Ottobock has launched iconiq, a 3D-printed silicone prosthetic liner, targeting a fit problem that affects nearly 68% of leg prosthesis users. The product made its German debut last week at OTWorld in Leipzig, with a gradual global market rollout now underway.
The liner sits between a user’s residual limb and the prosthetic socket, and it’s the part that gets replaced roughly every six months. Until now, orthotists and prosthetists had to choose between off-the-shelf liners with limited customization or expensive, time-consuming custom fabrications. *iconiq* is designed to close that gap using additive manufacturing.
The process starts with a standard 3D scan of the residual limb, requiring no markers or special equipment. The scan generates a dataset that accounts for the user’s anatomy, sensitive areas, and scar tissue. Once a prosthetist enters the residual limb length and selects a design on Ottobock’s ordering platform, the data transfers directly to the company’s production department for 3D printing. There’s no mould construction involved.
“With iconiq, we are creating a future-proof solution that overcomes the existing conflict between standard solutions and customisation,” said Arne Jörn, CTO/COO at Ottobock. “We are industrialising customisation so that it no longer becomes the exception, but the norm in everyday care.”
The liner uses varying thickness profiles to deliver uniform compression and a secure fit. It’s designed to handle high physical demands, making it suitable for active and athletic users, as well as children and adults with a mobility grade of 2 and above.
CEO and CSO Oliver Jakobi framed the product within the company’s broader access strategy. “The iconiq liner is an example of our strategy: to make our innovations available to as many users as possible, thereby providing them with high-quality fittings,” he said. “With it, we offer an efficient solution without compromising on quality and precision.”
The 68% figure comes from an internal Ottobock market research study of 112 prosthesis wearers conducted in 2023
Credit: Ottobock
