Conçu pour faire avancer les vies

Regardons les choses en face, la fibre de carbone est la norme d’hier. Le composite de verre unique d’PROTEOR USA brise le moule tout en changeant la façon dont les amputés vivent leur vie. Les amputés des membres inférieurs méritent plus de leurs prothèses. Plus de liberté. Plus de confort. Plus de possibilités d’aller de l’avant sans être gêné par les limites des prothèses en carbone traditionnelles. PROTEOR USA conçoit des produits de prothèses de pieds de pointe, axés sur la flexibilité, comme rien d’autre sur le marché aujourd’hui.

Nous comprenons que le confort mène à la confiance et la confiance conduit à la réalisation. C’est l’état d’esprit de nos conceptions innovantes RUSH Foot®.

Le confort, la flexibilité et la durabilité sont au cœur de nos préoccupations. Démontrer une simplicité radicale et éliminer les frustrations auxquelles les prothésistes et les amputés sont confrontés aujourd’hui.

Nous mettons l’accent sur l’établissement de relations solides avec les prothésistes afin d’accroître la fidélité des patients en réduisant les réparations et en limitant les remplacements de garantie. Le bonheur des patients avec notre RUSH Foot équivaut directement à leur satisfaction avec le prothésiste qui l’a recommandé.

Le confort, la flexibilité et la durabilité sont au cœur de nos préoccupations.
Mettons les vies en avant ensemble.

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RUSH Foot Key Design Components

The RUSH RAMPAGE LP is designed for:

Low-profile build

  • K3 or higher activity level
  • Moderate to high activity
  • Individuals with LESS THAN 6.5” of clearance.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals with long limbs, limited clearance and/or requiring additional components such as a vacuum units, torsion units or shock absorption units
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH RAMPAGE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking a cosmesis-friendly option to meet their aesthetic preferences.
  • Users desiring a light-weight yet indestructible foot.
  • Additional vertical shock absorption.
  • Smooth roll through for individuals who demand a smoother gait.
  • Biometric ankle motion simulates natural gait, increasing patient comfort.
  • Extreme reliability for use in any environment.
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5”.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher).

US Learn more button

The RUSH EVAQ8 is designed for:

  • Users seeking an integrated elevated vacuum suspension system
  • Users seeking stabilized volume, increased linkage and heightened proprioception through elevated vacuum suspension
  • Upwards of 22inHg
  • All-terrain activity
  • Fully-submersible (fresh or salt water)
  • Minimal maintenance and no bulky components
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • Below the knee, knee disarticulate, bilateral, above the knee or higher
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

The RUSH FOOT H2O is designed for:

  • Shower use or barefoot activities
  • Slick surface traction
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance of 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, Above Knee (or higher)
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

 

The RUSH ROGUE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking ultra-comfort in the socket during all levels of use
  • Users seeking torsion relief to ease load on joints and in the socket
  • Progressive torsional resistance to +/- 8 degrees
  • Additional vertical shock absorption
  • Additional ground compliance
  • Minimal additional weight increase offset by performance
  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH Rover is designed for:

  • Patients with low OR high clearance, limited by clearance or build height
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact patients, K3 or higher
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, AK or Symes
  • Patients tired of breaking extreme low profile feet
  • Patients tired of sacrificing flexibility in a build height less than 2.5”
  • Patients tired of being told they have little to no options in feet selection
  • Ultra-low profile build (Just under 2.5”)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • Sizes 22-30cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Kid is designed for:

  • The pediatric patient that has broken every carbon foot and needs something durable
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact pediatric patients, K3 or higher
  • Ultra-low profile build (1.75”)
  • All pediatric patients with low OR high clearance, less than 2” of clearance, limited clearance or Symes amputation.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK.
  • Sizes 19-21cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Chopart/RUSH76 is designed for:

  • Individuals with Chopart, LisFranc, Pirogoff, Boyd and partial foot prostheses
  • Direct lamination
  • Durability and flexibility for the longest amputation levels and partial foot prostheses
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH76 is also known as the RUSH Chopart.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

The RUSH HiPro/RUSH87 is designed for:

  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH87 is also known as the RUSH HiPro.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

J. Blount Swain, President

DSC_0032Mr. Swain has spent 20 years as the President and/or Chief Financial Officer of several medical device companies. Mr. Swain served for Closure Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: CLSR), Symbius Medical, and Biofisica. He has also served on the Boards of numerous medical device start-ups over the last decade.

Prior to this, he served as the CFO of YOUcentric, Inc. (CRM software) and The Record Bar (music retailer).

Early in his career, he served as a Senior Accountant with Price Waterhouse. Mr. Swain holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a certified public accountant.

w:  480.588.7907
e: [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/j-blount-swain/12/870/11b

Steve Sherman, Vice President of Prosthetics

Steve B and WSteve comes to Ability with over 20 years of successful sales and sales management experience in the Orthotic and Prosthetic (O & P) industry.  Throughout his career Steve has specialized in introducing new products and technologies to the O & P marketplace.  He was instrumental in the introduction and widespread use of CAD/CAM technology in the field in the early 1990s with ART Inc. and M+IND.

Steve was involved in the growth and introduction of the Flex-Foot and Freedom Innovations lines of prosthetic feet.  His understanding and knowledge of the O & P industry was further deepened by his experience on  the patient care side of the business through his role as the Prosthetic Marketing Director for Wright & Filippis Inc.

He is a graduate of Michigan State University and is a former medic with the US Army Reserve and Michigan Army National Guard.

w: 248.880.3419
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/stephen-sherman/45/46a/86b

Gene Parker, Director of Production

Gene B and WGene comes from an aircraft and engineering/manufacturing background. In his youth, he obtained private pilot and aircraft mechanic licenses. This funded his university education and he graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Math. This formal education, combined with practical experience, allowed him to work for more than 20 years designing and manufacturing military and civilian aircraft.

Mr. Parker combines his  knowledge and experience with materials, processes, design, testing and manufacturing to make RUSH Foot® products and a better mobility experience for amputees.

 

w:  480.699.0136
e:  [email protected]

Holly Sanger, Director of Marketing

Holly Sanger, Director of MarketingHolly is a marketing leader bringing over 25 years of experience and creativity to the PROTEOR USA team.  She has worked with everything from Fortune 500 companies to digital start-ups which provides her with a  well-rounded understanding of what it takes to build a strong brand.

Her expertise in the areas of demographic targeting, digital marketing techniques and building brand awareness is vital to the success of PROTEOR USA and the RUSH Foot® product line.  Her objective is to make RUSH Foot® a household name in the prosthetic world.

Ms. Sanger holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

w: 480.361.1303
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/in/hollysanger2010

Laticia “LT” Ibeere, Director of Operations

11ced06LT brings 20+ years of accounting experience to the PROTEOR USA team.  She graduated from the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU, with a B.A. in Communications and has worked for various companies within different industries; ranging from small to Fortune 500.

She was drawn to PROTEOR USA, because she knew she would be able to be a part of a dynamic and growing company that touches people’s lives daily.  She stated that “there is nothing more rewarding then seeing the impact that is made on someone’s life by being part of a company that custom creates prosthetic feet that are ‘not another carbon copy’ and are client specific. ”

w:  480.588.6328
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/laticia-“lt”-ibeere/9/995/64

Material

Glass based composites have excellent strain capability, and are 3x more flexible.

Glass composites are more durable than Carbon Fiber composites.   Stress points won’t fail when subjected to stress, water or impact.

Glass fiber composites do not soften over time.

Fail Safe Material: If glass fiber composite fails (which is rare) they do not fail catastrophically.  Should a failure occur…it would be by delamination in a way that only partially compromises the structure, leaving some support to save the user from an unexpected fall; unlike carbon fiber.

Glass fiber composites provide increased flexibility, durability and result in a more natural gait.

Roll-Through Analysis

One of the strongest characteristics of a comfortable foot is the roll through characteristics. The RUSH Foot® products provide a continuous line of contact from heel strike, through the mid-stance, to toe off. The continuous roll-through removes the sensation of “dead spots” or flat spots during gait. The smooth action reduces abrupt shifts in the socket between the skin and the socket reducing shear loads.

The smooth roll-through of the foot requires less energy to transition from heel to toe. Often the result of this is an increase in self-selected walking speed as well as a more natural looking gait.

Contact Form

es-contact_form

Comfort

The RUSH Foot® provides an extremely comfortable gait. The discussion on the roll-though analysis supports the smooth transition from heel strike to toe-off.

Continuous support on roll through provides comfort at all levels and at variable cadences of ambulation. End users report that they can walk farther than they ever did before without the worry of developing skin issues or worrying about getting too tired. Basketball players report that they can play substantially longer on the court before developing the typical “hot spots” in the socket or feel the onset of fatigue.

Those who spend a significant amount of time standing report the ability to stand longer and find a comfortable position. The continuous point of contact allows the user to rotate to find the comfortable position for the leg without being forced to a fixed position from an arch shaped foot.

Brian Werner, Research & Development

Being part of the PROTEOR USA engineering team since 2012, Brian has led the R&D initiative on developing new and innovative prosthetic solutions. He specializes in new product design, testing, and qualification of mechanical devices.

Mr. Werner holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Aeronautical Engineering from Arizona State University.

His formal education and industry knowledge coupled with his passion for creative design has aided him in producing industry leading prosthetic designs, with the main goal of improving the lives of amputees.

w: 480.361.9576

e: [email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmwerner/

 

Instep

Designed to promote tibial progression around the ankle.

The bracket pyramid weight line is set at 70% of the length. Standard weight line at the pyramid is typically 66%.

The longer overall length in combination with the 70% weight line combines to provide the longest toe lever in the industry. This is important in the fact that it reduces gait deviation.  Longer toe levers reduce the requirement in the hip to compensate for the shorter step; thus, promoting a more natural gait.

Socket Issue Mitigation

Testimonials from a large cross-section of patients points to, or suggests, the smooth action of the RUSH Foot® reduces socket issues. (Refer to the comfort and roll-through sections.)

Time between socket replacements may be increased.

Patients don’t want to come in for socket issues. It interrupts their lives. One of our patients used to spend several day s a month in a wheel chair letting their residual limb heel. After wearing the RUSH Foot® they spend literally no time in a wheel chair.

Users of the RUSH Foot® report that when they used to take off other feet early at the end of their work day, they now wear it for evening activities, and until they retire to bed.

Rocker Bottom/Sole Plate

The rocker bottom is the primary contributor to the smooth roll over from heel strike to toe-off.

Upon heel strike the rocker bottom flexes to allow a smooth continuous transition from heel strike to toe off. The rocker bottom maintains a continuous line of contact. As A result, there is not the sensation of a flat or “dead spot” at midstance.

Smooth transition from heel strike to toe off requires less energy to walk or run. Over the period of a day, the energy savings adds up.

The continuous contact of the rocker bottom provides midstance contact AND midstance support.

Download the Step Analysis document here.

Step Analysis

Sitemap

es-sitemap

Heel Shock

Users of the RUSH Foot®  products often state that the heel shock feels like their “real heel”. The elastomeric material has a nonlinear spring rate that brings the foot to a comfortable stop.

The heel shock material has been formulated to bring an incredibly high energy return in excess of 90%.  By providing high-energy return and comfort, patient fatigue is reduced.

The material in the heel will not fail or break down over time. It is extremely durable and will not fail due to fatigue cycles. Unlike composite heels, the RUSH Foot®  heel shock will not fail.

Durability

The glass fiber composite is well-suited to act like a toe spring to absorb a large spectrum of loads without breaking. This means the end user can wear a reasonably comfortable foot in terms of stiffness, and still have the foot survive the huge toe deflection loads that may come in extreme situations such as high-impact sports. Carbon fiber feet must be sized to be stiff to survive large impact loads. This leaves the end user uncomfortable most of the time when they are not using them in an extreme way.

Overall Length

The RUSH Foot® is generally the longest composite foot on the market and significantly assists in reducing gait deviation in ambulation.

Toe lever

*All feet shown are 27cm in length.

Gait Deviation Mitigation

Patients and prosthetists regularly report that the user walking on the RUSH Foot® has a more natural gait. There are several reasons for this. Some have been discussed in prior sections.

We have patients often tell us that “I feel like I have my real foot back”, and “I feel like I can walk normal again”.

Long Toe Lever
The RUSH Foot® has the longest toe lever in the industry. The RUSH Foot® is overall the longest foot, and in combination with that, the toe is set at 70% of the length which gives a very long toe lever. During the toe off of a natural foot the toe is extended as plantar flexion as the leg is extend aft. The toe must extend in plantar flexion to maintain the body center of gravity from excessively motion. In connection with this there is also some hip movement. The only way for someone wearing a prosthetic device to compensate for the lack of toe extension or plantar flexion is to rotate the hip, tilt the hip, shorten their step, or let the whole upper body shift laterally which accentuates the classic gait deviation of an amputee with a poor quality foot. The RUSH Foot® gives the user a longer toe lever to compensate for the lack of foot plantar flexion. This mitigates hip compensation motion, reduces upper body sway, and lengthens the step.

Mid Stance Support of Rocker Bottom
Another classic gait deviation of an amputee is to drop the shoulder or sway the upper body to the side of the prosthetic in mid stance. This is required for flat feet with no mid stance support because this becomes a low point during the opposite leg swing through. To keep the swing leg from stubbing the toe the user must lift the swing leg higher, or lift the hip (which causes upper body sway) to allow the swing leg to swing through properly. The RUSH Foot® helps with this issue because the rocker bottom sole plate give mid stance lift and support during the middle of opposite leg swing phase. This allows the swing leg to swing through more naturally and reduces gait deviation.

Smooth Continuous Motion
The rocker bottom sole plate allows smooth continuous contact motion from heel strike to toe-off. The roll- through requires less energy and the user doesn’t have to create extra energy input to push over a flat spot and get over the toe.

Heel Strike to Foot Flat
In the natural gait of the foot the heel initiates, at heel strike, plantar flexion to flat foot. This gives a smooth un-jarring transition to the foot. Prosthetic device users with a stiff heel learn to compensate for the uncomfortable strike by dropping the upper body to ease the change in momentum. The smooth heel strike of the RUSH Foot® with soft initial contact eases the transition to the prosthetic foot such that the user can learn to walk naturally without anticipated stiff heel strike. The action of the RUSH Foot® flexes in the instep to allow the foot to move to flat foot quickly and naturally. Users of the RUSH Foot® often quote “I feel like I have my real heel back”.

Toe Bond Adhesive

The aerospace-grade adhesive eliminates catastrophic failure commonly experienced by amputees wearing inferior prosthetic feet.

Energy Return

Toe
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® is driven by the instep. The classic definition of energy return is the measure of energy lost when a material is flexed. The energy return of the RUSH Foot® is the same as carbon fiber feet because most of the friction loss in the material is in the epoxy which is the same for both.
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® has excellent energy return. Not only because of the composite material, but because the mid stance support provides a smoother energy free motion from mid stance to toe off.

Heel
The rubber elastomeric material of the RUSH Foot® products have been specifically engineered to provide exceptionally high-energy return. They can provide energy return in excess of the composite material which the end-user appreciates especially over an extended period of exercise. Better energy return in the heel means less work in the socket interface to keep the body moving.

Heel Wedge (Optional)

The heel wedge is optional for those who want a more aggressive tibial rotation. The heel wedge significantly provides the angle to drive the tibia forward on heel strike.

The heel wedge also overcomes issues when a user feels they are “sinking into their heel”, or the heel feels too soft. The heel wedge gives the sensation that the heel is firmer.

Use of the heel wedge does not change the stiffness or durometer of the heel shock, instead it alters and improves the angle of attack to promote tibial progression through midstance.

Refer to the RUSH LoPro, RUSH HiPro or RUSH ROGUE IFU documents for additional wedging instructions.

 

No Split Toe

The split toe is a common design feature in carbon fiber feet. This feature allows rotation as inversion/eversion without an excessive amount of torque applied. End users find this feature more comfortable when walking on uneven terrain. The problem with the split toe is that both sides of the foot need to be in contact. If the user only catches part of the foot on a ledge, the toe flexes excessively and could fail. To compensate for ½ loading, manufactures make the toe more stiff, resulting in regular walking being less comfortable and overly stiff.

The RUSH Foot® is engineered to have the appropriate amount of inversion and eversion without a split toe. This means that during normal flat ground walking the toe is engineered for maximum comfort, and if the user only catches ½ the foot on a curb, they will feel confident in the toe reaction as it will not over deflect.

RUSH Foot Performance Characteristics

The RUSH RAMPAGE LP is designed for:

Low-profile build

  • K3 or higher activity level
  • Moderate to high activity
  • Individuals with LESS THAN 6.5” of clearance.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals with long limbs, limited clearance and/or requiring additional components such as a vacuum units, torsion units or shock absorption units
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH RAMPAGE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking a cosmesis-friendly option to meet their aesthetic preferences.
  • Users desiring a light-weight yet indestructible foot.
  • Additional vertical shock absorption.
  • Smooth roll through for individuals who demand a smoother gait.
  • Biometric ankle motion simulates natural gait, increasing patient comfort.
  • Extreme reliability for use in any environment.
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5”.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher).

