components for achieving balanced and stable mobility. 

Hip Disarticulation

Hip disarticulation prostheses support amputees who have had an amputation or anomaly at or around a hip joint.

Our Product List

Our orthotics and prosthetics are always up to date with state-of-the-art solutions in the industry and are customized to the needs and goals of each individual patient. 

Some of the products we used include:

• Micro Processor Ankle (Freedom International)
• Proflex Foot (Össur)
• Proprio Foot (Össur)
• Triton Smart Ankle (Ottobock)
• Symbionic Leg &#; Micro Knee and Ankle (Össur)
• Kinterra, Foot and Ankle (Freedom International)

How much is a prosthetic leg?

A prosthetic leg can range from $5,000 to $50,000, depending on how extensive the components used to construct your artificial limb. However, medical insurance typically covers at least part of the cost of prosthetics.

What Your Process Will Look Like

Prosthetic limb services typically begin with a medical specialist called a prosthetist who studies, designs, and fits you with the proper prosthetic based on your needs and bodily measurements. It may take several weeks before a prosthetic is completely developed for use. You will go through a fitting process until the perfect placement is found for your prosthetic limb, which may require some frequent adjusting before completing the process.

Get a lower limb prosthesis evaluation today.

At Pongratz, we offer prosthetic services fit for every patient, no matter your needs. We know very well the impact a lost limb has on anyone, no matter age or stage of life. We&#;re here for you every step of the way, so call us and let us help you get back to a fully functioning life!

Contact us to discuss your requirements of jig orthopedic. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.