Upya, a high-performance and affordable prosthetic foot

The start-up launched this project in 2017 with two objectives in mind: to use its skills in biomechanics to develop a prosthesis reproducing as closely as possible the natural movement of the foot, and achieving this at a very competitive price.

And it has successfully achieved its objectives by designing Upya - "new beginning" in Swahili – which is a polyarticulated foot that reproduces the natural movement of the human foot thanks to a spring and cushioning system that simulates tendons and muscles to reproduce the energy and dynamism of a human foot.

A high-tech and low-cost product

Upya is composed of various materials including aluminium, polyethylene, fibreglass, expanded polyurethane and is created using a 3D-printed mould. It measures 25 to 28 cm and is modular, enabling it to adapt to the size and weight of the wearer. It is delivered in kit form to orthopaedic professionals, together with the screwing accessories essential for its assembly: it only takes a few minutes to assemble it and adapt it to the patient. In addition to being technically as efficient as the best orthopaedic devices, Upya is also ten to twenty times less expensive than those currently on the market.

3D printing to combine performance, renewed sensations and quality of life

Everything is designed so that the prosthetic foot can be easily and quickly repaired using a 3D printer. The start-up previously identified a network of fablabs in different countries around the world, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, regions that are particularly affected by conflicts and where there is a great need for affordable orthopaedic solutions.

Exoneo hopes to sell 100,000 prostheses over the next five years, bringing greater mobility, increased confidence and therefore a better quality of life to people with disabilities who previously had no access to prostheses. Inexpensive to manufacture, this prosthesis could easily be produced in very large volumes and thus change many people’s lives.

More information:
https://exoneo.eu