3D tech gives prosthetics wearers a fashionable edge

Bespoken Innovations is giving amputees a way to feel that their prosthetics are stylish and even artistic.

Daniel Terdiman

Nov. 6, 2011 8:45 a.m. PT

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3D Leg scan

SAN FRANCISCO--For a growing number of people, losing a leg doesn't mean losing an aesthetic. At Bespoke Innovations, a startup here, a small team is designing 3D printed fairings--or "covers"--for customers' prosthetics. The fairings are totally unique to each person and often incorporate their individual personality.

The fairings are made using 3D digital models of each customer that are derived from a 3D scan. In this photograph, record-setting triathlete Sarah Reinertsen, who lost her left leg at seven, poses for her scan.

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The scan

Triathlete Sarah Reinertsen poses for her 3D scan in the San Francisco offices of Bespoke Innovations. Though she hasn't gotten her fairing yet, Reinertsen is confident that the final product will reflect her individual personality and let her walk around in public with a sense of style.

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The scan

During the scanning process, each Bespoke customer stands on a platform and rotates 360 degrees while two cameras take the person's measure. The resulting 3D digital model is then used as the basis for the fairing.

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Rotating

Reinertsen stands on the platform and rotates as she is scanned for a 3D digital model at Bespoke Innovations.

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Bespoke Innovations

With motorcycle

In this publicity photograph, Bespoke shows off the stylings of its fairings and the way they can give the company's customers the confidence to live a stylish active lifestyle.

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Bespoke Innovations

Playing soccer

The fairings are designed to let the wearers have an active lifestyle.

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Bespoke Innovations

Bicycling

Bespoke has a growing clientele among soldiers and others who think of their fairings almost as three-dimensional tattoos.

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Summit and Reinertsen

Bespoke customer and record-setting triathlete Sarah Reinertsen discusses the design of her fairing with the company's co-founder, industrial designer Scott Summit.