Van Phillips never planned to be an inventor, but during his third year
in a broadcasting program at Arizona State University, a water-skiing
accident changed his life: a motorboat ran into him, its propeller
cutting off his left leg below the knee.
Surgery after the accident was antiquated, leaving him with pain
relieved only by a second surgery years later, and his first prosthesis
was a clumsy wood and foam rubber leg. At the hospital, someone assured
him he'd one day be able to run again. Van - who'd always been active
and athletic - set out to make that happen.
relieved only by a second surgery years later, and his first prosthesis
was a clumsy wood and foam rubber leg. At the hospital, someone assured
him he'd one day be able to run again. Van - who'd always been active
and athletic - set out to make that happen.
After graduating from Northwestern University, which offered one of the
country's best prosthetic design programs, he went to work at the Center
for Biomedical Design at the University of Utah, where he focused on
sockets, linings and attachments. But on his own time he began to
develop concepts for a leg that would enable him to run again. Looking
to nature for inspiration, he settled on a design based on the hind leg
of a cheetah, then searched for materials that offered energy return,
durability, strength, and lightness.
country's best prosthetic design programs, he went to work at the Center
for Biomedical Design at the University of Utah, where he focused on
sockets, linings and attachments. But on his own time he began to
develop concepts for a leg that would enable him to run again. Looking
to nature for inspiration, he settled on a design based on the hind leg
of a cheetah, then searched for materials that offered energy return,
durability, strength, and lightness.
When carbon graphite proved
superior, an acquaintance introduced him to Dale Abildskov, an aerospace
materials specialist. Within a week they'd engineered a full-length,
flexible carbon graphite prosthesis, then spent two years building,
testing and breaking more than 200 variants before founding Flex-Foot,
Inc. and developing specialized legs for skiing, swimming, mountain
climbing and other activities.
superior, an acquaintance introduced him to Dale Abildskov, an aerospace
materials specialist. Within a week they'd engineered a full-length,
flexible carbon graphite prosthesis, then spent two years building,
testing and breaking more than 200 variants before founding Flex-Foot,
Inc. and developing specialized legs for skiing, swimming, mountain
climbing and other activities.
Van's work has had a profound effect on not only the prosthetics
industry but on the lives of amputees around the world. They can run
again... play again, and are no longer seen as 'disabled.' or unable to
participate.
industry but on the lives of amputees around the world. They can run
again... play again, and are no longer seen as 'disabled.' or unable to
participate.
More than 90% of competitors in the Paralympics wear
Flex-Foot or Flex-Foot inspired prostheses.
Flex-Foot or Flex-Foot inspired prostheses.
Since selling his interest in Flex-Foot, Van has been working through
Second Wind - a nonprofit foundation he founded to help amputees who do
not have the means to help themselves - to design an artificial leg for
land-mine victims: a prosthesis that will function nearly as well as a
Flex-Foot, cost no more than $20, and be nearly indestructible .
Second Wind - a nonprofit foundation he founded to help amputees who do
not have the means to help themselves - to design an artificial leg for
land-mine victims: a prosthesis that will function nearly as well as a
Flex-Foot, cost no more than $20, and be nearly indestructible .
Currently living in Mendocino, California, Van is pursuing his interest
in acting and renovating an historic building he owns into a coffee
house, community gathering place and improvisational theater. He enjoys
hiking and riding horses along the scenic coastline time with his
ten-year-old daughter, Olivia, and still finds that new ideas come to
him when he is close to nature.
in acting and renovating an historic building he owns into a coffee
house, community gathering place and improvisational theater. He enjoys
hiking and riding horses along the scenic coastline time with his
ten-year-old daughter, Olivia, and still finds that new ideas come to
him when he is close to nature.
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