US Learn more button

The RUSH EVAQ8 is designed for:

  • Users seeking an integrated elevated vacuum suspension system
  • Users seeking stabilized volume, increased linkage and heightened proprioception through elevated vacuum suspension
  • Upwards of 22inHg
  • All-terrain activity
  • Fully-submersible (fresh or salt water)
  • Minimal maintenance and no bulky components
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • Below the knee, knee disarticulate, bilateral, above the knee or higher
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

The RUSH FOOT H2O is designed for:

  • Shower use or barefoot activities
  • Slick surface traction
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance of 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, Above Knee (or higher)
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

 

The RUSH ROGUE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking ultra-comfort in the socket during all levels of use
  • Users seeking torsion relief to ease load on joints and in the socket
  • Progressive torsional resistance to +/- 8 degrees
  • Additional vertical shock absorption
  • Additional ground compliance
  • Minimal additional weight increase offset by performance
  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH Rover is designed for:

  • Patients with low OR high clearance, limited by clearance or build height
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact patients, K3 or higher
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, AK or Symes
  • Patients tired of breaking extreme low profile feet
  • Patients tired of sacrificing flexibility in a build height less than 2.5”
  • Patients tired of being told they have little to no options in feet selection
  • Ultra-low profile build (Just under 2.5”)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • Sizes 22-30cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Kid is designed for:

  • The pediatric patient that has broken every carbon foot and needs something durable
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact pediatric patients, K3 or higher
  • Ultra-low profile build (1.75”)
  • All pediatric patients with low OR high clearance, less than 2” of clearance, limited clearance or Symes amputation.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK.
  • Sizes 19-21cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Chopart/RUSH76 is designed for:

  • Individuals with Chopart, LisFranc, Pirogoff, Boyd and partial foot prostheses
  • Direct lamination
  • Durability and flexibility for the longest amputation levels and partial foot prostheses
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH76 is also known as the RUSH Chopart.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

The RUSH HiPro/RUSH87 is designed for:

  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH87 is also known as the RUSH HiPro.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

J. Blount Swain, President

DSC_0032Mr. Swain has spent 20 years as the President and/or Chief Financial Officer of several medical device companies. Mr. Swain served for Closure Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: CLSR), Symbius Medical, and Biofisica. He has also served on the Boards of numerous medical device start-ups over the last decade.

Prior to this, he served as the CFO of YOUcentric, Inc. (CRM software) and The Record Bar (music retailer).

Early in his career, he served as a Senior Accountant with Price Waterhouse. Mr. Swain holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a certified public accountant.

w:  480.588.7907
e: [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/j-blount-swain/12/870/11b

Steve Sherman, Vice President of Prosthetics

Steve B and WSteve comes to Ability with over 20 years of successful sales and sales management experience in the Orthotic and Prosthetic (O & P) industry.  Throughout his career Steve has specialized in introducing new products and technologies to the O & P marketplace.  He was instrumental in the introduction and widespread use of CAD/CAM technology in the field in the early 1990s with ART Inc. and M+IND.

Steve was involved in the growth and introduction of the Flex-Foot and Freedom Innovations lines of prosthetic feet.  His understanding and knowledge of the O & P industry was further deepened by his experience on  the patient care side of the business through his role as the Prosthetic Marketing Director for Wright & Filippis Inc.

He is a graduate of Michigan State University and is a former medic with the US Army Reserve and Michigan Army National Guard.

w: 248.880.3419
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/stephen-sherman/45/46a/86b

Gene Parker, Director of Production

Gene B and WGene comes from an aircraft and engineering/manufacturing background. In his youth, he obtained private pilot and aircraft mechanic licenses. This funded his university education and he graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Math. This formal education, combined with practical experience, allowed him to work for more than 20 years designing and manufacturing military and civilian aircraft.

Mr. Parker combines his  knowledge and experience with materials, processes, design, testing and manufacturing to make RUSH Foot® products and a better mobility experience for amputees.

 

w:  480.699.0136
e:  [email protected]

Holly Sanger, Director of Marketing

Holly Sanger, Director of MarketingHolly is a marketing leader bringing over 25 years of experience and creativity to the PROTEOR USA team.  She has worked with everything from Fortune 500 companies to digital start-ups which provides her with a  well-rounded understanding of what it takes to build a strong brand.

Her expertise in the areas of demographic targeting, digital marketing techniques and building brand awareness is vital to the success of PROTEOR USA and the RUSH Foot® product line.  Her objective is to make RUSH Foot® a household name in the prosthetic world.

Ms. Sanger holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

w: 480.361.1303
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/in/hollysanger2010

Laticia “LT” Ibeere, Director of Operations

11ced06LT brings 20+ years of accounting experience to the PROTEOR USA team.  She graduated from the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU, with a B.A. in Communications and has worked for various companies within different industries; ranging from small to Fortune 500.

She was drawn to PROTEOR USA, because she knew she would be able to be a part of a dynamic and growing company that touches people’s lives daily.  She stated that “there is nothing more rewarding then seeing the impact that is made on someone’s life by being part of a company that custom creates prosthetic feet that are ‘not another carbon copy’ and are client specific. ”

w:  480.588.6328
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/laticia-“lt”-ibeere/9/995/64

Material

Glass based composites have excellent strain capability, and are 3x more flexible.

Glass composites are more durable than Carbon Fiber composites.   Stress points won’t fail when subjected to stress, water or impact.

Glass fiber composites do not soften over time.

Fail Safe Material: If glass fiber composite fails (which is rare) they do not fail catastrophically.  Should a failure occur…it would be by delamination in a way that only partially compromises the structure, leaving some support to save the user from an unexpected fall; unlike carbon fiber.

Glass fiber composites provide increased flexibility, durability and result in a more natural gait.

Roll-Through Analysis

One of the strongest characteristics of a comfortable foot is the roll through characteristics. The RUSH Foot® products provide a continuous line of contact from heel strike, through the mid-stance, to toe off. The continuous roll-through removes the sensation of “dead spots” or flat spots during gait. The smooth action reduces abrupt shifts in the socket between the skin and the socket reducing shear loads.

The smooth roll-through of the foot requires less energy to transition from heel to toe. Often the result of this is an increase in self-selected walking speed as well as a more natural looking gait.

Contact Form

es-contact_form

Comfort

The RUSH Foot® provides an extremely comfortable gait. The discussion on the roll-though analysis supports the smooth transition from heel strike to toe-off.

Continuous support on roll through provides comfort at all levels and at variable cadences of ambulation. End users report that they can walk farther than they ever did before without the worry of developing skin issues or worrying about getting too tired. Basketball players report that they can play substantially longer on the court before developing the typical “hot spots” in the socket or feel the onset of fatigue.

Those who spend a significant amount of time standing report the ability to stand longer and find a comfortable position. The continuous point of contact allows the user to rotate to find the comfortable position for the leg without being forced to a fixed position from an arch shaped foot.

Brian Werner, Research & Development

Being part of the PROTEOR USA engineering team since 2012, Brian has led the R&D initiative on developing new and innovative prosthetic solutions. He specializes in new product design, testing, and qualification of mechanical devices.

Mr. Werner holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Aeronautical Engineering from Arizona State University.

His formal education and industry knowledge coupled with his passion for creative design has aided him in producing industry leading prosthetic designs, with the main goal of improving the lives of amputees.

w: 480.361.9576

e: [email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmwerner/

 

Instep

Designed to promote tibial progression around the ankle.

The bracket pyramid weight line is set at 70% of the length. Standard weight line at the pyramid is typically 66%.

The longer overall length in combination with the 70% weight line combines to provide the longest toe lever in the industry. This is important in the fact that it reduces gait deviation.  Longer toe levers reduce the requirement in the hip to compensate for the shorter step; thus, promoting a more natural gait.

Socket Issue Mitigation

Testimonials from a large cross-section of patients points to, or suggests, the smooth action of the RUSH Foot® reduces socket issues. (Refer to the comfort and roll-through sections.)

Time between socket replacements may be increased.

Patients don’t want to come in for socket issues. It interrupts their lives. One of our patients used to spend several day s a month in a wheel chair letting their residual limb heel. After wearing the RUSH Foot® they spend literally no time in a wheel chair.

Users of the RUSH Foot® report that when they used to take off other feet early at the end of their work day, they now wear it for evening activities, and until they retire to bed.

Rocker Bottom/Sole Plate

The rocker bottom is the primary contributor to the smooth roll over from heel strike to toe-off.

Upon heel strike the rocker bottom flexes to allow a smooth continuous transition from heel strike to toe off. The rocker bottom maintains a continuous line of contact. As A result, there is not the sensation of a flat or “dead spot” at midstance.

Smooth transition from heel strike to toe off requires less energy to walk or run. Over the period of a day, the energy savings adds up.

The continuous contact of the rocker bottom provides midstance contact AND midstance support.

Download the Step Analysis document here.

Step Analysis

Sitemap

es-sitemap

Heel Shock

Users of the RUSH Foot®  products often state that the heel shock feels like their “real heel”. The elastomeric material has a nonlinear spring rate that brings the foot to a comfortable stop.

The heel shock material has been formulated to bring an incredibly high energy return in excess of 90%.  By providing high-energy return and comfort, patient fatigue is reduced.

The material in the heel will not fail or break down over time. It is extremely durable and will not fail due to fatigue cycles. Unlike composite heels, the RUSH Foot®  heel shock will not fail.

Durability

The glass fiber composite is well-suited to act like a toe spring to absorb a large spectrum of loads without breaking. This means the end user can wear a reasonably comfortable foot in terms of stiffness, and still have the foot survive the huge toe deflection loads that may come in extreme situations such as high-impact sports. Carbon fiber feet must be sized to be stiff to survive large impact loads. This leaves the end user uncomfortable most of the time when they are not using them in an extreme way.

Overall Length

The RUSH Foot® is generally the longest composite foot on the market and significantly assists in reducing gait deviation in ambulation.

Toe lever

*All feet shown are 27cm in length.

Gait Deviation Mitigation

Patients and prosthetists regularly report that the user walking on the RUSH Foot® has a more natural gait. There are several reasons for this. Some have been discussed in prior sections.

We have patients often tell us that “I feel like I have my real foot back”, and “I feel like I can walk normal again”.

Long Toe Lever
The RUSH Foot® has the longest toe lever in the industry. The RUSH Foot® is overall the longest foot, and in combination with that, the toe is set at 70% of the length which gives a very long toe lever. During the toe off of a natural foot the toe is extended as plantar flexion as the leg is extend aft. The toe must extend in plantar flexion to maintain the body center of gravity from excessively motion. In connection with this there is also some hip movement. The only way for someone wearing a prosthetic device to compensate for the lack of toe extension or plantar flexion is to rotate the hip, tilt the hip, shorten their step, or let the whole upper body shift laterally which accentuates the classic gait deviation of an amputee with a poor quality foot. The RUSH Foot® gives the user a longer toe lever to compensate for the lack of foot plantar flexion. This mitigates hip compensation motion, reduces upper body sway, and lengthens the step.

Mid Stance Support of Rocker Bottom
Another classic gait deviation of an amputee is to drop the shoulder or sway the upper body to the side of the prosthetic in mid stance. This is required for flat feet with no mid stance support because this becomes a low point during the opposite leg swing through. To keep the swing leg from stubbing the toe the user must lift the swing leg higher, or lift the hip (which causes upper body sway) to allow the swing leg to swing through properly. The RUSH Foot® helps with this issue because the rocker bottom sole plate give mid stance lift and support during the middle of opposite leg swing phase. This allows the swing leg to swing through more naturally and reduces gait deviation.

Smooth Continuous Motion
The rocker bottom sole plate allows smooth continuous contact motion from heel strike to toe-off. The roll- through requires less energy and the user doesn’t have to create extra energy input to push over a flat spot and get over the toe.

Heel Strike to Foot Flat
In the natural gait of the foot the heel initiates, at heel strike, plantar flexion to flat foot. This gives a smooth un-jarring transition to the foot. Prosthetic device users with a stiff heel learn to compensate for the uncomfortable strike by dropping the upper body to ease the change in momentum. The smooth heel strike of the RUSH Foot® with soft initial contact eases the transition to the prosthetic foot such that the user can learn to walk naturally without anticipated stiff heel strike. The action of the RUSH Foot® flexes in the instep to allow the foot to move to flat foot quickly and naturally. Users of the RUSH Foot® often quote “I feel like I have my real heel back”.

Toe Bond Adhesive

The aerospace-grade adhesive eliminates catastrophic failure commonly experienced by amputees wearing inferior prosthetic feet.

Energy Return

Toe
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® is driven by the instep. The classic definition of energy return is the measure of energy lost when a material is flexed. The energy return of the RUSH Foot® is the same as carbon fiber feet because most of the friction loss in the material is in the epoxy which is the same for both.
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® has excellent energy return. Not only because of the composite material, but because the mid stance support provides a smoother energy free motion from mid stance to toe off.

Heel
The rubber elastomeric material of the RUSH Foot® products have been specifically engineered to provide exceptionally high-energy return. They can provide energy return in excess of the composite material which the end-user appreciates especially over an extended period of exercise. Better energy return in the heel means less work in the socket interface to keep the body moving.

Heel Wedge (Optional)

The heel wedge is optional for those who want a more aggressive tibial rotation. The heel wedge significantly provides the angle to drive the tibia forward on heel strike.

The heel wedge also overcomes issues when a user feels they are “sinking into their heel”, or the heel feels too soft. The heel wedge gives the sensation that the heel is firmer.

Use of the heel wedge does not change the stiffness or durometer of the heel shock, instead it alters and improves the angle of attack to promote tibial progression through midstance.

Refer to the RUSH LoPro, RUSH HiPro or RUSH ROGUE IFU documents for additional wedging instructions.

 

No Split Toe

The split toe is a common design feature in carbon fiber feet. This feature allows rotation as inversion/eversion without an excessive amount of torque applied. End users find this feature more comfortable when walking on uneven terrain. The problem with the split toe is that both sides of the foot need to be in contact. If the user only catches part of the foot on a ledge, the toe flexes excessively and could fail. To compensate for ½ loading, manufactures make the toe more stiff, resulting in regular walking being less comfortable and overly stiff.

The RUSH Foot® is engineered to have the appropriate amount of inversion and eversion without a split toe. This means that during normal flat ground walking the toe is engineered for maximum comfort, and if the user only catches ½ the foot on a curb, they will feel confident in the toe reaction as it will not over deflect.

Top

Which RUSH Foot is Right For Your Patient?

81_Icon

The RUSH RAMPAGE LP is designed for:

Low-profile build

  • K3 or higher activity level
  • Moderate to high activity
  • Individuals with LESS THAN 6.5” of clearance.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals with long limbs, limited clearance and/or requiring additional components such as a vacuum units, torsion units or shock absorption units
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH RAMPAGE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking a cosmesis-friendly option to meet their aesthetic preferences.
  • Users desiring a light-weight yet indestructible foot.
  • Additional vertical shock absorption.
  • Smooth roll through for individuals who demand a smoother gait.
  • Biometric ankle motion simulates natural gait, increasing patient comfort.
  • Extreme reliability for use in any environment.
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5”.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher).

US Learn more button

The RUSH EVAQ8 is designed for:

  • Users seeking an integrated elevated vacuum suspension system
  • Users seeking stabilized volume, increased linkage and heightened proprioception through elevated vacuum suspension
  • Upwards of 22inHg
  • All-terrain activity
  • Fully-submersible (fresh or salt water)
  • Minimal maintenance and no bulky components
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • Below the knee, knee disarticulate, bilateral, above the knee or higher
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

The RUSH FOOT H2O is designed for:

  • Shower use or barefoot activities
  • Slick surface traction
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance of 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, Above Knee (or higher)
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

 

The RUSH ROGUE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking ultra-comfort in the socket during all levels of use
  • Users seeking torsion relief to ease load on joints and in the socket
  • Progressive torsional resistance to +/- 8 degrees
  • Additional vertical shock absorption
  • Additional ground compliance
  • Minimal additional weight increase offset by performance
  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH Rover is designed for:

  • Patients with low OR high clearance, limited by clearance or build height
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact patients, K3 or higher
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, AK or Symes
  • Patients tired of breaking extreme low profile feet
  • Patients tired of sacrificing flexibility in a build height less than 2.5”
  • Patients tired of being told they have little to no options in feet selection
  • Ultra-low profile build (Just under 2.5”)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • Sizes 22-30cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Kid is designed for:

  • The pediatric patient that has broken every carbon foot and needs something durable
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact pediatric patients, K3 or higher
  • Ultra-low profile build (1.75”)
  • All pediatric patients with low OR high clearance, less than 2” of clearance, limited clearance or Symes amputation.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK.
  • Sizes 19-21cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Chopart/RUSH76 is designed for:

  • Individuals with Chopart, LisFranc, Pirogoff, Boyd and partial foot prostheses
  • Direct lamination
  • Durability and flexibility for the longest amputation levels and partial foot prostheses
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH76 is also known as the RUSH Chopart.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

The RUSH HiPro/RUSH87 is designed for:

  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH87 is also known as the RUSH HiPro.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

J. Blount Swain, President

DSC_0032Mr. Swain has spent 20 years as the President and/or Chief Financial Officer of several medical device companies. Mr. Swain served for Closure Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: CLSR), Symbius Medical, and Biofisica. He has also served on the Boards of numerous medical device start-ups over the last decade.

