The Prosthetics and Orthotics Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Part 1: Building a Design Firm Around Craftsmanship and Longevity Mike Laut, founder and president of Laut Design in Raleigh, shared how a freelance operation started from his college apartment at NC State grew into one of the region's leading industrial design firms. Throughout the conversation, Mike emphasized the value of craftsmanship, durability, and thoughtful design, d...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Prosthetics & Orthotics Podcast, Reagan Perry shares her remarkable journey from years of limb-salvage surgeries to making the life-changing decision to undergo a through-knee amputation at just 23 years old. Reagan opens up about the realities of becoming an amputee, the emotional highs and lows of recovery, and why the process was far more complex than...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Brent Wright and Joris Peels break down the 2025 Embla Medical Annual Report and explore what it reveals about the future of the prosthetics and orthotics industry. While Embla continues to post steady growth and strong profitability, the discussion centers on larger questions: Is the industry's future in acquiring more clinics or creating new products and ma...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Arlene Gillis about how prosthetics and orthotics education is evolving and what it takes to train clinicians who can thrive in modern practice. We dig into hands-on fabrication, residency redesign, and the workforce pipeline that clinics need to keep patient care strong.  • Arlene’s path into prosthetics and orthotics through patient translation and a life-changing f...

Send us Fan Mail We break down what we saw at RAPID, from vapor smoothing and metal printing to reinforcement methods and silicone printing that could reshape interfaces. Then we talk with Alex Dahinten about building better socket comfort through real time adjustability and what it takes to get a new prosthetic solution into clinics through Medicare coding.  • Vapor smoothing as a path to cleaner...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Danielle Robins about building orthoses and prostheses for pets and why veterinary rehab often lacks the training and support needed for consistent outcomes. We dig into what dogs actually need most, how remote consulting works across states and countries, and why better education could change the standard of care. • Danielle's path from PT shadowing to O&P a...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Maurice Johnson from Floyd Brace and Limb about what it really takes to scale digital fabrication in a multi-clinic prosthetics and orthotics business without losing quality. We get candid about software friction, printer economics, adjustable socket ethics, and why turnaround time and cash flow often matter as much as the tech.  • Floyd Brace and Limb’s growth from a...

Send us Fan Mail Guest Zoltan Karpati explains scan-to-fit, AI landmarking, and XR training while sharing a personal pet prosthetics story and a unified roadmap. • replacing clear checks with real flexible interfaces for truer diagnostics • extending second diagnostic wear to validate cushioning and relief • controlling variables by avoiding returns to the old socket • dialing fit with adjustable...

Send us Fan Mail We explore how pricing, policy, and 3D printing are reshaping orthotics and prosthetics from the UK to the Gulf and across Africa. Hugh Sheridan shares hard truths about aid that bypasses clinics and a road map for sustainable, locally led care. • roots in shoe materials evolving into O&P supply chains • UK reimbursement pressures and the pivot to prefabs and 3D printing • UAE...

Send us Fan Mail We trace how affordable, reliable material extrusion is changing prosthetics and orthotics—from student labs to jungle clinics—and why toolpaths, not just materials, will drive the next gains in comfort, strength and cost. Real patient stories show the economics and ethics of access at scale. • season launch and mission to improve patient outcomes • shift from tinkering to reliabl...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Molly McCoy about turning dense policy into practical tools, writing notes that get covered, and why advocating coverage can improve outcomes. The focus stays on patient stories, shared decisions, and using the whole medical record to support care. • how clinician notes function as medical records and drive coverage • writing people-first justifications that explain m...

Send us Fan Mail Is this the lost episode? No, but there is some "old news". We dig into how O&P is changing fast: major acquisitions, new L codes, and a fresh vision for education that blends clinical reality with digital tools. Adrienne Hill shares a grounded path for students and clinicians to build skills without burning out. • Hanger’s acquisition of Point Designs and upper limb...

Send us Fan Mail We break down how L code pricing is set, why crosswalk and gap-fill can fail innovators, and how appeals drain time and cash. Two case studies—Point Designs’ digits and Ethnocare’s volume system—expose how “divide by five” logic and invoice anchoring distort value, while 3D printing and hybrid workflows offer a path forward. • crosswalk vs gap-fill pricing methods and trade-offs •...

Send us Fan Mail We explore how foaming TPU, belt printers, and clinician-led automation can bring custom foot orthoses in-house, cut costs, and reduce lead times from weeks to hours. Fredrik from CADmed shares what actually works, what doesn’t, and how remote design plus per-pair pricing changes the game. • why automation increases clinician control rather than removes it • carving versus printin...

Send us Fan Mail We trade trade-show gloss for real-world tactics, then lay out a three-step plan to bring 3D printing into O&P without risking patient care or cash flow. From Bambu-level starters to automated check sockets, we show how to start lean, learn fast, and scale what works. • Formnext’s shift from machines to applications • Materialise Bricks for modular workflows and costing • Mult...

Send us Fan Mail We record on the road to the mothership to fit a 3D-printed adjustable suction socket using AirFit casting and compare loaded scans to raw scans. David shares his crash-to-career journey, why adjustability matters for neuromas and daily volume, and what makes the Americus foot feel lighter and livelier than it looks. • AirFit casting under load versus direct scanning  • Four-scan...

Send us Fan Mail We sit down in the Guatemalan jungle with filmmaker Todd Biss to explore how craft, ethics, and faith shape stories that fund care and protect dignity. From ad-agency polish to nonprofit trust, we trace how small crews, better audio, and sharp editing turn hope into motion. • origins in photography and ad-agency production • defining success through beauty, trust and client outcom...

Send us Fan Mail Two sentences from PDAC can potentially change the course of manufacturing history for O & P: additive manufacturing is now explicitly acceptable for coding prosthetic devices that meet existing HCPCS descriptions. We unpack what that clarity means for clinicians, patients, vendors, and payers, and how to adopt 3D printing. • Why PDAC’s language ends the gray area for 3D‑print...

Send us Fan Mail We share a personal update and then dive into how injuries, curiosity, and tough feedback shaped a modular myoelectric hand that is lighter, repairable in minutes, and priced for wider access. Ryan Saavedra of Alt-Bionics walks through additive manufacturing choices, PDAC approval, and a roadmap linking prosthetics with humanoid robotics. • user and clinician pain points shaping d...

Send us Fan Mail What if everything we think we know about human walking is oversimplified? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Steven Gard a biomedical engineer and leading gait researcher.  We unpack the real biomechanics behind prosthetic design. From artificial heart labs to O&P innovation, Dr. Gard shares surprising insights on: Why shock absorption and “energy return” don’t always beha...

Send us Fan Mail Credit card rewards expert Colin Stroud reveals how O&P practice owners can transform regular business expenses into valuable rewards through strategic credit card usage. He explains the mechanics behind credit card rewards systems and how business owners can maximize returns on spending they would do anyway. • Single practitioner O&P clinics typically spend $15,000-$20,00...

Send us Fan Mail Brent Wright shares his experiences from the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) conference, highlighting innovations in 3D printing, data-driven technologies, and revealing his groundbreaking polar printer project for prosthetic sockets. • AOPA attendance exceeded 2,000 people with 165 exhibitors including 30 new vendors • Digital Showcase featured case studies fo...

Send us Fan Mail We catch up with Niles from Leonard Industries, our first-ever returning guest, as he reveals game-changing innovations in prosthetic and orthotic fabrication technology. This episode explores how new manufacturing tools are making fabrication faster, safer, and more consistent while helping address the industry's technical workforce challenges. • Leonard Industries has expan...

Send us Fan Mail We preview the upcoming AOPA National Assembly in Orlando, discussing what makes this prosthetics and orthotics trade show valuable for professionals across the industry. • AOPA (American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association) National Assembly happening September 3-6 in Orlando, Florida • 165+ exhibitors representing various aspects of the O&P industry  • Educational tracks cov...

Send us Fan Mail Brad Matear, who oversees central fabrication for Shriners Children's hospitals, shares insights on the technical side of O&P, highlighting the critical shortage of trained technicians and pathways for advancing the profession. • Shriners Children's central fabrication serves approximately 19 facilities nationwide, dealing with complex pediatric cases that require ex...