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A novel pediatric prosthetic foot for functional multi-axial mobility during active play

US · IL National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant awarded #nih-1R43HD117457-01

Summary

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project aims to design and develop a novel mechanical prosthetic foot-ankle system specifically for children, offering multi-axial mobility and adjustable ankle range of motion for diverse play activities.

What they want

The project involves establishing technical merit, feasibility, and commercialization potential for a pediatric prosthetic foot-ankle system. This Phase I effort will complete a pediatric-specific design that can be tuned for different types of play. It will include stakeholder focus groups with pediatric patients, parents/guardians, adults with prior pediatric patient experience, and pediatric prosthetists to validate design choices. Standardized mechanical testing will confirm durability and performance benchmarks. The goal is to yield an evolved prototype design safe for longer-term at-home trials, restoring confidence and functionality by creating a prosthetic foot that adapts to ground surface geometry and uncertain foot placement.
Deliverables
  • Pediatric-specific design of a prosthetic foot-ankle system
  • Validated design choices from stakeholder focus groups
  • Results from standardized mechanical testing confirming durability and performance
  • Evolved prototype design safe for longer-term at-home trials
Technical requirements
  • Normalized ankle range of motion (RoM)
  • Adjustable to meet needs during diverse types of play and activities
  • Polycentric ankle providing 20 degrees of medial-lateral movement (building on prior product)
  • Designed specifically for children, addressing challenges with foot size, height, and durability as a child grows
  • Tunable for different types of play (e.g., uneven terrain requiring ankle motion, dynamic activities needing rigid ankle mechanics)
  • Meets expected durability and performance benchmarks

Market context

inferred from NAICS
Manufacturing (heavy industrial, defense)
NAICS 339113
US market size
$2.5T
Typical award
$100K – $500M+
Typical buyers
DoDDLANASA
Commonly required
ISO 9001AS9100ITARCMMC L2+

Sector-level estimate — full code lookup not yet in catalog.

A novel pediatric prosthetic foot for func…
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