Prior to this, he served as the CFO of YOUcentric, Inc. (CRM software) and The Record Bar (music retailer).

Early in his career, he served as a Senior Accountant with Price Waterhouse. Mr. Swain holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a certified public accountant.

w:  480.588.7907
e: [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/j-blount-swain/12/870/11b

Steve Sherman, Vice President of Prosthetics

Steve B and WSteve comes to Ability with over 20 years of successful sales and sales management experience in the Orthotic and Prosthetic (O & P) industry.  Throughout his career Steve has specialized in introducing new products and technologies to the O & P marketplace.  He was instrumental in the introduction and widespread use of CAD/CAM technology in the field in the early 1990s with ART Inc. and M+IND.

Steve was involved in the growth and introduction of the Flex-Foot and Freedom Innovations lines of prosthetic feet.  His understanding and knowledge of the O & P industry was further deepened by his experience on  the patient care side of the business through his role as the Prosthetic Marketing Director for Wright & Filippis Inc.

He is a graduate of Michigan State University and is a former medic with the US Army Reserve and Michigan Army National Guard.

w: 248.880.3419
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/stephen-sherman/45/46a/86b

Gene Parker, Director of Production

Gene B and WGene comes from an aircraft and engineering/manufacturing background. In his youth, he obtained private pilot and aircraft mechanic licenses. This funded his university education and he graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Math. This formal education, combined with practical experience, allowed him to work for more than 20 years designing and manufacturing military and civilian aircraft.

Mr. Parker combines his  knowledge and experience with materials, processes, design, testing and manufacturing to make RUSH Foot® products and a better mobility experience for amputees.

 

w:  480.699.0136
e:  [email protected]

Holly Sanger, Director of Marketing

Holly Sanger, Director of MarketingHolly is a marketing leader bringing over 25 years of experience and creativity to the PROTEOR USA team.  She has worked with everything from Fortune 500 companies to digital start-ups which provides her with a  well-rounded understanding of what it takes to build a strong brand.

Her expertise in the areas of demographic targeting, digital marketing techniques and building brand awareness is vital to the success of PROTEOR USA and the RUSH Foot® product line.  Her objective is to make RUSH Foot® a household name in the prosthetic world.

Ms. Sanger holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

w: 480.361.1303
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/in/hollysanger2010

Laticia “LT” Ibeere, Director of Operations

11ced06LT brings 20+ years of accounting experience to the PROTEOR USA team.  She graduated from the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU, with a B.A. in Communications and has worked for various companies within different industries; ranging from small to Fortune 500.

She was drawn to PROTEOR USA, because she knew she would be able to be a part of a dynamic and growing company that touches people’s lives daily.  She stated that “there is nothing more rewarding then seeing the impact that is made on someone’s life by being part of a company that custom creates prosthetic feet that are ‘not another carbon copy’ and are client specific. ”

w:  480.588.6328
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/laticia-“lt”-ibeere/9/995/64

Material

Glass based composites have excellent strain capability, and are 3x more flexible.

Glass composites are more durable than Carbon Fiber composites.   Stress points won’t fail when subjected to stress, water or impact.

Glass fiber composites do not soften over time.

Fail Safe Material: If glass fiber composite fails (which is rare) they do not fail catastrophically.  Should a failure occur…it would be by delamination in a way that only partially compromises the structure, leaving some support to save the user from an unexpected fall; unlike carbon fiber.

Glass fiber composites provide increased flexibility, durability and result in a more natural gait.

Roll-Through Analysis

One of the strongest characteristics of a comfortable foot is the roll through characteristics. The RUSH Foot® products provide a continuous line of contact from heel strike, through the mid-stance, to toe off. The continuous roll-through removes the sensation of “dead spots” or flat spots during gait. The smooth action reduces abrupt shifts in the socket between the skin and the socket reducing shear loads.

The smooth roll-through of the foot requires less energy to transition from heel to toe. Often the result of this is an increase in self-selected walking speed as well as a more natural looking gait.

Contact Form

es-contact_form

Comfort

The RUSH Foot® provides an extremely comfortable gait. The discussion on the roll-though analysis supports the smooth transition from heel strike to toe-off.

Continuous support on roll through provides comfort at all levels and at variable cadences of ambulation. End users report that they can walk farther than they ever did before without the worry of developing skin issues or worrying about getting too tired. Basketball players report that they can play substantially longer on the court before developing the typical “hot spots” in the socket or feel the onset of fatigue.

Those who spend a significant amount of time standing report the ability to stand longer and find a comfortable position. The continuous point of contact allows the user to rotate to find the comfortable position for the leg without being forced to a fixed position from an arch shaped foot.

Brian Werner, Research & Development

Being part of the PROTEOR USA engineering team since 2012, Brian has led the R&D initiative on developing new and innovative prosthetic solutions. He specializes in new product design, testing, and qualification of mechanical devices.

Mr. Werner holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Aeronautical Engineering from Arizona State University.

His formal education and industry knowledge coupled with his passion for creative design has aided him in producing industry leading prosthetic designs, with the main goal of improving the lives of amputees.

w: 480.361.9576

e: [email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmwerner/

 

Instep

Designed to promote tibial progression around the ankle.

The bracket pyramid weight line is set at 70% of the length. Standard weight line at the pyramid is typically 66%.

The longer overall length in combination with the 70% weight line combines to provide the longest toe lever in the industry. This is important in the fact that it reduces gait deviation.  Longer toe levers reduce the requirement in the hip to compensate for the shorter step; thus, promoting a more natural gait.

Socket Issue Mitigation

Testimonials from a large cross-section of patients points to, or suggests, the smooth action of the RUSH Foot® reduces socket issues. (Refer to the comfort and roll-through sections.)

Time between socket replacements may be increased.

Patients don’t want to come in for socket issues. It interrupts their lives. One of our patients used to spend several day s a month in a wheel chair letting their residual limb heel. After wearing the RUSH Foot® they spend literally no time in a wheel chair.

Users of the RUSH Foot® report that when they used to take off other feet early at the end of their work day, they now wear it for evening activities, and until they retire to bed.

Rocker Bottom/Sole Plate

The rocker bottom is the primary contributor to the smooth roll over from heel strike to toe-off.

Upon heel strike the rocker bottom flexes to allow a smooth continuous transition from heel strike to toe off. The rocker bottom maintains a continuous line of contact. As A result, there is not the sensation of a flat or “dead spot” at midstance.

Smooth transition from heel strike to toe off requires less energy to walk or run. Over the period of a day, the energy savings adds up.

The continuous contact of the rocker bottom provides midstance contact AND midstance support.

Download the Step Analysis document here.

Step Analysis

Sitemap

es-sitemap

Heel Shock

Users of the RUSH Foot®  products often state that the heel shock feels like their “real heel”. The elastomeric material has a nonlinear spring rate that brings the foot to a comfortable stop.

The heel shock material has been formulated to bring an incredibly high energy return in excess of 90%.  By providing high-energy return and comfort, patient fatigue is reduced.

The material in the heel will not fail or break down over time. It is extremely durable and will not fail due to fatigue cycles. Unlike composite heels, the RUSH Foot®  heel shock will not fail.

Durability

The glass fiber composite is well-suited to act like a toe spring to absorb a large spectrum of loads without breaking. This means the end user can wear a reasonably comfortable foot in terms of stiffness, and still have the foot survive the huge toe deflection loads that may come in extreme situations such as high-impact sports. Carbon fiber feet must be sized to be stiff to survive large impact loads. This leaves the end user uncomfortable most of the time when they are not using them in an extreme way.

Overall Length

The RUSH Foot® is generally the longest composite foot on the market and significantly assists in reducing gait deviation in ambulation.

Toe lever

*All feet shown are 27cm in length.

Gait Deviation Mitigation

Patients and prosthetists regularly report that the user walking on the RUSH Foot® has a more natural gait. There are several reasons for this. Some have been discussed in prior sections.

We have patients often tell us that “I feel like I have my real foot back”, and “I feel like I can walk normal again”.

Long Toe Lever
The RUSH Foot® has the longest toe lever in the industry. The RUSH Foot® is overall the longest foot, and in combination with that, the toe is set at 70% of the length which gives a very long toe lever. During the toe off of a natural foot the toe is extended as plantar flexion as the leg is extend aft. The toe must extend in plantar flexion to maintain the body center of gravity from excessively motion. In connection with this there is also some hip movement. The only way for someone wearing a prosthetic device to compensate for the lack of toe extension or plantar flexion is to rotate the hip, tilt the hip, shorten their step, or let the whole upper body shift laterally which accentuates the classic gait deviation of an amputee with a poor quality foot. The RUSH Foot® gives the user a longer toe lever to compensate for the lack of foot plantar flexion. This mitigates hip compensation motion, reduces upper body sway, and lengthens the step.

Mid Stance Support of Rocker Bottom
Another classic gait deviation of an amputee is to drop the shoulder or sway the upper body to the side of the prosthetic in mid stance. This is required for flat feet with no mid stance support because this becomes a low point during the opposite leg swing through. To keep the swing leg from stubbing the toe the user must lift the swing leg higher, or lift the hip (which causes upper body sway) to allow the swing leg to swing through properly. The RUSH Foot® helps with this issue because the rocker bottom sole plate give mid stance lift and support during the middle of opposite leg swing phase. This allows the swing leg to swing through more naturally and reduces gait deviation.

Smooth Continuous Motion
The rocker bottom sole plate allows smooth continuous contact motion from heel strike to toe-off. The roll- through requires less energy and the user doesn’t have to create extra energy input to push over a flat spot and get over the toe.

Heel Strike to Foot Flat
In the natural gait of the foot the heel initiates, at heel strike, plantar flexion to flat foot. This gives a smooth un-jarring transition to the foot. Prosthetic device users with a stiff heel learn to compensate for the uncomfortable strike by dropping the upper body to ease the change in momentum. The smooth heel strike of the RUSH Foot® with soft initial contact eases the transition to the prosthetic foot such that the user can learn to walk naturally without anticipated stiff heel strike. The action of the RUSH Foot® flexes in the instep to allow the foot to move to flat foot quickly and naturally. Users of the RUSH Foot® often quote “I feel like I have my real heel back”.

Toe Bond Adhesive

The aerospace-grade adhesive eliminates catastrophic failure commonly experienced by amputees wearing inferior prosthetic feet.

Energy Return

Toe
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® is driven by the instep. The classic definition of energy return is the measure of energy lost when a material is flexed. The energy return of the RUSH Foot® is the same as carbon fiber feet because most of the friction loss in the material is in the epoxy which is the same for both.
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® has excellent energy return. Not only because of the composite material, but because the mid stance support provides a smoother energy free motion from mid stance to toe off.

Heel
The rubber elastomeric material of the RUSH Foot® products have been specifically engineered to provide exceptionally high-energy return. They can provide energy return in excess of the composite material which the end-user appreciates especially over an extended period of exercise. Better energy return in the heel means less work in the socket interface to keep the body moving.

Heel Wedge (Optional)

The heel wedge is optional for those who want a more aggressive tibial rotation. The heel wedge significantly provides the angle to drive the tibia forward on heel strike.

The heel wedge also overcomes issues when a user feels they are “sinking into their heel”, or the heel feels too soft. The heel wedge gives the sensation that the heel is firmer.

Use of the heel wedge does not change the stiffness or durometer of the heel shock, instead it alters and improves the angle of attack to promote tibial progression through midstance.

Refer to the RUSH LoPro, RUSH HiPro or RUSH ROGUE IFU documents for additional wedging instructions.

 

No Split Toe

The split toe is a common design feature in carbon fiber feet. This feature allows rotation as inversion/eversion without an excessive amount of torque applied. End users find this feature more comfortable when walking on uneven terrain. The problem with the split toe is that both sides of the foot need to be in contact. If the user only catches part of the foot on a ledge, the toe flexes excessively and could fail. To compensate for ½ loading, manufactures make the toe more stiff, resulting in regular walking being less comfortable and overly stiff.

The RUSH Foot® is engineered to have the appropriate amount of inversion and eversion without a split toe. This means that during normal flat ground walking the toe is engineered for maximum comfort, and if the user only catches ½ the foot on a curb, they will feel confident in the toe reaction as it will not over deflect.

76_Icon

The RUSH RAMPAGE LP is designed for:

Low-profile build

  • K3 or higher activity level
  • Moderate to high activity
  • Individuals with LESS THAN 6.5” of clearance.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals with long limbs, limited clearance and/or requiring additional components such as a vacuum units, torsion units or shock absorption units
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH RAMPAGE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking a cosmesis-friendly option to meet their aesthetic preferences.
  • Users desiring a light-weight yet indestructible foot.
  • Additional vertical shock absorption.
  • Smooth roll through for individuals who demand a smoother gait.
  • Biometric ankle motion simulates natural gait, increasing patient comfort.
  • Extreme reliability for use in any environment.
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5”.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher).

US Learn more button

The RUSH EVAQ8 is designed for:

  • Users seeking an integrated elevated vacuum suspension system
  • Users seeking stabilized volume, increased linkage and heightened proprioception through elevated vacuum suspension
  • Upwards of 22inHg
  • All-terrain activity
  • Fully-submersible (fresh or salt water)
  • Minimal maintenance and no bulky components
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • Below the knee, knee disarticulate, bilateral, above the knee or higher
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

The RUSH FOOT H2O is designed for:

  • Shower use or barefoot activities
  • Slick surface traction
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance of 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, Above Knee (or higher)
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

 

The RUSH ROGUE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking ultra-comfort in the socket during all levels of use
  • Users seeking torsion relief to ease load on joints and in the socket
  • Progressive torsional resistance to +/- 8 degrees
  • Additional vertical shock absorption
  • Additional ground compliance
  • Minimal additional weight increase offset by performance
  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH Rover is designed for:

  • Patients with low OR high clearance, limited by clearance or build height
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact patients, K3 or higher
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, AK or Symes
  • Patients tired of breaking extreme low profile feet
  • Patients tired of sacrificing flexibility in a build height less than 2.5”
  • Patients tired of being told they have little to no options in feet selection
  • Ultra-low profile build (Just under 2.5”)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • Sizes 22-30cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Kid is designed for:

  • The pediatric patient that has broken every carbon foot and needs something durable
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact pediatric patients, K3 or higher
  • Ultra-low profile build (1.75”)
  • All pediatric patients with low OR high clearance, less than 2” of clearance, limited clearance or Symes amputation.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK.
  • Sizes 19-21cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Chopart/RUSH76 is designed for:

  • Individuals with Chopart, LisFranc, Pirogoff, Boyd and partial foot prostheses
  • Direct lamination
  • Durability and flexibility for the longest amputation levels and partial foot prostheses
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH76 is also known as the RUSH Chopart.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

The RUSH HiPro/RUSH87 is designed for:

  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH87 is also known as the RUSH HiPro.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

J. Blount Swain, President

DSC_0032Mr. Swain has spent 20 years as the President and/or Chief Financial Officer of several medical device companies. Mr. Swain served for Closure Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: CLSR), Symbius Medical, and Biofisica. He has also served on the Boards of numerous medical device start-ups over the last decade.

Prior to this, he served as the CFO of YOUcentric, Inc. (CRM software) and The Record Bar (music retailer).

Early in his career, he served as a Senior Accountant with Price Waterhouse. Mr. Swain holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a certified public accountant.

w:  480.588.7907
e: [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/j-blount-swain/12/870/11b

Steve Sherman, Vice President of Prosthetics

Steve B and WSteve comes to Ability with over 20 years of successful sales and sales management experience in the Orthotic and Prosthetic (O & P) industry.  Throughout his career Steve has specialized in introducing new products and technologies to the O & P marketplace.  He was instrumental in the introduction and widespread use of CAD/CAM technology in the field in the early 1990s with ART Inc. and M+IND.

Steve was involved in the growth and introduction of the Flex-Foot and Freedom Innovations lines of prosthetic feet.  His understanding and knowledge of the O & P industry was further deepened by his experience on  the patient care side of the business through his role as the Prosthetic Marketing Director for Wright & Filippis Inc.

He is a graduate of Michigan State University and is a former medic with the US Army Reserve and Michigan Army National Guard.

w: 248.880.3419
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/stephen-sherman/45/46a/86b

Gene Parker, Director of Production

Gene B and WGene comes from an aircraft and engineering/manufacturing background. In his youth, he obtained private pilot and aircraft mechanic licenses. This funded his university education and he graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Math. This formal education, combined with practical experience, allowed him to work for more than 20 years designing and manufacturing military and civilian aircraft.

Mr. Parker combines his  knowledge and experience with materials, processes, design, testing and manufacturing to make RUSH Foot® products and a better mobility experience for amputees.

 

w:  480.699.0136
e:  [email protected]

Holly Sanger, Director of Marketing

Holly Sanger, Director of MarketingHolly is a marketing leader bringing over 25 years of experience and creativity to the PROTEOR USA team.  She has worked with everything from Fortune 500 companies to digital start-ups which provides her with a  well-rounded understanding of what it takes to build a strong brand.

Her expertise in the areas of demographic targeting, digital marketing techniques and building brand awareness is vital to the success of PROTEOR USA and the RUSH Foot® product line.  Her objective is to make RUSH Foot® a household name in the prosthetic world.

Ms. Sanger holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

w: 480.361.1303
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/in/hollysanger2010

Laticia “LT” Ibeere, Director of Operations

11ced06LT brings 20+ years of accounting experience to the PROTEOR USA team.  She graduated from the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU, with a B.A. in Communications and has worked for various companies within different industries; ranging from small to Fortune 500.

She was drawn to PROTEOR USA, because she knew she would be able to be a part of a dynamic and growing company that touches people’s lives daily.  She stated that “there is nothing more rewarding then seeing the impact that is made on someone’s life by being part of a company that custom creates prosthetic feet that are ‘not another carbon copy’ and are client specific. ”

w:  480.588.6328
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/laticia-“lt”-ibeere/9/995/64

Material

Glass based composites have excellent strain capability, and are 3x more flexible.

Glass composites are more durable than Carbon Fiber composites.   Stress points won’t fail when subjected to stress, water or impact.

Glass fiber composites do not soften over time.

Fail Safe Material: If glass fiber composite fails (which is rare) they do not fail catastrophically.  Should a failure occur…it would be by delamination in a way that only partially compromises the structure, leaving some support to save the user from an unexpected fall; unlike carbon fiber.

Glass fiber composites provide increased flexibility, durability and result in a more natural gait.

Roll-Through Analysis

One of the strongest characteristics of a comfortable foot is the roll through characteristics. The RUSH Foot® products provide a continuous line of contact from heel strike, through the mid-stance, to toe off. The continuous roll-through removes the sensation of “dead spots” or flat spots during gait. The smooth action reduces abrupt shifts in the socket between the skin and the socket reducing shear loads.

The smooth roll-through of the foot requires less energy to transition from heel to toe. Often the result of this is an increase in self-selected walking speed as well as a more natural looking gait.

Contact Form

es-contact_form

Comfort

The RUSH Foot® provides an extremely comfortable gait. The discussion on the roll-though analysis supports the smooth transition from heel strike to toe-off.

Continuous support on roll through provides comfort at all levels and at variable cadences of ambulation. End users report that they can walk farther than they ever did before without the worry of developing skin issues or worrying about getting too tired. Basketball players report that they can play substantially longer on the court before developing the typical “hot spots” in the socket or feel the onset of fatigue.

Those who spend a significant amount of time standing report the ability to stand longer and find a comfortable position. The continuous point of contact allows the user to rotate to find the comfortable position for the leg without being forced to a fixed position from an arch shaped foot.

Brian Werner, Research & Development

Being part of the PROTEOR USA engineering team since 2012, Brian has led the R&D initiative on developing new and innovative prosthetic solutions. He specializes in new product design, testing, and qualification of mechanical devices.

Mr. Werner holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Aeronautical Engineering from Arizona State University.

His formal education and industry knowledge coupled with his passion for creative design has aided him in producing industry leading prosthetic designs, with the main goal of improving the lives of amputees.

w: 480.361.9576

e: [email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmwerner/

 

Instep

Designed to promote tibial progression around the ankle.

The bracket pyramid weight line is set at 70% of the length. Standard weight line at the pyramid is typically 66%.

The longer overall length in combination with the 70% weight line combines to provide the longest toe lever in the industry. This is important in the fact that it reduces gait deviation.  Longer toe levers reduce the requirement in the hip to compensate for the shorter step; thus, promoting a more natural gait.

Socket Issue Mitigation

Testimonials from a large cross-section of patients points to, or suggests, the smooth action of the RUSH Foot® reduces socket issues. (Refer to the comfort and roll-through sections.)

Time between socket replacements may be increased.

Patients don’t want to come in for socket issues. It interrupts their lives. One of our patients used to spend several day s a month in a wheel chair letting their residual limb heel. After wearing the RUSH Foot® they spend literally no time in a wheel chair.

Users of the RUSH Foot® report that when they used to take off other feet early at the end of their work day, they now wear it for evening activities, and until they retire to bed.

Rocker Bottom/Sole Plate

The rocker bottom is the primary contributor to the smooth roll over from heel strike to toe-off.

Upon heel strike the rocker bottom flexes to allow a smooth continuous transition from heel strike to toe off. The rocker bottom maintains a continuous line of contact. As A result, there is not the sensation of a flat or “dead spot” at midstance.

Smooth transition from heel strike to toe off requires less energy to walk or run. Over the period of a day, the energy savings adds up.

The continuous contact of the rocker bottom provides midstance contact AND midstance support.

Download the Step Analysis document here.

Step Analysis

Sitemap

es-sitemap

Heel Shock

Users of the RUSH Foot®  products often state that the heel shock feels like their “real heel”. The elastomeric material has a nonlinear spring rate that brings the foot to a comfortable stop.

The heel shock material has been formulated to bring an incredibly high energy return in excess of 90%.  By providing high-energy return and comfort, patient fatigue is reduced.

The material in the heel will not fail or break down over time. It is extremely durable and will not fail due to fatigue cycles. Unlike composite heels, the RUSH Foot®  heel shock will not fail.

Durability

The glass fiber composite is well-suited to act like a toe spring to absorb a large spectrum of loads without breaking. This means the end user can wear a reasonably comfortable foot in terms of stiffness, and still have the foot survive the huge toe deflection loads that may come in extreme situations such as high-impact sports. Carbon fiber feet must be sized to be stiff to survive large impact loads. This leaves the end user uncomfortable most of the time when they are not using them in an extreme way.

Overall Length

The RUSH Foot® is generally the longest composite foot on the market and significantly assists in reducing gait deviation in ambulation.

Toe lever

*All feet shown are 27cm in length.

Gait Deviation Mitigation

Patients and prosthetists regularly report that the user walking on the RUSH Foot® has a more natural gait. There are several reasons for this. Some have been discussed in prior sections.

We have patients often tell us that “I feel like I have my real foot back”, and “I feel like I can walk normal again”.

Long Toe Lever
The RUSH Foot® has the longest toe lever in the industry. The RUSH Foot® is overall the longest foot, and in combination with that, the toe is set at 70% of the length which gives a very long toe lever. During the toe off of a natural foot the toe is extended as plantar flexion as the leg is extend aft. The toe must extend in plantar flexion to maintain the body center of gravity from excessively motion. In connection with this there is also some hip movement. The only way for someone wearing a prosthetic device to compensate for the lack of toe extension or plantar flexion is to rotate the hip, tilt the hip, shorten their step, or let the whole upper body shift laterally which accentuates the classic gait deviation of an amputee with a poor quality foot. The RUSH Foot® gives the user a longer toe lever to compensate for the lack of foot plantar flexion. This mitigates hip compensation motion, reduces upper body sway, and lengthens the step.

Mid Stance Support of Rocker Bottom
Another classic gait deviation of an amputee is to drop the shoulder or sway the upper body to the side of the prosthetic in mid stance. This is required for flat feet with no mid stance support because this becomes a low point during the opposite leg swing through. To keep the swing leg from stubbing the toe the user must lift the swing leg higher, or lift the hip (which causes upper body sway) to allow the swing leg to swing through properly. The RUSH Foot® helps with this issue because the rocker bottom sole plate give mid stance lift and support during the middle of opposite leg swing phase. This allows the swing leg to swing through more naturally and reduces gait deviation.

Smooth Continuous Motion
The rocker bottom sole plate allows smooth continuous contact motion from heel strike to toe-off. The roll- through requires less energy and the user doesn’t have to create extra energy input to push over a flat spot and get over the toe.

Heel Strike to Foot Flat
In the natural gait of the foot the heel initiates, at heel strike, plantar flexion to flat foot. This gives a smooth un-jarring transition to the foot. Prosthetic device users with a stiff heel learn to compensate for the uncomfortable strike by dropping the upper body to ease the change in momentum. The smooth heel strike of the RUSH Foot® with soft initial contact eases the transition to the prosthetic foot such that the user can learn to walk naturally without anticipated stiff heel strike. The action of the RUSH Foot® flexes in the instep to allow the foot to move to flat foot quickly and naturally. Users of the RUSH Foot® often quote “I feel like I have my real heel back”.

Toe Bond Adhesive

The aerospace-grade adhesive eliminates catastrophic failure commonly experienced by amputees wearing inferior prosthetic feet.

Energy Return

Toe
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® is driven by the instep. The classic definition of energy return is the measure of energy lost when a material is flexed. The energy return of the RUSH Foot® is the same as carbon fiber feet because most of the friction loss in the material is in the epoxy which is the same for both.
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® has excellent energy return. Not only because of the composite material, but because the mid stance support provides a smoother energy free motion from mid stance to toe off.

Heel
The rubber elastomeric material of the RUSH Foot® products have been specifically engineered to provide exceptionally high-energy return. They can provide energy return in excess of the composite material which the end-user appreciates especially over an extended period of exercise. Better energy return in the heel means less work in the socket interface to keep the body moving.

Heel Wedge (Optional)

The heel wedge is optional for those who want a more aggressive tibial rotation. The heel wedge significantly provides the angle to drive the tibia forward on heel strike.

The heel wedge also overcomes issues when a user feels they are “sinking into their heel”, or the heel feels too soft. The heel wedge gives the sensation that the heel is firmer.

Use of the heel wedge does not change the stiffness or durometer of the heel shock, instead it alters and improves the angle of attack to promote tibial progression through midstance.

Refer to the RUSH LoPro, RUSH HiPro or RUSH ROGUE IFU documents for additional wedging instructions.

 

No Split Toe

The split toe is a common design feature in carbon fiber feet. This feature allows rotation as inversion/eversion without an excessive amount of torque applied. End users find this feature more comfortable when walking on uneven terrain. The problem with the split toe is that both sides of the foot need to be in contact. If the user only catches part of the foot on a ledge, the toe flexes excessively and could fail. To compensate for ½ loading, manufactures make the toe more stiff, resulting in regular walking being less comfortable and overly stiff.

The RUSH Foot® is engineered to have the appropriate amount of inversion and eversion without a split toe. This means that during normal flat ground walking the toe is engineered for maximum comfort, and if the user only catches ½ the foot on a curb, they will feel confident in the toe reaction as it will not over deflect.

87_Icon

The RUSH RAMPAGE LP is designed for:

Low-profile build

  • K3 or higher activity level
  • Moderate to high activity
  • Individuals with LESS THAN 6.5” of clearance.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals with long limbs, limited clearance and/or requiring additional components such as a vacuum units, torsion units or shock absorption units
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH RAMPAGE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking a cosmesis-friendly option to meet their aesthetic preferences.
  • Users desiring a light-weight yet indestructible foot.
  • Additional vertical shock absorption.
  • Smooth roll through for individuals who demand a smoother gait.
  • Biometric ankle motion simulates natural gait, increasing patient comfort.
  • Extreme reliability for use in any environment.
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5”.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher).

US Learn more button

The RUSH EVAQ8 is designed for:

  • Users seeking an integrated elevated vacuum suspension system
  • Users seeking stabilized volume, increased linkage and heightened proprioception through elevated vacuum suspension
  • Upwards of 22inHg
  • All-terrain activity
  • Fully-submersible (fresh or salt water)
  • Minimal maintenance and no bulky components
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • Below the knee, knee disarticulate, bilateral, above the knee or higher
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

The RUSH FOOT H2O is designed for:

  • Shower use or barefoot activities
  • Slick surface traction
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance of 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, Above Knee (or higher)
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

 

The RUSH ROGUE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking ultra-comfort in the socket during all levels of use
  • Users seeking torsion relief to ease load on joints and in the socket
  • Progressive torsional resistance to +/- 8 degrees
  • Additional vertical shock absorption
  • Additional ground compliance
  • Minimal additional weight increase offset by performance
  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH Rover is designed for:

  • Patients with low OR high clearance, limited by clearance or build height
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact patients, K3 or higher
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, AK or Symes
  • Patients tired of breaking extreme low profile feet
  • Patients tired of sacrificing flexibility in a build height less than 2.5”
  • Patients tired of being told they have little to no options in feet selection
  • Ultra-low profile build (Just under 2.5”)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • Sizes 22-30cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Kid is designed for:

  • The pediatric patient that has broken every carbon foot and needs something durable
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact pediatric patients, K3 or higher
  • Ultra-low profile build (1.75”)
  • All pediatric patients with low OR high clearance, less than 2” of clearance, limited clearance or Symes amputation.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK.
  • Sizes 19-21cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Chopart/RUSH76 is designed for:

  • Individuals with Chopart, LisFranc, Pirogoff, Boyd and partial foot prostheses
  • Direct lamination
  • Durability and flexibility for the longest amputation levels and partial foot prostheses
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH76 is also known as the RUSH Chopart.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

The RUSH HiPro/RUSH87 is designed for:

  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH87 is also known as the RUSH HiPro.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

J. Blount Swain, President

DSC_0032Mr. Swain has spent 20 years as the President and/or Chief Financial Officer of several medical device companies. Mr. Swain served for Closure Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: CLSR), Symbius Medical, and Biofisica. He has also served on the Boards of numerous medical device start-ups over the last decade.

Prior to this, he served as the CFO of YOUcentric, Inc. (CRM software) and The Record Bar (music retailer).

Early in his career, he served as a Senior Accountant with Price Waterhouse. Mr. Swain holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a certified public accountant.

w:  480.588.7907
e: [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/j-blount-swain/12/870/11b

Steve Sherman, Vice President of Prosthetics

Steve B and WSteve comes to Ability with over 20 years of successful sales and sales management experience in the Orthotic and Prosthetic (O & P) industry.  Throughout his career Steve has specialized in introducing new products and technologies to the O & P marketplace.  He was instrumental in the introduction and widespread use of CAD/CAM technology in the field in the early 1990s with ART Inc. and M+IND.

Steve was involved in the growth and introduction of the Flex-Foot and Freedom Innovations lines of prosthetic feet.  His understanding and knowledge of the O & P industry was further deepened by his experience on  the patient care side of the business through his role as the Prosthetic Marketing Director for Wright & Filippis Inc.

He is a graduate of Michigan State University and is a former medic with the US Army Reserve and Michigan Army National Guard.

w: 248.880.3419
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/stephen-sherman/45/46a/86b

Gene Parker, Director of Production

Gene B and WGene comes from an aircraft and engineering/manufacturing background. In his youth, he obtained private pilot and aircraft mechanic licenses. This funded his university education and he graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Math. This formal education, combined with practical experience, allowed him to work for more than 20 years designing and manufacturing military and civilian aircraft.

Mr. Parker combines his  knowledge and experience with materials, processes, design, testing and manufacturing to make RUSH Foot® products and a better mobility experience for amputees.

 

w:  480.699.0136
e:  [email protected]

Holly Sanger, Director of Marketing

Holly Sanger, Director of MarketingHolly is a marketing leader bringing over 25 years of experience and creativity to the PROTEOR USA team.  She has worked with everything from Fortune 500 companies to digital start-ups which provides her with a  well-rounded understanding of what it takes to build a strong brand.

Her expertise in the areas of demographic targeting, digital marketing techniques and building brand awareness is vital to the success of PROTEOR USA and the RUSH Foot® product line.  Her objective is to make RUSH Foot® a household name in the prosthetic world.

Ms. Sanger holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

w: 480.361.1303
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/in/hollysanger2010

Laticia “LT” Ibeere, Director of Operations

11ced06LT brings 20+ years of accounting experience to the PROTEOR USA team.  She graduated from the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU, with a B.A. in Communications and has worked for various companies within different industries; ranging from small to Fortune 500.

She was drawn to PROTEOR USA, because she knew she would be able to be a part of a dynamic and growing company that touches people’s lives daily.  She stated that “there is nothing more rewarding then seeing the impact that is made on someone’s life by being part of a company that custom creates prosthetic feet that are ‘not another carbon copy’ and are client specific. ”

w:  480.588.6328
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/laticia-“lt”-ibeere/9/995/64

Material

Glass based composites have excellent strain capability, and are 3x more flexible.

Glass composites are more durable than Carbon Fiber composites.   Stress points won’t fail when subjected to stress, water or impact.

Glass fiber composites do not soften over time.

Fail Safe Material: If glass fiber composite fails (which is rare) they do not fail catastrophically.  Should a failure occur…it would be by delamination in a way that only partially compromises the structure, leaving some support to save the user from an unexpected fall; unlike carbon fiber.

Glass fiber composites provide increased flexibility, durability and result in a more natural gait.

Roll-Through Analysis

One of the strongest characteristics of a comfortable foot is the roll through characteristics. The RUSH Foot® products provide a continuous line of contact from heel strike, through the mid-stance, to toe off. The continuous roll-through removes the sensation of “dead spots” or flat spots during gait. The smooth action reduces abrupt shifts in the socket between the skin and the socket reducing shear loads.

The smooth roll-through of the foot requires less energy to transition from heel to toe. Often the result of this is an increase in self-selected walking speed as well as a more natural looking gait.

Contact Form

es-contact_form

Comfort

The RUSH Foot® provides an extremely comfortable gait. The discussion on the roll-though analysis supports the smooth transition from heel strike to toe-off.

Continuous support on roll through provides comfort at all levels and at variable cadences of ambulation. End users report that they can walk farther than they ever did before without the worry of developing skin issues or worrying about getting too tired. Basketball players report that they can play substantially longer on the court before developing the typical “hot spots” in the socket or feel the onset of fatigue.

Those who spend a significant amount of time standing report the ability to stand longer and find a comfortable position. The continuous point of contact allows the user to rotate to find the comfortable position for the leg without being forced to a fixed position from an arch shaped foot.

Brian Werner, Research & Development

Being part of the PROTEOR USA engineering team since 2012, Brian has led the R&D initiative on developing new and innovative prosthetic solutions. He specializes in new product design, testing, and qualification of mechanical devices.

Mr. Werner holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Aeronautical Engineering from Arizona State University.

His formal education and industry knowledge coupled with his passion for creative design has aided him in producing industry leading prosthetic designs, with the main goal of improving the lives of amputees.

w: 480.361.9576

e: [email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmwerner/

 

Instep

Designed to promote tibial progression around the ankle.

The bracket pyramid weight line is set at 70% of the length. Standard weight line at the pyramid is typically 66%.

The longer overall length in combination with the 70% weight line combines to provide the longest toe lever in the industry. This is important in the fact that it reduces gait deviation.  Longer toe levers reduce the requirement in the hip to compensate for the shorter step; thus, promoting a more natural gait.

Socket Issue Mitigation

Testimonials from a large cross-section of patients points to, or suggests, the smooth action of the RUSH Foot® reduces socket issues. (Refer to the comfort and roll-through sections.)

Time between socket replacements may be increased.

Patients don’t want to come in for socket issues. It interrupts their lives. One of our patients used to spend several day s a month in a wheel chair letting their residual limb heel. After wearing the RUSH Foot® they spend literally no time in a wheel chair.

Users of the RUSH Foot® report that when they used to take off other feet early at the end of their work day, they now wear it for evening activities, and until they retire to bed.

Rocker Bottom/Sole Plate

The rocker bottom is the primary contributor to the smooth roll over from heel strike to toe-off.

Upon heel strike the rocker bottom flexes to allow a smooth continuous transition from heel strike to toe off. The rocker bottom maintains a continuous line of contact. As A result, there is not the sensation of a flat or “dead spot” at midstance.

Smooth transition from heel strike to toe off requires less energy to walk or run. Over the period of a day, the energy savings adds up.

The continuous contact of the rocker bottom provides midstance contact AND midstance support.

Download the Step Analysis document here.

Step Analysis

Sitemap

es-sitemap

Heel Shock

Users of the RUSH Foot®  products often state that the heel shock feels like their “real heel”. The elastomeric material has a nonlinear spring rate that brings the foot to a comfortable stop.

The heel shock material has been formulated to bring an incredibly high energy return in excess of 90%.  By providing high-energy return and comfort, patient fatigue is reduced.

The material in the heel will not fail or break down over time. It is extremely durable and will not fail due to fatigue cycles. Unlike composite heels, the RUSH Foot®  heel shock will not fail.

Durability

The glass fiber composite is well-suited to act like a toe spring to absorb a large spectrum of loads without breaking. This means the end user can wear a reasonably comfortable foot in terms of stiffness, and still have the foot survive the huge toe deflection loads that may come in extreme situations such as high-impact sports. Carbon fiber feet must be sized to be stiff to survive large impact loads. This leaves the end user uncomfortable most of the time when they are not using them in an extreme way.

Overall Length

The RUSH Foot® is generally the longest composite foot on the market and significantly assists in reducing gait deviation in ambulation.

Toe lever

*All feet shown are 27cm in length.

Gait Deviation Mitigation

Patients and prosthetists regularly report that the user walking on the RUSH Foot® has a more natural gait. There are several reasons for this. Some have been discussed in prior sections.

We have patients often tell us that “I feel like I have my real foot back”, and “I feel like I can walk normal again”.

Long Toe Lever
The RUSH Foot® has the longest toe lever in the industry. The RUSH Foot® is overall the longest foot, and in combination with that, the toe is set at 70% of the length which gives a very long toe lever. During the toe off of a natural foot the toe is extended as plantar flexion as the leg is extend aft. The toe must extend in plantar flexion to maintain the body center of gravity from excessively motion. In connection with this there is also some hip movement. The only way for someone wearing a prosthetic device to compensate for the lack of toe extension or plantar flexion is to rotate the hip, tilt the hip, shorten their step, or let the whole upper body shift laterally which accentuates the classic gait deviation of an amputee with a poor quality foot. The RUSH Foot® gives the user a longer toe lever to compensate for the lack of foot plantar flexion. This mitigates hip compensation motion, reduces upper body sway, and lengthens the step.

Mid Stance Support of Rocker Bottom
Another classic gait deviation of an amputee is to drop the shoulder or sway the upper body to the side of the prosthetic in mid stance. This is required for flat feet with no mid stance support because this becomes a low point during the opposite leg swing through. To keep the swing leg from stubbing the toe the user must lift the swing leg higher, or lift the hip (which causes upper body sway) to allow the swing leg to swing through properly. The RUSH Foot® helps with this issue because the rocker bottom sole plate give mid stance lift and support during the middle of opposite leg swing phase. This allows the swing leg to swing through more naturally and reduces gait deviation.

Smooth Continuous Motion
The rocker bottom sole plate allows smooth continuous contact motion from heel strike to toe-off. The roll- through requires less energy and the user doesn’t have to create extra energy input to push over a flat spot and get over the toe.

Heel Strike to Foot Flat
In the natural gait of the foot the heel initiates, at heel strike, plantar flexion to flat foot. This gives a smooth un-jarring transition to the foot. Prosthetic device users with a stiff heel learn to compensate for the uncomfortable strike by dropping the upper body to ease the change in momentum. The smooth heel strike of the RUSH Foot® with soft initial contact eases the transition to the prosthetic foot such that the user can learn to walk naturally without anticipated stiff heel strike. The action of the RUSH Foot® flexes in the instep to allow the foot to move to flat foot quickly and naturally. Users of the RUSH Foot® often quote “I feel like I have my real heel back”.

Toe Bond Adhesive

The aerospace-grade adhesive eliminates catastrophic failure commonly experienced by amputees wearing inferior prosthetic feet.

Energy Return

Toe
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® is driven by the instep. The classic definition of energy return is the measure of energy lost when a material is flexed. The energy return of the RUSH Foot® is the same as carbon fiber feet because most of the friction loss in the material is in the epoxy which is the same for both.
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® has excellent energy return. Not only because of the composite material, but because the mid stance support provides a smoother energy free motion from mid stance to toe off.

Heel
The rubber elastomeric material of the RUSH Foot® products have been specifically engineered to provide exceptionally high-energy return. They can provide energy return in excess of the composite material which the end-user appreciates especially over an extended period of exercise. Better energy return in the heel means less work in the socket interface to keep the body moving.

Heel Wedge (Optional)

The heel wedge is optional for those who want a more aggressive tibial rotation. The heel wedge significantly provides the angle to drive the tibia forward on heel strike.

The heel wedge also overcomes issues when a user feels they are “sinking into their heel”, or the heel feels too soft. The heel wedge gives the sensation that the heel is firmer.

Use of the heel wedge does not change the stiffness or durometer of the heel shock, instead it alters and improves the angle of attack to promote tibial progression through midstance.

Refer to the RUSH LoPro, RUSH HiPro or RUSH ROGUE IFU documents for additional wedging instructions.

 

No Split Toe

The split toe is a common design feature in carbon fiber feet. This feature allows rotation as inversion/eversion without an excessive amount of torque applied. End users find this feature more comfortable when walking on uneven terrain. The problem with the split toe is that both sides of the foot need to be in contact. If the user only catches part of the foot on a ledge, the toe flexes excessively and could fail. To compensate for ½ loading, manufactures make the toe more stiff, resulting in regular walking being less comfortable and overly stiff.

The RUSH Foot® is engineered to have the appropriate amount of inversion and eversion without a split toe. This means that during normal flat ground walking the toe is engineered for maximum comfort, and if the user only catches ½ the foot on a curb, they will feel confident in the toe reaction as it will not over deflect.

87_Icon

The RUSH RAMPAGE LP is designed for:

Low-profile build

  • K3 or higher activity level
  • Moderate to high activity
  • Individuals with LESS THAN 6.5” of clearance.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals with long limbs, limited clearance and/or requiring additional components such as a vacuum units, torsion units or shock absorption units
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH RAMPAGE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking a cosmesis-friendly option to meet their aesthetic preferences.
  • Users desiring a light-weight yet indestructible foot.
  • Additional vertical shock absorption.
  • Smooth roll through for individuals who demand a smoother gait.
  • Biometric ankle motion simulates natural gait, increasing patient comfort.
  • Extreme reliability for use in any environment.
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5”.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher).

US Learn more button

The RUSH EVAQ8 is designed for:

  • Users seeking an integrated elevated vacuum suspension system
  • Users seeking stabilized volume, increased linkage and heightened proprioception through elevated vacuum suspension
  • Upwards of 22inHg
  • All-terrain activity
  • Fully-submersible (fresh or salt water)
  • Minimal maintenance and no bulky components
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • Below the knee, knee disarticulate, bilateral, above the knee or higher
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

The RUSH FOOT H2O is designed for:

  • Shower use or barefoot activities
  • Slick surface traction
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance of 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, Above Knee (or higher)
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

 

The RUSH ROGUE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking ultra-comfort in the socket during all levels of use
  • Users seeking torsion relief to ease load on joints and in the socket
  • Progressive torsional resistance to +/- 8 degrees
  • Additional vertical shock absorption
  • Additional ground compliance
  • Minimal additional weight increase offset by performance
  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH Rover is designed for:

  • Patients with low OR high clearance, limited by clearance or build height
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact patients, K3 or higher
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, AK or Symes
  • Patients tired of breaking extreme low profile feet
  • Patients tired of sacrificing flexibility in a build height less than 2.5”
  • Patients tired of being told they have little to no options in feet selection
  • Ultra-low profile build (Just under 2.5”)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • Sizes 22-30cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Kid is designed for:

  • The pediatric patient that has broken every carbon foot and needs something durable
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact pediatric patients, K3 or higher
  • Ultra-low profile build (1.75”)
  • All pediatric patients with low OR high clearance, less than 2” of clearance, limited clearance or Symes amputation.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK.
  • Sizes 19-21cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Chopart/RUSH76 is designed for:

  • Individuals with Chopart, LisFranc, Pirogoff, Boyd and partial foot prostheses
  • Direct lamination
  • Durability and flexibility for the longest amputation levels and partial foot prostheses
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH76 is also known as the RUSH Chopart.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

The RUSH HiPro/RUSH87 is designed for:

  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH87 is also known as the RUSH HiPro.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

J. Blount Swain, President

DSC_0032Mr. Swain has spent 20 years as the President and/or Chief Financial Officer of several medical device companies. Mr. Swain served for Closure Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: CLSR), Symbius Medical, and Biofisica. He has also served on the Boards of numerous medical device start-ups over the last decade.

Prior to this, he served as the CFO of YOUcentric, Inc. (CRM software) and The Record Bar (music retailer).

Early in his career, he served as a Senior Accountant with Price Waterhouse. Mr. Swain holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a certified public accountant.

w:  480.588.7907
e: [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/j-blount-swain/12/870/11b

Steve Sherman, Vice President of Prosthetics

Steve B and WSteve comes to Ability with over 20 years of successful sales and sales management experience in the Orthotic and Prosthetic (O & P) industry.  Throughout his career Steve has specialized in introducing new products and technologies to the O & P marketplace.  He was instrumental in the introduction and widespread use of CAD/CAM technology in the field in the early 1990s with ART Inc. and M+IND.

Steve was involved in the growth and introduction of the Flex-Foot and Freedom Innovations lines of prosthetic feet.  His understanding and knowledge of the O & P industry was further deepened by his experience on  the patient care side of the business through his role as the Prosthetic Marketing Director for Wright & Filippis Inc.

He is a graduate of Michigan State University and is a former medic with the US Army Reserve and Michigan Army National Guard.

w: 248.880.3419
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/stephen-sherman/45/46a/86b

Gene Parker, Director of Production

Gene B and WGene comes from an aircraft and engineering/manufacturing background. In his youth, he obtained private pilot and aircraft mechanic licenses. This funded his university education and he graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Math. This formal education, combined with practical experience, allowed him to work for more than 20 years designing and manufacturing military and civilian aircraft.

Mr. Parker combines his  knowledge and experience with materials, processes, design, testing and manufacturing to make RUSH Foot® products and a better mobility experience for amputees.

 

w:  480.699.0136
e:  [email protected]

Holly Sanger, Director of Marketing

Holly Sanger, Director of MarketingHolly is a marketing leader bringing over 25 years of experience and creativity to the PROTEOR USA team.  She has worked with everything from Fortune 500 companies to digital start-ups which provides her with a  well-rounded understanding of what it takes to build a strong brand.

Her expertise in the areas of demographic targeting, digital marketing techniques and building brand awareness is vital to the success of PROTEOR USA and the RUSH Foot® product line.  Her objective is to make RUSH Foot® a household name in the prosthetic world.

Ms. Sanger holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

w: 480.361.1303
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/in/hollysanger2010

Laticia “LT” Ibeere, Director of Operations

11ced06LT brings 20+ years of accounting experience to the PROTEOR USA team.  She graduated from the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU, with a B.A. in Communications and has worked for various companies within different industries; ranging from small to Fortune 500.

She was drawn to PROTEOR USA, because she knew she would be able to be a part of a dynamic and growing company that touches people’s lives daily.  She stated that “there is nothing more rewarding then seeing the impact that is made on someone’s life by being part of a company that custom creates prosthetic feet that are ‘not another carbon copy’ and are client specific. ”

w:  480.588.6328
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/laticia-“lt”-ibeere/9/995/64

Material

Glass based composites have excellent strain capability, and are 3x more flexible.

Glass composites are more durable than Carbon Fiber composites.   Stress points won’t fail when subjected to stress, water or impact.

Glass fiber composites do not soften over time.

Fail Safe Material: If glass fiber composite fails (which is rare) they do not fail catastrophically.  Should a failure occur…it would be by delamination in a way that only partially compromises the structure, leaving some support to save the user from an unexpected fall; unlike carbon fiber.

Glass fiber composites provide increased flexibility, durability and result in a more natural gait.

Roll-Through Analysis

One of the strongest characteristics of a comfortable foot is the roll through characteristics. The RUSH Foot® products provide a continuous line of contact from heel strike, through the mid-stance, to toe off. The continuous roll-through removes the sensation of “dead spots” or flat spots during gait. The smooth action reduces abrupt shifts in the socket between the skin and the socket reducing shear loads.

The smooth roll-through of the foot requires less energy to transition from heel to toe. Often the result of this is an increase in self-selected walking speed as well as a more natural looking gait.

Contact Form

es-contact_form

Comfort

The RUSH Foot® provides an extremely comfortable gait. The discussion on the roll-though analysis supports the smooth transition from heel strike to toe-off.

Continuous support on roll through provides comfort at all levels and at variable cadences of ambulation. End users report that they can walk farther than they ever did before without the worry of developing skin issues or worrying about getting too tired. Basketball players report that they can play substantially longer on the court before developing the typical “hot spots” in the socket or feel the onset of fatigue.

Those who spend a significant amount of time standing report the ability to stand longer and find a comfortable position. The continuous point of contact allows the user to rotate to find the comfortable position for the leg without being forced to a fixed position from an arch shaped foot.

Brian Werner, Research & Development

Being part of the PROTEOR USA engineering team since 2012, Brian has led the R&D initiative on developing new and innovative prosthetic solutions. He specializes in new product design, testing, and qualification of mechanical devices.

Mr. Werner holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Aeronautical Engineering from Arizona State University.

His formal education and industry knowledge coupled with his passion for creative design has aided him in producing industry leading prosthetic designs, with the main goal of improving the lives of amputees.

w: 480.361.9576

e: [email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmwerner/

 

Instep

Designed to promote tibial progression around the ankle.

The bracket pyramid weight line is set at 70% of the length. Standard weight line at the pyramid is typically 66%.

The longer overall length in combination with the 70% weight line combines to provide the longest toe lever in the industry. This is important in the fact that it reduces gait deviation.  Longer toe levers reduce the requirement in the hip to compensate for the shorter step; thus, promoting a more natural gait.

Socket Issue Mitigation

Testimonials from a large cross-section of patients points to, or suggests, the smooth action of the RUSH Foot® reduces socket issues. (Refer to the comfort and roll-through sections.)

Time between socket replacements may be increased.

Patients don’t want to come in for socket issues. It interrupts their lives. One of our patients used to spend several day s a month in a wheel chair letting their residual limb heel. After wearing the RUSH Foot® they spend literally no time in a wheel chair.

Users of the RUSH Foot® report that when they used to take off other feet early at the end of their work day, they now wear it for evening activities, and until they retire to bed.

Rocker Bottom/Sole Plate

The rocker bottom is the primary contributor to the smooth roll over from heel strike to toe-off.

Upon heel strike the rocker bottom flexes to allow a smooth continuous transition from heel strike to toe off. The rocker bottom maintains a continuous line of contact. As A result, there is not the sensation of a flat or “dead spot” at midstance.

Smooth transition from heel strike to toe off requires less energy to walk or run. Over the period of a day, the energy savings adds up.

The continuous contact of the rocker bottom provides midstance contact AND midstance support.

Download the Step Analysis document here.

Step Analysis

Sitemap

es-sitemap

Heel Shock

Users of the RUSH Foot®  products often state that the heel shock feels like their “real heel”. The elastomeric material has a nonlinear spring rate that brings the foot to a comfortable stop.

The heel shock material has been formulated to bring an incredibly high energy return in excess of 90%.  By providing high-energy return and comfort, patient fatigue is reduced.

The material in the heel will not fail or break down over time. It is extremely durable and will not fail due to fatigue cycles. Unlike composite heels, the RUSH Foot®  heel shock will not fail.

Durability

The glass fiber composite is well-suited to act like a toe spring to absorb a large spectrum of loads without breaking. This means the end user can wear a reasonably comfortable foot in terms of stiffness, and still have the foot survive the huge toe deflection loads that may come in extreme situations such as high-impact sports. Carbon fiber feet must be sized to be stiff to survive large impact loads. This leaves the end user uncomfortable most of the time when they are not using them in an extreme way.

Overall Length

The RUSH Foot® is generally the longest composite foot on the market and significantly assists in reducing gait deviation in ambulation.

Toe lever

*All feet shown are 27cm in length.

Gait Deviation Mitigation

Patients and prosthetists regularly report that the user walking on the RUSH Foot® has a more natural gait. There are several reasons for this. Some have been discussed in prior sections.

We have patients often tell us that “I feel like I have my real foot back”, and “I feel like I can walk normal again”.

Long Toe Lever
The RUSH Foot® has the longest toe lever in the industry. The RUSH Foot® is overall the longest foot, and in combination with that, the toe is set at 70% of the length which gives a very long toe lever. During the toe off of a natural foot the toe is extended as plantar flexion as the leg is extend aft. The toe must extend in plantar flexion to maintain the body center of gravity from excessively motion. In connection with this there is also some hip movement. The only way for someone wearing a prosthetic device to compensate for the lack of toe extension or plantar flexion is to rotate the hip, tilt the hip, shorten their step, or let the whole upper body shift laterally which accentuates the classic gait deviation of an amputee with a poor quality foot. The RUSH Foot® gives the user a longer toe lever to compensate for the lack of foot plantar flexion. This mitigates hip compensation motion, reduces upper body sway, and lengthens the step.

Mid Stance Support of Rocker Bottom
Another classic gait deviation of an amputee is to drop the shoulder or sway the upper body to the side of the prosthetic in mid stance. This is required for flat feet with no mid stance support because this becomes a low point during the opposite leg swing through. To keep the swing leg from stubbing the toe the user must lift the swing leg higher, or lift the hip (which causes upper body sway) to allow the swing leg to swing through properly. The RUSH Foot® helps with this issue because the rocker bottom sole plate give mid stance lift and support during the middle of opposite leg swing phase. This allows the swing leg to swing through more naturally and reduces gait deviation.

Smooth Continuous Motion
The rocker bottom sole plate allows smooth continuous contact motion from heel strike to toe-off. The roll- through requires less energy and the user doesn’t have to create extra energy input to push over a flat spot and get over the toe.

Heel Strike to Foot Flat
In the natural gait of the foot the heel initiates, at heel strike, plantar flexion to flat foot. This gives a smooth un-jarring transition to the foot. Prosthetic device users with a stiff heel learn to compensate for the uncomfortable strike by dropping the upper body to ease the change in momentum. The smooth heel strike of the RUSH Foot® with soft initial contact eases the transition to the prosthetic foot such that the user can learn to walk naturally without anticipated stiff heel strike. The action of the RUSH Foot® flexes in the instep to allow the foot to move to flat foot quickly and naturally. Users of the RUSH Foot® often quote “I feel like I have my real heel back”.

Toe Bond Adhesive

The aerospace-grade adhesive eliminates catastrophic failure commonly experienced by amputees wearing inferior prosthetic feet.

Energy Return

Toe
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® is driven by the instep. The classic definition of energy return is the measure of energy lost when a material is flexed. The energy return of the RUSH Foot® is the same as carbon fiber feet because most of the friction loss in the material is in the epoxy which is the same for both.
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® has excellent energy return. Not only because of the composite material, but because the mid stance support provides a smoother energy free motion from mid stance to toe off.

Heel
The rubber elastomeric material of the RUSH Foot® products have been specifically engineered to provide exceptionally high-energy return. They can provide energy return in excess of the composite material which the end-user appreciates especially over an extended period of exercise. Better energy return in the heel means less work in the socket interface to keep the body moving.

Heel Wedge (Optional)

The heel wedge is optional for those who want a more aggressive tibial rotation. The heel wedge significantly provides the angle to drive the tibia forward on heel strike.

The heel wedge also overcomes issues when a user feels they are “sinking into their heel”, or the heel feels too soft. The heel wedge gives the sensation that the heel is firmer.

Use of the heel wedge does not change the stiffness or durometer of the heel shock, instead it alters and improves the angle of attack to promote tibial progression through midstance.

Refer to the RUSH LoPro, RUSH HiPro or RUSH ROGUE IFU documents for additional wedging instructions.

 

No Split Toe

The split toe is a common design feature in carbon fiber feet. This feature allows rotation as inversion/eversion without an excessive amount of torque applied. End users find this feature more comfortable when walking on uneven terrain. The problem with the split toe is that both sides of the foot need to be in contact. If the user only catches part of the foot on a ledge, the toe flexes excessively and could fail. To compensate for ½ loading, manufactures make the toe more stiff, resulting in regular walking being less comfortable and overly stiff.

The RUSH Foot® is engineered to have the appropriate amount of inversion and eversion without a split toe. This means that during normal flat ground walking the toe is engineered for maximum comfort, and if the user only catches ½ the foot on a curb, they will feel confident in the toe reaction as it will not over deflect.

87_Icon

The RUSH RAMPAGE LP is designed for:

Low-profile build

  • K3 or higher activity level
  • Moderate to high activity
  • Individuals with LESS THAN 6.5” of clearance.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals with long limbs, limited clearance and/or requiring additional components such as a vacuum units, torsion units or shock absorption units
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH RAMPAGE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking a cosmesis-friendly option to meet their aesthetic preferences.
  • Users desiring a light-weight yet indestructible foot.
  • Additional vertical shock absorption.
  • Smooth roll through for individuals who demand a smoother gait.
  • Biometric ankle motion simulates natural gait, increasing patient comfort.
  • Extreme reliability for use in any environment.
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5”.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher).

US Learn more button

The RUSH EVAQ8 is designed for:

  • Users seeking an integrated elevated vacuum suspension system
  • Users seeking stabilized volume, increased linkage and heightened proprioception through elevated vacuum suspension
  • Upwards of 22inHg
  • All-terrain activity
  • Fully-submersible (fresh or salt water)
  • Minimal maintenance and no bulky components
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • Below the knee, knee disarticulate, bilateral, above the knee or higher
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

The RUSH FOOT H2O is designed for:

  • Shower use or barefoot activities
  • Slick surface traction
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance of 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, Above Knee (or higher)
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

 

The RUSH ROGUE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking ultra-comfort in the socket during all levels of use
  • Users seeking torsion relief to ease load on joints and in the socket
  • Progressive torsional resistance to +/- 8 degrees
  • Additional vertical shock absorption
  • Additional ground compliance
  • Minimal additional weight increase offset by performance
  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH Rover is designed for:

  • Patients with low OR high clearance, limited by clearance or build height
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact patients, K3 or higher
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, AK or Symes
  • Patients tired of breaking extreme low profile feet
  • Patients tired of sacrificing flexibility in a build height less than 2.5”
  • Patients tired of being told they have little to no options in feet selection
  • Ultra-low profile build (Just under 2.5”)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • Sizes 22-30cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Kid is designed for:

  • The pediatric patient that has broken every carbon foot and needs something durable
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact pediatric patients, K3 or higher
  • Ultra-low profile build (1.75”)
  • All pediatric patients with low OR high clearance, less than 2” of clearance, limited clearance or Symes amputation.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK.
  • Sizes 19-21cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Chopart/RUSH76 is designed for:

  • Individuals with Chopart, LisFranc, Pirogoff, Boyd and partial foot prostheses
  • Direct lamination
  • Durability and flexibility for the longest amputation levels and partial foot prostheses
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH76 is also known as the RUSH Chopart.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

The RUSH HiPro/RUSH87 is designed for:

  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH87 is also known as the RUSH HiPro.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

J. Blount Swain, President

DSC_0032Mr. Swain has spent 20 years as the President and/or Chief Financial Officer of several medical device companies. Mr. Swain served for Closure Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: CLSR), Symbius Medical, and Biofisica. He has also served on the Boards of numerous medical device start-ups over the last decade.

Prior to this, he served as the CFO of YOUcentric, Inc. (CRM software) and The Record Bar (music retailer).

Early in his career, he served as a Senior Accountant with Price Waterhouse. Mr. Swain holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a certified public accountant.

w:  480.588.7907
e: [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/j-blount-swain/12/870/11b

Steve Sherman, Vice President of Prosthetics

Steve B and WSteve comes to Ability with over 20 years of successful sales and sales management experience in the Orthotic and Prosthetic (O & P) industry.  Throughout his career Steve has specialized in introducing new products and technologies to the O & P marketplace.  He was instrumental in the introduction and widespread use of CAD/CAM technology in the field in the early 1990s with ART Inc. and M+IND.

Steve was involved in the growth and introduction of the Flex-Foot and Freedom Innovations lines of prosthetic feet.  His understanding and knowledge of the O & P industry was further deepened by his experience on  the patient care side of the business through his role as the Prosthetic Marketing Director for Wright & Filippis Inc.

He is a graduate of Michigan State University and is a former medic with the US Army Reserve and Michigan Army National Guard.

w: 248.880.3419
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/stephen-sherman/45/46a/86b

Gene Parker, Director of Production

Gene B and WGene comes from an aircraft and engineering/manufacturing background. In his youth, he obtained private pilot and aircraft mechanic licenses. This funded his university education and he graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Math. This formal education, combined with practical experience, allowed him to work for more than 20 years designing and manufacturing military and civilian aircraft.

Mr. Parker combines his  knowledge and experience with materials, processes, design, testing and manufacturing to make RUSH Foot® products and a better mobility experience for amputees.

 

w:  480.699.0136
e:  [email protected]

Holly Sanger, Director of Marketing

Holly Sanger, Director of MarketingHolly is a marketing leader bringing over 25 years of experience and creativity to the PROTEOR USA team.  She has worked with everything from Fortune 500 companies to digital start-ups which provides her with a  well-rounded understanding of what it takes to build a strong brand.

Her expertise in the areas of demographic targeting, digital marketing techniques and building brand awareness is vital to the success of PROTEOR USA and the RUSH Foot® product line.  Her objective is to make RUSH Foot® a household name in the prosthetic world.

Ms. Sanger holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

w: 480.361.1303
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/in/hollysanger2010

Laticia “LT” Ibeere, Director of Operations

11ced06LT brings 20+ years of accounting experience to the PROTEOR USA team.  She graduated from the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU, with a B.A. in Communications and has worked for various companies within different industries; ranging from small to Fortune 500.

She was drawn to PROTEOR USA, because she knew she would be able to be a part of a dynamic and growing company that touches people’s lives daily.  She stated that “there is nothing more rewarding then seeing the impact that is made on someone’s life by being part of a company that custom creates prosthetic feet that are ‘not another carbon copy’ and are client specific. ”

w:  480.588.6328
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/laticia-“lt”-ibeere/9/995/64

Material

Glass based composites have excellent strain capability, and are 3x more flexible.

Glass composites are more durable than Carbon Fiber composites.   Stress points won’t fail when subjected to stress, water or impact.

Glass fiber composites do not soften over time.

Fail Safe Material: If glass fiber composite fails (which is rare) they do not fail catastrophically.  Should a failure occur…it would be by delamination in a way that only partially compromises the structure, leaving some support to save the user from an unexpected fall; unlike carbon fiber.

Glass fiber composites provide increased flexibility, durability and result in a more natural gait.

Roll-Through Analysis

One of the strongest characteristics of a comfortable foot is the roll through characteristics. The RUSH Foot® products provide a continuous line of contact from heel strike, through the mid-stance, to toe off. The continuous roll-through removes the sensation of “dead spots” or flat spots during gait. The smooth action reduces abrupt shifts in the socket between the skin and the socket reducing shear loads.

The smooth roll-through of the foot requires less energy to transition from heel to toe. Often the result of this is an increase in self-selected walking speed as well as a more natural looking gait.

Contact Form

es-contact_form

Comfort

The RUSH Foot® provides an extremely comfortable gait. The discussion on the roll-though analysis supports the smooth transition from heel strike to toe-off.

Continuous support on roll through provides comfort at all levels and at variable cadences of ambulation. End users report that they can walk farther than they ever did before without the worry of developing skin issues or worrying about getting too tired. Basketball players report that they can play substantially longer on the court before developing the typical “hot spots” in the socket or feel the onset of fatigue.

Those who spend a significant amount of time standing report the ability to stand longer and find a comfortable position. The continuous point of contact allows the user to rotate to find the comfortable position for the leg without being forced to a fixed position from an arch shaped foot.

Brian Werner, Research & Development

Being part of the PROTEOR USA engineering team since 2012, Brian has led the R&D initiative on developing new and innovative prosthetic solutions. He specializes in new product design, testing, and qualification of mechanical devices.

Mr. Werner holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Aeronautical Engineering from Arizona State University.

His formal education and industry knowledge coupled with his passion for creative design has aided him in producing industry leading prosthetic designs, with the main goal of improving the lives of amputees.

w: 480.361.9576

e: [email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmwerner/

 

Instep

Designed to promote tibial progression around the ankle.

The bracket pyramid weight line is set at 70% of the length. Standard weight line at the pyramid is typically 66%.

The longer overall length in combination with the 70% weight line combines to provide the longest toe lever in the industry. This is important in the fact that it reduces gait deviation.  Longer toe levers reduce the requirement in the hip to compensate for the shorter step; thus, promoting a more natural gait.

Socket Issue Mitigation

Testimonials from a large cross-section of patients points to, or suggests, the smooth action of the RUSH Foot® reduces socket issues. (Refer to the comfort and roll-through sections.)

Time between socket replacements may be increased.

Patients don’t want to come in for socket issues. It interrupts their lives. One of our patients used to spend several day s a month in a wheel chair letting their residual limb heel. After wearing the RUSH Foot® they spend literally no time in a wheel chair.

Users of the RUSH Foot® report that when they used to take off other feet early at the end of their work day, they now wear it for evening activities, and until they retire to bed.

Rocker Bottom/Sole Plate

The rocker bottom is the primary contributor to the smooth roll over from heel strike to toe-off.

Upon heel strike the rocker bottom flexes to allow a smooth continuous transition from heel strike to toe off. The rocker bottom maintains a continuous line of contact. As A result, there is not the sensation of a flat or “dead spot” at midstance.

Smooth transition from heel strike to toe off requires less energy to walk or run. Over the period of a day, the energy savings adds up.

The continuous contact of the rocker bottom provides midstance contact AND midstance support.

Download the Step Analysis document here.

Step Analysis

Sitemap

es-sitemap

Heel Shock

Users of the RUSH Foot®  products often state that the heel shock feels like their “real heel”. The elastomeric material has a nonlinear spring rate that brings the foot to a comfortable stop.

The heel shock material has been formulated to bring an incredibly high energy return in excess of 90%.  By providing high-energy return and comfort, patient fatigue is reduced.

The material in the heel will not fail or break down over time. It is extremely durable and will not fail due to fatigue cycles. Unlike composite heels, the RUSH Foot®  heel shock will not fail.

Durability

The glass fiber composite is well-suited to act like a toe spring to absorb a large spectrum of loads without breaking. This means the end user can wear a reasonably comfortable foot in terms of stiffness, and still have the foot survive the huge toe deflection loads that may come in extreme situations such as high-impact sports. Carbon fiber feet must be sized to be stiff to survive large impact loads. This leaves the end user uncomfortable most of the time when they are not using them in an extreme way.

Overall Length

The RUSH Foot® is generally the longest composite foot on the market and significantly assists in reducing gait deviation in ambulation.

Toe lever

*All feet shown are 27cm in length.

Gait Deviation Mitigation

Patients and prosthetists regularly report that the user walking on the RUSH Foot® has a more natural gait. There are several reasons for this. Some have been discussed in prior sections.

We have patients often tell us that “I feel like I have my real foot back”, and “I feel like I can walk normal again”.

Long Toe Lever
The RUSH Foot® has the longest toe lever in the industry. The RUSH Foot® is overall the longest foot, and in combination with that, the toe is set at 70% of the length which gives a very long toe lever. During the toe off of a natural foot the toe is extended as plantar flexion as the leg is extend aft. The toe must extend in plantar flexion to maintain the body center of gravity from excessively motion. In connection with this there is also some hip movement. The only way for someone wearing a prosthetic device to compensate for the lack of toe extension or plantar flexion is to rotate the hip, tilt the hip, shorten their step, or let the whole upper body shift laterally which accentuates the classic gait deviation of an amputee with a poor quality foot. The RUSH Foot® gives the user a longer toe lever to compensate for the lack of foot plantar flexion. This mitigates hip compensation motion, reduces upper body sway, and lengthens the step.

