Precision Prosthetics: Humotech’s Caplex™ System Powers Data-Driven Care

Humotech is reshaping the boundaries of what's possible with prosthetics with its Caplex™ System that accelerates the discovery of real-world solutions to enhance and augment human mobility. At the helm of this 10-year-old startup is Josh Caputo, an innovator passionate about wearable robotics with a profound initiative to bring change.

Caputo’s passion for robotics ignited during college at Carnegie Mellon, where he envisioned starting a robotics company in Pittsburgh. His academic pursuits led him to wearable robotics, a niche that sowed the seeds for Humotech.

"The seed was planted early on. I bounced around working in a few different industries. But I was looking for that purpose to use my skills to help people,” said Caputo about sparking his interest in robotics. "I found that in grad school — just serendipity. I found myself meeting a professor for the first time who did research in wearable robotics.”

So, the drive was clear—use robotics to help individuals live freer, more mobile lives. Fast forward a decade, Humotech stands up to that early vision, pushing the envelope by providing vital support to research and development groups globally with its exoskeleton and prosthetic products.

The Caplex™ System: A Game Changer in Prosthetics

At the center of Humotech's endeavors is the Caplex™ System—a versatile wearable robotic platform designed to assist a person in myriad ways, from aiding mobility to enhancing rehabilitation.

“We provide this supporting technology and services business that generates interesting scientific results and product-like prototypes more quickly than if they had to do it all from scratch,” said Caputo. “So the pivotal moment that we're at is we've done a lot of these deployments. We've tested with hundreds of people with disabilities and now we've got the data that we want to drive our commercialization efforts into clinics, hospitals and, you know, get closer to the point where we can be helping people out in the real world.”

This system isn’t just theoretical; it’s in practice, gathering significant data to drive commercialization efforts. With deployments expanding across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, the Caplex™ System has proven its worth.

It empowers patients by allowing them to experience and measure different foot options, akin to an optometrist providing various lenses to find the perfect fit—a transformative and cost-effective approach to prosthetic selection.

Navigating the Prosthetic Industry: The Demand and Need

Despite advancements, the prosthetic industry faces significant challenges, according to Caputo. With more than 500,000 individuals newly affected by limb loss / limb difference annually in the U.S. alone, the demand for effective prosthetic solutions is immense.

“Choosing the right prosthetic is often based on clinicians' intuition rather than data, a gap Humotech seeks to fill,” he said. “By creating a standardized, data-driven system, Humotech provides a reliable method for selecting the correct prosthesis, reducing disagreements about medical necessity and inefficiencies in the existing prosthetic care system.”

Humotech’s dedication to impactful change is underscored by its partnerships with institutions like the Department of Defense and Veteran Affairs. Through rigorous clinical trials at locations like the Seattle and Minneapolis VAs, Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, and Walter Reed in D.C., Caputo noted that Humotech has taken a scientific approach to validating its technology, paving the way for broader market entry and the next phase of innovation.

Building a Future of Improved Mobility

As Humotech stands on the brink of expanding its market presence, it continues to focus on prosthetic feet first, with plans to extend its technological innovations to other areas of the body, Caputo said.

This foresight not only represents a significant milestone for the company but also promises a future where individuals who have experienced limb loss can resume daily activities with enhanced ease and comfort.

Humotech’s story, driven by purpose and technological innovation, embodies the spirit of Pittsburgh's tech ecosystem. As Humotech scales new heights, it remains an inspiring example of how engineering and empathy can converge to improve human lives.

For clinicians and healthcare leaders interested in pioneering rehabilitation technologies, Humotech welcomes collaboration. Find out more at humotech.com and join a movement that’s redefining prosthetic care.