Innovative Prosthetic Knees for Low-Income Communities by NAVU

NAVU, run by a team of researchers, is on the hunt for a cost-effective, functional prosthetic knee for low to middle-income communities.

"One study showed up to 60 percent of amputees in the country do not have access to prosthetics, and the biggest barrier is cost and functionality," says Amohetsoe Shale, the founder and CEO of NAVU.

The Mission

While there is clearly a need in the market, the mission is very personal for Amohetsoe: "During my undergraduate studies in medical orthotics and prosthetics, I had the opportunity to work in a clinical setting with amputees. I was alarmed at the quality of trans-femoral (above the knee) prosthetics available to patients."

"The knee is one of the most complex joints in the body. It's not just a hinge, but pivots around multiple points to allow you to walk smoothly. It is responsible for shock absorption, stability and the quality of mobility an amputee has. Yet, many amputees only have access to the bare minimum."

"In one instance, I assisted an old man from Matatiele in the Eastern Cape, my home province. He would always come back to the clinic complaining about the same thing - the discomfort of walking around ezilalini (in the rural areas).

"Each step was a struggle for him, his prosthetic leg would get caught in the grass and his back was hurting from the hip-hiking as he was compensating for the lack of support and stability in his prosthetic leg. I remember the look of disappointment on his face as he turned back, without an improvement in his walking for the third time, having travelled five hours just to get to the prosthetics clinic."

"I felt ashamed knowing that there was technology available in South Africa to assist him, but he would never access it because he didn't have money. So, I decided to do something about this reality."

The research is part of Amohetsoe's Master's degree work. NAVU provided a way for the research to be commercialised. Experienced startup chief operating officer, Fred Lutz, came on board after being moved by the mission and Amothetsoe's passion.

"I was Amohetsoe's startup mentor at the LaunchLab, the technology incubator at Stellenbosch University. I've spun out and led multiple technology startups and mentored dozens of founders. Amohetsoe stood out for her enthusiasm for the cause, her competence, and the audacity of her concept. This was something I wanted to be part of," Fred shares.
"Coming from Stellenbosch, I love walking. Whether it's to work or through the beautiful mountains. I can't imagine having that taken away from me. The average South African walks over five kilometres to work and back each day! I studied Developmental Economics in my Master's degree, so to me finding a lever to keep more people economically active is a very noble ideal."

The Work

The goal is to build a prosthetic that has "good functionality and mobility at as low a price as possible". To achieve this, the team is looking at modularity, which will allow components to be replaced rather than the whole unit; local manufacturing to save on transport and import duties; and easily available parts to make manufacturing less complex.

"We are also investigating different materials. Titanium is the ideal material, but very expensive. Our initial tests show that we would be able to get the required strength from aluminium, which is significantly more affordable while also remaining light weight," Amohetsoe shares.
"It's not just about being cost effective. There are cheaper prosthetics. It's about functionality and mobility at an affordable price," she adds.
With an affordable, functional prosthetic, the team hopes to help people remain economically active, but also experience a more active and independent life in all areas of life.

Getting involved

"We cannot do this alone. If you have experience with using a prosthetic that you would be willing to share, you can make mobility accessible to more people," Amohetsoe urges.

You can complete their Feedback Survey here, reach out to them on e-mail at amo@navugroup.com or fred@navugroup.com or visit their website at navugroup.com.