Mid Stance Support of Rocker Bottom
Another classic gait deviation of an amputee is to drop the shoulder or sway the upper body to the side of the prosthetic in mid stance. This is required for flat feet with no mid stance support because this becomes a low point during the opposite leg swing through. To keep the swing leg from stubbing the toe the user must lift the swing leg higher, or lift the hip (which causes upper body sway) to allow the swing leg to swing through properly. The RUSH Foot® helps with this issue because the rocker bottom sole plate give mid stance lift and support during the middle of opposite leg swing phase. This allows the swing leg to swing through more naturally and reduces gait deviation.

Smooth Continuous Motion
The rocker bottom sole plate allows smooth continuous contact motion from heel strike to toe-off. The roll- through requires less energy and the user doesn’t have to create extra energy input to push over a flat spot and get over the toe.

Heel Strike to Foot Flat
In the natural gait of the foot the heel initiates, at heel strike, plantar flexion to flat foot. This gives a smooth un-jarring transition to the foot. Prosthetic device users with a stiff heel learn to compensate for the uncomfortable strike by dropping the upper body to ease the change in momentum. The smooth heel strike of the RUSH Foot® with soft initial contact eases the transition to the prosthetic foot such that the user can learn to walk naturally without anticipated stiff heel strike. The action of the RUSH Foot® flexes in the instep to allow the foot to move to flat foot quickly and naturally. Users of the RUSH Foot® often quote “I feel like I have my real heel back”.

Toe Bond Adhesive

The aerospace-grade adhesive eliminates catastrophic failure commonly experienced by amputees wearing inferior prosthetic feet.

Energy Return

Toe
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® is driven by the instep. The classic definition of energy return is the measure of energy lost when a material is flexed. The energy return of the RUSH Foot® is the same as carbon fiber feet because most of the friction loss in the material is in the epoxy which is the same for both.
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® has excellent energy return. Not only because of the composite material, but because the mid stance support provides a smoother energy free motion from mid stance to toe off.

Heel
The rubber elastomeric material of the RUSH Foot® products have been specifically engineered to provide exceptionally high-energy return. They can provide energy return in excess of the composite material which the end-user appreciates especially over an extended period of exercise. Better energy return in the heel means less work in the socket interface to keep the body moving.

Heel Wedge (Optional)

The heel wedge is optional for those who want a more aggressive tibial rotation. The heel wedge significantly provides the angle to drive the tibia forward on heel strike.

The heel wedge also overcomes issues when a user feels they are “sinking into their heel”, or the heel feels too soft. The heel wedge gives the sensation that the heel is firmer.

Use of the heel wedge does not change the stiffness or durometer of the heel shock, instead it alters and improves the angle of attack to promote tibial progression through midstance.

Refer to the RUSH LoPro, RUSH HiPro or RUSH ROGUE IFU documents for additional wedging instructions.

 

No Split Toe

The split toe is a common design feature in carbon fiber feet. This feature allows rotation as inversion/eversion without an excessive amount of torque applied. End users find this feature more comfortable when walking on uneven terrain. The problem with the split toe is that both sides of the foot need to be in contact. If the user only catches part of the foot on a ledge, the toe flexes excessively and could fail. To compensate for ½ loading, manufactures make the toe more stiff, resulting in regular walking being less comfortable and overly stiff.

The RUSH Foot® is engineered to have the appropriate amount of inversion and eversion without a split toe. This means that during normal flat ground walking the toe is engineered for maximum comfort, and if the user only catches ½ the foot on a curb, they will feel confident in the toe reaction as it will not over deflect.

87_Icon

The RUSH RAMPAGE LP is designed for:

Low-profile build

  • K3 or higher activity level
  • Moderate to high activity
  • Individuals with LESS THAN 6.5” of clearance.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals with long limbs, limited clearance and/or requiring additional components such as a vacuum units, torsion units or shock absorption units
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH RAMPAGE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking a cosmesis-friendly option to meet their aesthetic preferences.
  • Users desiring a light-weight yet indestructible foot.
  • Additional vertical shock absorption.
  • Smooth roll through for individuals who demand a smoother gait.
  • Biometric ankle motion simulates natural gait, increasing patient comfort.
  • Extreme reliability for use in any environment.
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5”.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher).

US Learn more button

The RUSH EVAQ8 is designed for:

  • Users seeking an integrated elevated vacuum suspension system
  • Users seeking stabilized volume, increased linkage and heightened proprioception through elevated vacuum suspension
  • Upwards of 22inHg
  • All-terrain activity
  • Fully-submersible (fresh or salt water)
  • Minimal maintenance and no bulky components
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • Below the knee, knee disarticulate, bilateral, above the knee or higher
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

The RUSH FOOT H2O is designed for:

  • Shower use or barefoot activities
  • Slick surface traction
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance of 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, Above Knee (or higher)
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

 

The RUSH ROGUE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking ultra-comfort in the socket during all levels of use
  • Users seeking torsion relief to ease load on joints and in the socket
  • Progressive torsional resistance to +/- 8 degrees
  • Additional vertical shock absorption
  • Additional ground compliance
  • Minimal additional weight increase offset by performance
  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH Rover is designed for:

  • Patients with low OR high clearance, limited by clearance or build height
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact patients, K3 or higher
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, AK or Symes
  • Patients tired of breaking extreme low profile feet
  • Patients tired of sacrificing flexibility in a build height less than 2.5”
  • Patients tired of being told they have little to no options in feet selection
  • Ultra-low profile build (Just under 2.5”)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • Sizes 22-30cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Kid is designed for:

  • The pediatric patient that has broken every carbon foot and needs something durable
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact pediatric patients, K3 or higher
  • Ultra-low profile build (1.75”)
  • All pediatric patients with low OR high clearance, less than 2” of clearance, limited clearance or Symes amputation.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK.
  • Sizes 19-21cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Chopart/RUSH76 is designed for:

  • Individuals with Chopart, LisFranc, Pirogoff, Boyd and partial foot prostheses
  • Direct lamination
  • Durability and flexibility for the longest amputation levels and partial foot prostheses
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH76 is also known as the RUSH Chopart.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

The RUSH HiPro/RUSH87 is designed for:

  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH87 is also known as the RUSH HiPro.

US Learn more button

 

International Learn more button

J. Blount Swain, President

DSC_0032Mr. Swain has spent 20 years as the President and/or Chief Financial Officer of several medical device companies. Mr. Swain served for Closure Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: CLSR), Symbius Medical, and Biofisica. He has also served on the Boards of numerous medical device start-ups over the last decade.

Prior to this, he served as the CFO of YOUcentric, Inc. (CRM software) and The Record Bar (music retailer).

Early in his career, he served as a Senior Accountant with Price Waterhouse. Mr. Swain holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a certified public accountant.

w:  480.588.7907
e: [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/j-blount-swain/12/870/11b

Steve Sherman, Vice President of Prosthetics

Steve B and WSteve comes to Ability with over 20 years of successful sales and sales management experience in the Orthotic and Prosthetic (O & P) industry.  Throughout his career Steve has specialized in introducing new products and technologies to the O & P marketplace.  He was instrumental in the introduction and widespread use of CAD/CAM technology in the field in the early 1990s with ART Inc. and M+IND.

Steve was involved in the growth and introduction of the Flex-Foot and Freedom Innovations lines of prosthetic feet.  His understanding and knowledge of the O & P industry was further deepened by his experience on  the patient care side of the business through his role as the Prosthetic Marketing Director for Wright & Filippis Inc.

He is a graduate of Michigan State University and is a former medic with the US Army Reserve and Michigan Army National Guard.

w: 248.880.3419
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/stephen-sherman/45/46a/86b

Gene Parker, Director of Production

Gene B and WGene comes from an aircraft and engineering/manufacturing background. In his youth, he obtained private pilot and aircraft mechanic licenses. This funded his university education and he graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Math. This formal education, combined with practical experience, allowed him to work for more than 20 years designing and manufacturing military and civilian aircraft.

Mr. Parker combines his  knowledge and experience with materials, processes, design, testing and manufacturing to make RUSH Foot® products and a better mobility experience for amputees.

 

w:  480.699.0136
e:  [email protected]

Holly Sanger, Director of Marketing

Holly Sanger, Director of MarketingHolly is a marketing leader bringing over 25 years of experience and creativity to the PROTEOR USA team.  She has worked with everything from Fortune 500 companies to digital start-ups which provides her with a  well-rounded understanding of what it takes to build a strong brand.

Her expertise in the areas of demographic targeting, digital marketing techniques and building brand awareness is vital to the success of PROTEOR USA and the RUSH Foot® product line.  Her objective is to make RUSH Foot® a household name in the prosthetic world.

Ms. Sanger holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

w: 480.361.1303
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/in/hollysanger2010

Laticia “LT” Ibeere, Director of Operations

11ced06LT brings 20+ years of accounting experience to the PROTEOR USA team.  She graduated from the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU, with a B.A. in Communications and has worked for various companies within different industries; ranging from small to Fortune 500.

She was drawn to PROTEOR USA, because she knew she would be able to be a part of a dynamic and growing company that touches people’s lives daily.  She stated that “there is nothing more rewarding then seeing the impact that is made on someone’s life by being part of a company that custom creates prosthetic feet that are ‘not another carbon copy’ and are client specific. ”

w:  480.588.6328
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/laticia-“lt”-ibeere/9/995/64

Material

Glass based composites have excellent strain capability, and are 3x more flexible.

Glass composites are more durable than Carbon Fiber composites.   Stress points won’t fail when subjected to stress, water or impact.

Glass fiber composites do not soften over time.

Fail Safe Material: If glass fiber composite fails (which is rare) they do not fail catastrophically.  Should a failure occur…it would be by delamination in a way that only partially compromises the structure, leaving some support to save the user from an unexpected fall; unlike carbon fiber.

Glass fiber composites provide increased flexibility, durability and result in a more natural gait.

Roll-Through Analysis

One of the strongest characteristics of a comfortable foot is the roll through characteristics. The RUSH Foot® products provide a continuous line of contact from heel strike, through the mid-stance, to toe off. The continuous roll-through removes the sensation of “dead spots” or flat spots during gait. The smooth action reduces abrupt shifts in the socket between the skin and the socket reducing shear loads.

The smooth roll-through of the foot requires less energy to transition from heel to toe. Often the result of this is an increase in self-selected walking speed as well as a more natural looking gait.

Contact Form

es-contact_form

Comfort

The RUSH Foot® provides an extremely comfortable gait. The discussion on the roll-though analysis supports the smooth transition from heel strike to toe-off.

Continuous support on roll through provides comfort at all levels and at variable cadences of ambulation. End users report that they can walk farther than they ever did before without the worry of developing skin issues or worrying about getting too tired. Basketball players report that they can play substantially longer on the court before developing the typical “hot spots” in the socket or feel the onset of fatigue.

Those who spend a significant amount of time standing report the ability to stand longer and find a comfortable position. The continuous point of contact allows the user to rotate to find the comfortable position for the leg without being forced to a fixed position from an arch shaped foot.

Brian Werner, Research & Development

Being part of the PROTEOR USA engineering team since 2012, Brian has led the R&D initiative on developing new and innovative prosthetic solutions. He specializes in new product design, testing, and qualification of mechanical devices.

Mr. Werner holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Aeronautical Engineering from Arizona State University.

His formal education and industry knowledge coupled with his passion for creative design has aided him in producing industry leading prosthetic designs, with the main goal of improving the lives of amputees.

w: 480.361.9576

e: [email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmwerner/

 

Instep

Designed to promote tibial progression around the ankle.

The bracket pyramid weight line is set at 70% of the length. Standard weight line at the pyramid is typically 66%.

The longer overall length in combination with the 70% weight line combines to provide the longest toe lever in the industry. This is important in the fact that it reduces gait deviation.  Longer toe levers reduce the requirement in the hip to compensate for the shorter step; thus, promoting a more natural gait.

Socket Issue Mitigation

Testimonials from a large cross-section of patients points to, or suggests, the smooth action of the RUSH Foot® reduces socket issues. (Refer to the comfort and roll-through sections.)

Time between socket replacements may be increased.

Patients don’t want to come in for socket issues. It interrupts their lives. One of our patients used to spend several day s a month in a wheel chair letting their residual limb heel. After wearing the RUSH Foot® they spend literally no time in a wheel chair.

Users of the RUSH Foot® report that when they used to take off other feet early at the end of their work day, they now wear it for evening activities, and until they retire to bed.

Rocker Bottom/Sole Plate

The rocker bottom is the primary contributor to the smooth roll over from heel strike to toe-off.

Upon heel strike the rocker bottom flexes to allow a smooth continuous transition from heel strike to toe off. The rocker bottom maintains a continuous line of contact. As A result, there is not the sensation of a flat or “dead spot” at midstance.

Smooth transition from heel strike to toe off requires less energy to walk or run. Over the period of a day, the energy savings adds up.

The continuous contact of the rocker bottom provides midstance contact AND midstance support.

Download the Step Analysis document here.

Step Analysis

Sitemap

es-sitemap

Heel Shock

Users of the RUSH Foot®  products often state that the heel shock feels like their “real heel”. The elastomeric material has a nonlinear spring rate that brings the foot to a comfortable stop.

The heel shock material has been formulated to bring an incredibly high energy return in excess of 90%.  By providing high-energy return and comfort, patient fatigue is reduced.

The material in the heel will not fail or break down over time. It is extremely durable and will not fail due to fatigue cycles. Unlike composite heels, the RUSH Foot®  heel shock will not fail.

Durability

The glass fiber composite is well-suited to act like a toe spring to absorb a large spectrum of loads without breaking. This means the end user can wear a reasonably comfortable foot in terms of stiffness, and still have the foot survive the huge toe deflection loads that may come in extreme situations such as high-impact sports. Carbon fiber feet must be sized to be stiff to survive large impact loads. This leaves the end user uncomfortable most of the time when they are not using them in an extreme way.

Overall Length

The RUSH Foot® is generally the longest composite foot on the market and significantly assists in reducing gait deviation in ambulation.

Toe lever

*All feet shown are 27cm in length.

Gait Deviation Mitigation

Patients and prosthetists regularly report that the user walking on the RUSH Foot® has a more natural gait. There are several reasons for this. Some have been discussed in prior sections.

We have patients often tell us that “I feel like I have my real foot back”, and “I feel like I can walk normal again”.

Long Toe Lever
The RUSH Foot® has the longest toe lever in the industry. The RUSH Foot® is overall the longest foot, and in combination with that, the toe is set at 70% of the length which gives a very long toe lever. During the toe off of a natural foot the toe is extended as plantar flexion as the leg is extend aft. The toe must extend in plantar flexion to maintain the body center of gravity from excessively motion. In connection with this there is also some hip movement. The only way for someone wearing a prosthetic device to compensate for the lack of toe extension or plantar flexion is to rotate the hip, tilt the hip, shorten their step, or let the whole upper body shift laterally which accentuates the classic gait deviation of an amputee with a poor quality foot. The RUSH Foot® gives the user a longer toe lever to compensate for the lack of foot plantar flexion. This mitigates hip compensation motion, reduces upper body sway, and lengthens the step.

Mid Stance Support of Rocker Bottom
Another classic gait deviation of an amputee is to drop the shoulder or sway the upper body to the side of the prosthetic in mid stance. This is required for flat feet with no mid stance support because this becomes a low point during the opposite leg swing through. To keep the swing leg from stubbing the toe the user must lift the swing leg higher, or lift the hip (which causes upper body sway) to allow the swing leg to swing through properly. The RUSH Foot® helps with this issue because the rocker bottom sole plate give mid stance lift and support during the middle of opposite leg swing phase. This allows the swing leg to swing through more naturally and reduces gait deviation.

Smooth Continuous Motion
The rocker bottom sole plate allows smooth continuous contact motion from heel strike to toe-off. The roll- through requires less energy and the user doesn’t have to create extra energy input to push over a flat spot and get over the toe.

Heel Strike to Foot Flat
In the natural gait of the foot the heel initiates, at heel strike, plantar flexion to flat foot. This gives a smooth un-jarring transition to the foot. Prosthetic device users with a stiff heel learn to compensate for the uncomfortable strike by dropping the upper body to ease the change in momentum. The smooth heel strike of the RUSH Foot® with soft initial contact eases the transition to the prosthetic foot such that the user can learn to walk naturally without anticipated stiff heel strike. The action of the RUSH Foot® flexes in the instep to allow the foot to move to flat foot quickly and naturally. Users of the RUSH Foot® often quote “I feel like I have my real heel back”.

Toe Bond Adhesive

The aerospace-grade adhesive eliminates catastrophic failure commonly experienced by amputees wearing inferior prosthetic feet.

Energy Return

Toe
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® is driven by the instep. The classic definition of energy return is the measure of energy lost when a material is flexed. The energy return of the RUSH Foot® is the same as carbon fiber feet because most of the friction loss in the material is in the epoxy which is the same for both.
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® has excellent energy return. Not only because of the composite material, but because the mid stance support provides a smoother energy free motion from mid stance to toe off.

