The O&P EDGE Magazine

Claudia Ghidini, PhD, a researcher at Imperial College London, was awarded the 2026 Sir Michael Uren Prize for developing adjustable prosthetic technology designed to adapt as children grow, with promise for young patients in humanitarian and low-resource settings. The prize, which includes £20,000 in funding (about $28,000 USD), recognizes postgraduate researchers at Imperial College London whose work combines academic excellence with a strong pathway towards translation and societal impact.

Driverless cars are becoming more prevalent throughout the country. We asked our followers to consider whether or not they’d ride in a car without a driver. Of those who responded to our question, 48 percent said not on your life! Twenty-four percent were a little more open to the idea, saying it would depend on the situation, 16 percent said they would ride in an autonomous vehicle, and 12 percent have already ridden in one.

New Approach to Heat, Sweat, and Moisture Management The Underlay is a thin textile sleeve worn directly against the residual limb, underneath the prosthetic liner. It is designed to transport moisture away from the skin, support evaporation, reduce odor, and help maintain a cooler, drier skin environment throughout the day. Its knitted structure draws sweat toward a breathable mesh section that extends beyond the proximal edge of the liner.

Embla Medical will publish its second quarter (2Q) 2026 financial report on July 21 via a conference call at 9:00 a.m. CET. The event will be hosted by Sveinn Solvason, president. The call will include a review of the results for the current quarter, which ended on June 30. The webcast and slides used in the presentation will be available on the company’s website. Previous Post Next Post

Stryker, a medical technology company, promoted Jacob Lapierre to upper extremities sales representative covering the New Haven, Connecticut, area. Lapierre, who has been with the company since 2025, had been an upper extremities sales associate. Previously, he was a certified surgical technologist with Saint Francis Hospital.

Limb Lab, headquartered in Minnesota, hired Anna Kahler, CPO, for its location in Iowa City, Iowa. Kahler has a special interest in pediatric prosthetics and orthotics and is the lead author of “Development and Usability of an Adjustable Prosthesis for Aquatic Therapy” in the Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in O&P from Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center.

Ottobock acquired Fesia Technology, which develops and markets functional electrical stimulation (FES) systems for patients with neurological diseases or injuries to the nervous system, expanding Ottobock’s neuro-orthotics portfolio to include FES products. The transaction is expected to close this year. The purchase price was not disclosed. Fesia Technology, headquartered in Spain, employs around 20 people.

A research team led by Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic uncovered new insight into how the brain senses movement. Their findings could help improve sensation and movement for prosthetic limbs. Marasco. Photograph courtesy of the Cleveland Clinic.

Researchers in the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) College of Engineering and Computer Science addressed a challenge found in many prosthetic hands in that no person with an amputation is alike, yet most devices are built as if they are. This mismatch makes it difficult to achieve natural, intuitive control, often forcing users to constantly adapt to the device rather than the other way around.

Esper Bionics hired Joshua Mullins as its new vice president of US market development. Prior, he was the O&P business development manager for the United States at Trulife, and he served as director of business development for the Board of Certification/Accreditation. Mullins has more than 15 years of experience in durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies.