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| For Immediate Release |
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FREEDOM INNOVATIONS DEBUTS PROSTHETIC FEET FEATURING QUALITY, AFFORDABILITY, ACCESSABILITY
New Freedom Series 1000, 2000 & 3000 Offer Patented Technology
to Simulate Natural Foot, Toe Movement |
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CORONA, Calif. (October 03, 2002) - Freedom Innovations, Inc. (FI) makes its formal debut into the prosthetics world by announcing its Freedom Series of high-quality, affordable, and easy-to-buy artificial feet for lower limb amputees at the 2002 American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA) National Assembly at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on October 9-12 in Chicago.
The Freedom Series includes three new prosthetic feet - the FS 1000, 2000 and 3000 models - in which amputees gain what the industry has lacked-quality prosthetic feet for a wide range of activity levels at affordable prices, according to Richard M. Myers, Jr., Freedom Innovations president and chief operating officer.
"Amputees are often forced to use one prosthesis for normal, everyday ambulation and another for more strenuous or athletic activity," Myers said. "We created the Freedom Series so prosthetists can fit amputees with a comfortable artificial limb that is strong enough to withstand high levels of activity."
Myers said the Freedom Series utilize patented and patent pending technology that provide feet with the highest degree of performance while simulating natural foot motion for amputees with moderate to high activity needs.
"Freedom Innovations was formed to use innovative thinking and technologies to create revolutionary prosthetic products," he said, adding that the Freedom Series is designed to meet the prosthetist's demand for high quality at prices they can afford.
"However, we also combine 'big company ingenuity with small company convenience and service' for both prosthetists and end-users, including custom orders, same-day shipping and personalized customer contact."
He explained that, until now, the biggest challenge facing prosthetic feet manufacturers was providing a device that not only was flexible and resilient for comfort, but also strong and durable to withstand higher levels of activity and various weights of the users.
"The amputee is often forced to use one prosthesis for normal, everyday ambulation, and another for more strenuous or athletic activity," said Myers.
The feet were invented by Dr. Roland Christensen, who brings 17 years of experience designing prosthetic products to his role as Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Innovations. He said the Freedom Series deliver artificial feet that are versatile, smooth and strong enough to be appropriate for 95 percent of moderate- and high-activity level amputees.
"In a natural foot," explained Christensen, who holds several patents for his prosthetic devices, "the foot and toe flex and adapt to conform to the slope of the terrain. However, previous artificial feet with a unitary foot and toe platform were incapable of such independent response. Almost all of the past designs have focused only on ankle or foot movement for the purpose of walking or running. Few designs consider the workings of the toes or the less conspicuous movements of the foot and ankle."
Myers said Freedom Innovations is able to provide the high-performance, high quality prosthetics at lower prices due to its low-cost manufacturing facility in Fayette, Utah and "factory direct" approach. He said buying direct from the manufacturer affords price savings, which can be passed on to the prosthetist, instead of being lost with a "middle man" provider.
Additionally, the factory-direct strategy offers custom ordering, same-day and overnight shipping upon request, personalized service, free foot covers with the purchase of each foot, and the longest warranty (36 months) available in the industry on feet and composite components.
Freedom Series Features
Each foot in the Freedom Series contains two basic elements - the upper member that is coupled to the amputee, and the lower member comprised of the heel and toe. Using the company's patented and patent-pending system, energy is transferred between both members to vary the foot's stiffness according to the user's needs.
Each foot consists of carbon-fiber composite materials to deliver lightweight, yet strong and resilient performance. The interlocking design eliminates potential "stress concentrations" caused by bolt connections. The full-length sole plate removes "dead spots", guaranteeing smooth transition throughout the gait cycle. This patent-pending design also features a "soft toe" to also assist in a smoother rollover.
FS 1000
The FS 1000 - ideal for the new, lower-limb amputee - is unique for its "angle-top" design that creates a smoother gait without the energy loss typically associated with shock- absorbing and lower response systems. Myers said "most shock absorbing systems do not return energy, they just dampen it." The product also provides higher energy storage capacity for a given volume than its competitors by utilizing a longer foot member.
FS 2000
This "low profile foot" features a low finish height to maximize prosthetic configuration options. It also is lightweight, durable and suited to all activity levels. From the prosthetists' perspective, the FS 2000 series is easy to fit and finish cosmetically.
FS 3000
The FS 3000 is designed for low to moderately active amputees with long residual limbs. It also can be used by above-the-knee (AK) or transfemoral amputees who have a clearance issue that is secondary to their knee frame, and for fabrication of exoskeletal prostheses.
About Freedom Innovations
Freedom Innovations, an advanced prosthetics manufacturer, supplies prosthetists with products that create revolutions in motion and freedom of activity. Based in Corona, California, the Freedom and Revolution Series of prosthetic devices are available to purchase factory-direct and through distributors. Freedom Innovations' main telephone number is (909) 817-0984 and toll-free number is (888) 818-6777. Visit online at www.freedom-innovations.com. |
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