At the age of 21, Van Phillips lost a foot during a waterskiing accident. Impatient with the weight and clumsiness of existing prosthetics, Phillips researched materials, discussed ideas with colleagues, designed a foot to suit his needs, and then started Flex-Foot, Inc. to manufacture the new device. Phillips’ Flex-Foot uses flexible, strong, and lightweight carbon fiber that stores and releases energy each time the wearer shifts weight from foot to foot, propelling him or her forward with less effort.