Heel
The rubber elastomeric material of the RUSH Foot® products have been specifically engineered to provide exceptionally high-energy return. They can provide energy return in excess of the composite material which the end-user appreciates especially over an extended period of exercise. Better energy return in the heel means less work in the socket interface to keep the body moving.

Heel Wedge (Optional)

The heel wedge is optional for those who want a more aggressive tibial rotation. The heel wedge significantly provides the angle to drive the tibia forward on heel strike.

The heel wedge also overcomes issues when a user feels they are “sinking into their heel”, or the heel feels too soft. The heel wedge gives the sensation that the heel is firmer.

Use of the heel wedge does not change the stiffness or durometer of the heel shock, instead it alters and improves the angle of attack to promote tibial progression through midstance.

Refer to the RUSH LoPro, RUSH HiPro or RUSH ROGUE IFU documents for additional wedging instructions.

 

No Split Toe

The split toe is a common design feature in carbon fiber feet. This feature allows rotation as inversion/eversion without an excessive amount of torque applied. End users find this feature more comfortable when walking on uneven terrain. The problem with the split toe is that both sides of the foot need to be in contact. If the user only catches part of the foot on a ledge, the toe flexes excessively and could fail. To compensate for ½ loading, manufactures make the toe more stiff, resulting in regular walking being less comfortable and overly stiff.

The RUSH Foot® is engineered to have the appropriate amount of inversion and eversion without a split toe. This means that during normal flat ground walking the toe is engineered for maximum comfort, and if the user only catches ½ the foot on a curb, they will feel confident in the toe reaction as it will not over deflect.

87_Icon

The RUSH RAMPAGE LP is designed for:

Low-profile build

  • K3 or higher activity level
  • Moderate to high activity
  • Individuals with LESS THAN 6.5” of clearance.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals with long limbs, limited clearance and/or requiring additional components such as a vacuum units, torsion units or shock absorption units
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH RAMPAGE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking a cosmesis-friendly option to meet their aesthetic preferences.
  • Users desiring a light-weight yet indestructible foot.
  • Additional vertical shock absorption.
  • Smooth roll through for individuals who demand a smoother gait.
  • Biometric ankle motion simulates natural gait, increasing patient comfort.
  • Extreme reliability for use in any environment.
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5”.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher).

US Learn more button

The RUSH EVAQ8 is designed for:

  • Users seeking an integrated elevated vacuum suspension system
  • Users seeking stabilized volume, increased linkage and heightened proprioception through elevated vacuum suspension
  • Upwards of 22inHg
  • All-terrain activity
  • Fully-submersible (fresh or salt water)
  • Minimal maintenance and no bulky components
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • Below the knee, knee disarticulate, bilateral, above the knee or higher
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

The RUSH FOOT H2O is designed for:

  • Shower use or barefoot activities
  • Slick surface traction
  • K3 or K4
  • Minimum clearance of 4.3” or 6.3” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, Above Knee (or higher)
  • Now available in HiPro, ROGUE, RAMPAGE and RAMPAGE LP models.

US Learn more button

 

The RUSH ROGUE is designed for:

  • Individuals seeking ultra-comfort in the socket during all levels of use
  • Users seeking torsion relief to ease load on joints and in the socket
  • Progressive torsional resistance to +/- 8 degrees
  • Additional vertical shock absorption
  • Additional ground compliance
  • Minimal additional weight increase offset by performance
  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity

US Learn more button

The RUSH Rover is designed for:

  • Patients with low OR high clearance, limited by clearance or build height
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact patients, K3 or higher
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral, AK or Symes
  • Patients tired of breaking extreme low profile feet
  • Patients tired of sacrificing flexibility in a build height less than 2.5”
  • Patients tired of being told they have little to no options in feet selection
  • Ultra-low profile build (Just under 2.5”)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • Sizes 22-30cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

US Learn more button

The RUSH Kid is designed for:

  • The pediatric patient that has broken every carbon foot and needs something durable
  • The most extreme loads of high-impact pediatric patients, K3 or higher
  • Ultra-low profile build (1.75”)
  • All pediatric patients with low OR high clearance, less than 2” of clearance, limited clearance or Symes amputation.
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK.
  • Sizes 19-21cm
  • All-terrain, all-weather activities
  • Patients desiring cosmesis

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The RUSH Chopart/RUSH76 is designed for:

  • Individuals with Chopart, LisFranc, Pirogoff, Boyd and partial foot prostheses
  • Direct lamination
  • Durability and flexibility for the longest amputation levels and partial foot prostheses
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH76 is also known as the RUSH Chopart.

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The RUSH HiPro/RUSH87 is designed for:

  • High-profile build
  • K3 or K4
  • High impact, extreme users
  • Individuals with a MINIMUM clearance of 6.5” or greater
  • BK, Knee Disarticulate, Bilateral or AK (or higher)
  • Individuals who demand a smoother gait
  • All-terrain activity
  • Effective June 1, 2017, the RUSH87 is also known as the RUSH HiPro.

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J. Blount Swain, President

DSC_0032Mr. Swain has spent 20 years as the President and/or Chief Financial Officer of several medical device companies. Mr. Swain served for Closure Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: CLSR), Symbius Medical, and Biofisica. He has also served on the Boards of numerous medical device start-ups over the last decade.

Prior to this, he served as the CFO of YOUcentric, Inc. (CRM software) and The Record Bar (music retailer).

Early in his career, he served as a Senior Accountant with Price Waterhouse. Mr. Swain holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a certified public accountant.

w:  480.588.7907
e: [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/j-blount-swain/12/870/11b

Steve Sherman, Vice President of Prosthetics

Steve B and WSteve comes to Ability with over 20 years of successful sales and sales management experience in the Orthotic and Prosthetic (O & P) industry.  Throughout his career Steve has specialized in introducing new products and technologies to the O & P marketplace.  He was instrumental in the introduction and widespread use of CAD/CAM technology in the field in the early 1990s with ART Inc. and M+IND.

Steve was involved in the growth and introduction of the Flex-Foot and Freedom Innovations lines of prosthetic feet.  His understanding and knowledge of the O & P industry was further deepened by his experience on  the patient care side of the business through his role as the Prosthetic Marketing Director for Wright & Filippis Inc.

He is a graduate of Michigan State University and is a former medic with the US Army Reserve and Michigan Army National Guard.

w: 248.880.3419
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/stephen-sherman/45/46a/86b

Gene Parker, Director of Production

Gene B and WGene comes from an aircraft and engineering/manufacturing background. In his youth, he obtained private pilot and aircraft mechanic licenses. This funded his university education and he graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Math. This formal education, combined with practical experience, allowed him to work for more than 20 years designing and manufacturing military and civilian aircraft.

Mr. Parker combines his  knowledge and experience with materials, processes, design, testing and manufacturing to make RUSH Foot® products and a better mobility experience for amputees.

 

w:  480.699.0136
e:  [email protected]

Holly Sanger, Director of Marketing

Holly Sanger, Director of MarketingHolly is a marketing leader bringing over 25 years of experience and creativity to the PROTEOR USA team.  She has worked with everything from Fortune 500 companies to digital start-ups which provides her with a  well-rounded understanding of what it takes to build a strong brand.

Her expertise in the areas of demographic targeting, digital marketing techniques and building brand awareness is vital to the success of PROTEOR USA and the RUSH Foot® product line.  Her objective is to make RUSH Foot® a household name in the prosthetic world.

Ms. Sanger holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

w: 480.361.1303
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/in/hollysanger2010

Laticia “LT” Ibeere, Director of Operations

11ced06LT brings 20+ years of accounting experience to the PROTEOR USA team.  She graduated from the W.P. Carey School of Business at ASU, with a B.A. in Communications and has worked for various companies within different industries; ranging from small to Fortune 500.

She was drawn to PROTEOR USA, because she knew she would be able to be a part of a dynamic and growing company that touches people’s lives daily.  She stated that “there is nothing more rewarding then seeing the impact that is made on someone’s life by being part of a company that custom creates prosthetic feet that are ‘not another carbon copy’ and are client specific. ”

w:  480.588.6328
e:  [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/laticia-“lt”-ibeere/9/995/64

Material

Glass based composites have excellent strain capability, and are 3x more flexible.

Glass composites are more durable than Carbon Fiber composites.   Stress points won’t fail when subjected to stress, water or impact.

Glass fiber composites do not soften over time.

Fail Safe Material: If glass fiber composite fails (which is rare) they do not fail catastrophically.  Should a failure occur…it would be by delamination in a way that only partially compromises the structure, leaving some support to save the user from an unexpected fall; unlike carbon fiber.

Glass fiber composites provide increased flexibility, durability and result in a more natural gait.

Roll-Through Analysis

One of the strongest characteristics of a comfortable foot is the roll through characteristics. The RUSH Foot® products provide a continuous line of contact from heel strike, through the mid-stance, to toe off. The continuous roll-through removes the sensation of “dead spots” or flat spots during gait. The smooth action reduces abrupt shifts in the socket between the skin and the socket reducing shear loads.

The smooth roll-through of the foot requires less energy to transition from heel to toe. Often the result of this is an increase in self-selected walking speed as well as a more natural looking gait.

Contact Form

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Comfort

The RUSH Foot® provides an extremely comfortable gait. The discussion on the roll-though analysis supports the smooth transition from heel strike to toe-off.

Continuous support on roll through provides comfort at all levels and at variable cadences of ambulation. End users report that they can walk farther than they ever did before without the worry of developing skin issues or worrying about getting too tired. Basketball players report that they can play substantially longer on the court before developing the typical “hot spots” in the socket or feel the onset of fatigue.

Those who spend a significant amount of time standing report the ability to stand longer and find a comfortable position. The continuous point of contact allows the user to rotate to find the comfortable position for the leg without being forced to a fixed position from an arch shaped foot.

Brian Werner, Research & Development

Being part of the PROTEOR USA engineering team since 2012, Brian has led the R&D initiative on developing new and innovative prosthetic solutions. He specializes in new product design, testing, and qualification of mechanical devices.

Mr. Werner holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Aeronautical Engineering from Arizona State University.

His formal education and industry knowledge coupled with his passion for creative design has aided him in producing industry leading prosthetic designs, with the main goal of improving the lives of amputees.

w: 480.361.9576

e: [email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmwerner/

 

Instep

Designed to promote tibial progression around the ankle.

The bracket pyramid weight line is set at 70% of the length. Standard weight line at the pyramid is typically 66%.

The longer overall length in combination with the 70% weight line combines to provide the longest toe lever in the industry. This is important in the fact that it reduces gait deviation.  Longer toe levers reduce the requirement in the hip to compensate for the shorter step; thus, promoting a more natural gait.

Socket Issue Mitigation

Testimonials from a large cross-section of patients points to, or suggests, the smooth action of the RUSH Foot® reduces socket issues. (Refer to the comfort and roll-through sections.)

Time between socket replacements may be increased.

Patients don’t want to come in for socket issues. It interrupts their lives. One of our patients used to spend several day s a month in a wheel chair letting their residual limb heel. After wearing the RUSH Foot® they spend literally no time in a wheel chair.

Users of the RUSH Foot® report that when they used to take off other feet early at the end of their work day, they now wear it for evening activities, and until they retire to bed.

Rocker Bottom/Sole Plate

The rocker bottom is the primary contributor to the smooth roll over from heel strike to toe-off.

Upon heel strike the rocker bottom flexes to allow a smooth continuous transition from heel strike to toe off. The rocker bottom maintains a continuous line of contact. As A result, there is not the sensation of a flat or “dead spot” at midstance.

Smooth transition from heel strike to toe off requires less energy to walk or run. Over the period of a day, the energy savings adds up.

The continuous contact of the rocker bottom provides midstance contact AND midstance support.

Download the Step Analysis document here.

Step Analysis

Sitemap

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Heel Shock

Users of the RUSH Foot®  products often state that the heel shock feels like their “real heel”. The elastomeric material has a nonlinear spring rate that brings the foot to a comfortable stop.

The heel shock material has been formulated to bring an incredibly high energy return in excess of 90%.  By providing high-energy return and comfort, patient fatigue is reduced.

The material in the heel will not fail or break down over time. It is extremely durable and will not fail due to fatigue cycles. Unlike composite heels, the RUSH Foot®  heel shock will not fail.

Durability

The glass fiber composite is well-suited to act like a toe spring to absorb a large spectrum of loads without breaking. This means the end user can wear a reasonably comfortable foot in terms of stiffness, and still have the foot survive the huge toe deflection loads that may come in extreme situations such as high-impact sports. Carbon fiber feet must be sized to be stiff to survive large impact loads. This leaves the end user uncomfortable most of the time when they are not using them in an extreme way.

Overall Length

The RUSH Foot® is generally the longest composite foot on the market and significantly assists in reducing gait deviation in ambulation.

Toe lever

*All feet shown are 27cm in length.

Gait Deviation Mitigation

Patients and prosthetists regularly report that the user walking on the RUSH Foot® has a more natural gait. There are several reasons for this. Some have been discussed in prior sections.

We have patients often tell us that “I feel like I have my real foot back”, and “I feel like I can walk normal again”.

Long Toe Lever
The RUSH Foot® has the longest toe lever in the industry. The RUSH Foot® is overall the longest foot, and in combination with that, the toe is set at 70% of the length which gives a very long toe lever. During the toe off of a natural foot the toe is extended as plantar flexion as the leg is extend aft. The toe must extend in plantar flexion to maintain the body center of gravity from excessively motion. In connection with this there is also some hip movement. The only way for someone wearing a prosthetic device to compensate for the lack of toe extension or plantar flexion is to rotate the hip, tilt the hip, shorten their step, or let the whole upper body shift laterally which accentuates the classic gait deviation of an amputee with a poor quality foot. The RUSH Foot® gives the user a longer toe lever to compensate for the lack of foot plantar flexion. This mitigates hip compensation motion, reduces upper body sway, and lengthens the step.

Mid Stance Support of Rocker Bottom
Another classic gait deviation of an amputee is to drop the shoulder or sway the upper body to the side of the prosthetic in mid stance. This is required for flat feet with no mid stance support because this becomes a low point during the opposite leg swing through. To keep the swing leg from stubbing the toe the user must lift the swing leg higher, or lift the hip (which causes upper body sway) to allow the swing leg to swing through properly. The RUSH Foot® helps with this issue because the rocker bottom sole plate give mid stance lift and support during the middle of opposite leg swing phase. This allows the swing leg to swing through more naturally and reduces gait deviation.

Smooth Continuous Motion
The rocker bottom sole plate allows smooth continuous contact motion from heel strike to toe-off. The roll- through requires less energy and the user doesn’t have to create extra energy input to push over a flat spot and get over the toe.

Heel Strike to Foot Flat
In the natural gait of the foot the heel initiates, at heel strike, plantar flexion to flat foot. This gives a smooth un-jarring transition to the foot. Prosthetic device users with a stiff heel learn to compensate for the uncomfortable strike by dropping the upper body to ease the change in momentum. The smooth heel strike of the RUSH Foot® with soft initial contact eases the transition to the prosthetic foot such that the user can learn to walk naturally without anticipated stiff heel strike. The action of the RUSH Foot® flexes in the instep to allow the foot to move to flat foot quickly and naturally. Users of the RUSH Foot® often quote “I feel like I have my real heel back”.

Toe Bond Adhesive

The aerospace-grade adhesive eliminates catastrophic failure commonly experienced by amputees wearing inferior prosthetic feet.

Energy Return

Toe
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® is driven by the instep. The classic definition of energy return is the measure of energy lost when a material is flexed. The energy return of the RUSH Foot® is the same as carbon fiber feet because most of the friction loss in the material is in the epoxy which is the same for both.
The toe-off of the RUSH Foot® has excellent energy return. Not only because of the composite material, but because the mid stance support provides a smoother energy free motion from mid stance to toe off.

Heel
The rubber elastomeric material of the RUSH Foot® products have been specifically engineered to provide exceptionally high-energy return. They can provide energy return in excess of the composite material which the end-user appreciates especially over an extended period of exercise. Better energy return in the heel means less work in the socket interface to keep the body moving.

Heel Wedge (Optional)

The heel wedge is optional for those who want a more aggressive tibial rotation. The heel wedge significantly provides the angle to drive the tibia forward on heel strike.

The heel wedge also overcomes issues when a user feels they are “sinking into their heel”, or the heel feels too soft. The heel wedge gives the sensation that the heel is firmer.

Use of the heel wedge does not change the stiffness or durometer of the heel shock, instead it alters and improves the angle of attack to promote tibial progression through midstance.

Refer to the RUSH LoPro, RUSH HiPro or RUSH ROGUE IFU documents for additional wedging instructions.

 

No Split Toe

The split toe is a common design feature in carbon fiber feet. This feature allows rotation as inversion/eversion without an excessive amount of torque applied. End users find this feature more comfortable when walking on uneven terrain. The problem with the split toe is that both sides of the foot need to be in contact. If the user only catches part of the foot on a ledge, the toe flexes excessively and could fail. To compensate for ½ loading, manufactures make the toe more stiff, resulting in regular walking being less comfortable and overly stiff.

The RUSH Foot® is engineered to have the appropriate amount of inversion and eversion without a split toe. This means that during normal flat ground walking the toe is engineered for maximum comfort, and if the user only catches ½ the foot on a curb, they will feel confident in the toe reaction as it will not over deflect.

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