A number of different types of prosthetic legs are designed to help below-knee amputees run, whether recreationally or professionally. High-performance running prosthetics, often called blades, have been used by runners like the infamous Oscar Pistorius to shatter numerous records. Now, a similar level of freedom and efficiency seems to be headed for the waters, thanks to an advanced prosthetic concept from Essesi Design Studio.
The below-knee prosthetic fin, called Nimble, is designed by Essesi Design to bring that capability to swimmers. At the core, the lightweight carbon fiber prosthetic features a 3D printed flexible lattice structure. This piece is specially designed to “reduce stress on the user’s limb while generating powerful thrust with each kick,” the design studio notes.
Designer: Essesi Design Studio
Essesi Design Studio has developed Nimble, a concept modular 3D-printed prosthetic fin, to help below-knee amputees swim with greater freedom, comfort, and technological support, making the experience both easier and more efficient for the user. The attachable prosthetic would replace the foot and the lower leg with the Nimble, comprising a carbon fiber frame and the flexible lattice structure in the main body made from rubber material for its suppleness.
The outer shell of the prosthetic is 3D printed from carbon fiber to make the prosthetic fin lightweight and robust, and the lattice component is 3D printed from rubber. Plastic components with rotatable locks are used to join the shell and the lattice and also to attach the entire prosthetic fin to the user’s upper limb.
As mentioned, the lattice unit is basically the heart of this conceptual fin designed for those who have lost a leg. It’s the flexible part that moves when the swimmer kicks. On a downward kick, the structure compresses to store energy and when the kick’s complete, the flexible section snaps back to its original position, simultaneously creating thrust to help the user push forward. Just to ensure this thrust does not hurt the user, the same lattice structure absorbs the impact, preventing the upper part of the leg attached to the prosthetic from experiencing pain or discomfort.
The modular 3D printed prosthetic fin by Essesi Design Studio is in the conceptual stage at the time of writing. But with its promising abilities, The Nimble prosthetic fin should be a compelling option to make it easier for amputees to swim better without exerting too much pressure on their limbs. So, if Nimble can be successfully developed and commercialized, it would definitely open up new avenues in athletic swimming and physical rehabilitation.
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