Iceland review - 2004, Page 9

ICELAND REVIEW 7
Hilmar Janusson works in the research and devel-
opment department at Össur, an Icelandic company
that specializes in the manufacture of prosthetic
devices. They have developed more than twenty new
products in the last year alone.
Who designs the prosthetic devices that are made
by Össur?
We have technical leads and clinical specialists and designers participat-
ing in our product development.
Do some of the people working designing the prosthetic
devices have artificial limbs themselves?
Yes. Amputees always participate and we have amputees trained as
engineers and clinical experts. We also involve special groups in our
design projects for feedback about the product performance. All our
designs are heavily “user driven“.
What types of materials are used?
Weight over strength and compatibility with the skin are key proper-
ties and some of the new advanced materials offer those features, such
as silicone polymers, titanium alloys, carbon-fibre composite, or high-
strength aluminium.
How long does it take to manufacture an artifi-
cial limb?
It depends. We make the modules/components and the clinician assem-
bles and fits it to the patient in the clinic. It ranges from approximately
one day to several weeks depending on the complexity of the limb and
also on what type of an artificial limb you need. The ones that have
“life like“ aesthetics take the longest.
How many prosthetic limbs does Össur sell in a year?
We sell very few fully-prepared limbs but hundreds of thousands of
amputees are using our products all over the world.
Is it important for your customers to have aesthet-
ically pleasing prosthetics as well as functional?
The appearance of the prosthesis is so important that we consider it a
function. One reason is that if the appearance not acceptable then it is
not used. The appearance does not always mean “life imitating”. More
and more amputees use their prosthesis/limb proudly without any cover
and treat them just like any other gadget they have. Therefore, design
outcome is increasingly important and a significant factor for our suc-
cess. IAM
WATCH THIS SPACE
HILMAR JANUSSON
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