The Delft-based Health & Tech start-up Gyromotics is introducing a unique, modular prosthetic foot for children to the world. The Nova prosthetic, which grows along with a child, has been developed with help from Sportinnovator, Team Para Athletics, and the faculties of Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Aerospace Engineering (LR) at TU Delft. “This prosthetic grows along with a playing, running child.”
The Nova prosthetic foot stands out in several ways from existing prostheses. Thanks to its modular design and four springs, each prosthetic can be adapted to the walking style and size of the child using it. As the child grows, the prosthetic can be adjusted with new, longer parts to maintain the correct balance. Additionally, the Nova makes it possible to walk and run, unlike existing specialized prostheses that are suitable for one or the other.
Gyromotics received a significant boost thanks to Sportinnovator, an initiative from the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport, together with ZonMw, the Dutch organization for health research and care innovation. TU Delft is also a partner in Sportinnovator. Gyromotics was selected by Sportinnovator to develop this prosthetic and established a consortium including TU Delft and Team Para Athletics.
Without the efforts of Sportinnovator, this prosthetic would never have come to fruition, explains Guido Hendriks, TU Delft alumnus and co-founder of Gyromotics. “There were already prostheses that children could walk with or run with – but not both. We wanted to change that.”
Revolutionary Design Thanks to Combined Knowledge
The lifespan of the Nova is much longer than existing prostheses due to its modular design and wide applicability. This posed a challenge for Gyromotics: finding materials strong and durable enough to last longer. The company enlisted the help of the ME and LR faculties at TU Delft. Strong, wear-resistant carbon composites used in aviation were extensively tested during materials research for Nova.
The input from Team Para Athletics was very valuable in the material selection, says Hendriks. “They know from their own experience that a prosthetic foot must be very robust. Children play, run, walk through mud – such a prosthetic endures a lot. With that knowledge, the faculties could make material choices and develop user tests.”
From September 4 to 6, Gyromotics is present at the Paralympic Games in Paris: Nova has been selected by Sportinnovator as one of three innovations from the Netherlands to be showcased at the Sports4All Innovation Summit in the city. After that, the start-up will return to Delft, where it is based in the YES!Delft incubator. A conscious choice, explains Hendriks. “Here we are truly part of the TU Delft Campus. We are easily found by students and researchers, and there is a great deal of technical and entrepreneurial knowledge under one roof.”
Beyond Existing Limitations
The modular design makes it possible to replace any part when needed. Gyromotics has also extended this design philosophy to the appearance of the system. The “dressing” that determines the appearance of the prosthetic can be customized in color and material to the wearer’s wishes. Hendriks emphasizes that parents and specialists often underestimate the limitations of (foot) prostheses in children. “Then they say, ‘he likes reading more than walking anyway.’ But often that’s because a prosthetic just doesn’t fit well enough. And when such a child gets a better prosthetic, they do want to do all those things – walking, running, climbing. That’s exactly what I hope our prosthetic can achieve.”
