Driving Prosthetics Innovation
About four years ago, I hit a breaking point with traditional prosthetics. Cycling was my ultimate freedom as a kid, but the prosthetics I grew up with were anything but liberating. My cycling prosthetic back then was a hard socket with a metal pole clamped onto my handlebars. In the 90s, this may have seemed innovative, but it was uncomfortable, heavy and impractical. Rather than inspiring me to seek out new adventures, this prosthetic made me feel like my disability was a barrier. The truth was, I didn’t lack ability, I just lacked the right tools.
Despite these setbacks, I kept cycling because it was a way to spend time with my family and enjoy the outdoors. But as I got older, the hassle of using this prosthetic started to outweigh the fun. By my mid-20s, I had given up cycling.
But a part of me was still drawn to the idea of long-distance rides and adventure, and I went back to my prosthetic centre to see if there were any new options, hoping for a solution. Instead, I was met with the perspective that I shouldn’t be trying to do these kinds of sports anyway, that I should just stick to “regular” activities. And even if there were something available, it would be way out of my budget.
I wasn’t about to give up, so I went on a mission to see if I could find a different solution elsewhere. That’s when I discovered Koalaa. At the time, they were a brand-new start-up, offering something completely different: a lightweight, comfortable socket with a range of interchangeable tools for different activities. It sounded almost too good to be true. I reached out to ask about a tool for cycling, mostly expecting to hear, “Sorry, not yet, but maybe someday.” Instead, they invited me to come to their workshop and help them make one. How could I say no?
We spent a day brainstorming, prototyping, and testing designs until we had a working design. They named it the Sarah Tool, which felt both amazing and incredibly humbling. Koalaa names each of their tools after the people who help design them. Once the Sarah Tool was launched, it quickly became a hit. People were getting back on their bikes, scooters, and trikes without dealing with sweaty, sticky sockets. Messages, photos, and videos poured in of kids proudly declaring, “I got my stabilisers off!”
With my new tool, I decided to tackle my first big bike tour: a 200-mile journey through the Outer Hebrides. I fell in love with bike touring after that trip, and soon after, I set off on a 500-mile tour from Manchester to Amsterdam, where the Sarah Tool proved it could go the distance, no bruising, no irritated skin, and it was adjustable, comfortable and light to support the varying conditions I was travelling through.
After these trips, I was totally hooked on cycling. But then I ran into another challenge: drop handlebars. I’d always been told I couldn’t use them, which pretty much ruled out road bikes. Frustrated, I went back to Koalaa to share this new dilemma. Once again, they rose to the occasion and created a modified version of the bike tool, now known as the Sarah Pro.
With the Sarah Pro, I embarked on my biggest tour yet: a 850-mile ride across Germany to Prague. Fourteen days of camping, sweating, climbing hills and pedalling on questionable roads. By the end, my legs nearly gave out before my arm did, which is a first!
The Sarah Tool in Gaza
This journey very quickly led me into a job at Koalaa. Now, I have the privilege of travelling worldwide, fitting people with Koalaa sleeves, training others on how to fit them and seeing firsthand the impact it has on people’s lives.
Nothing could have prepared me for seeing the Sarah Tool in use in the Restoring Hope initiative in Gaza. With fuel shortages making bicycles one of the only reliable ways to get around during the ongoing conflict, Koalaa partnered with Life Sciences Network (LSN) to fit recent amputees directly on-site using Mobile Amputee Support Units (MASU) mobile vans. The beauty of Koalaa’s fast-fitting sockets is their ability to provide quick, adjustable fittings even in the most challenging conditions.
Further Innovation Grounded in Real-World Feedback
The bike tool had been a huge success with below-elbow amputees, allowing many to get back on their bikes and rediscover their independence. However, after working with the prosthetists on the ground in Gaza, we learned there was a significant number of above-elbow amputees who also needed a solution to cycle. Gino, Koalaa’s product designer and a key part of creating the Sarah Tool, took on the challenge:
“After supplying the first batch of Koalaa prosthetics into Gaza, we were informed by the prosthetist, Abood, that there were many patients with a trans-humeral limb difference visiting the hospital wanting a prosthetic but sadly leaving with nothing. To address this, we held meetings with clinicians to understand the design of critical components needed for a lightweight, strong above-elbow prosthetic for cycling. The prototyping phase is now underway, with initial trials conducted in the UK to develop and refine the product before shipping it to Jordan.”
Every time I hear about the impact the Sarah Tool is having on someone’s life, I’m reminded that this journey has always been about creating something truly useful for those who need it most.
Restoring Hope is the vision of His Majesty King Abullah II of Jordan, and is a collaboration of Jordanian and British organisations, envisioned, designed and led by Life Sciences Network.
To learn more about and contribute to the Restoring Hope initiative, please visit Life Sciences Network Restoring Hope or reach out directly to Edward Hall.
Available to read on Life Sciences Network: https://www.lsngroup.org/post/the-sarah-tool-from-personal-journey-to-humanitarian-impact
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