Carl Casper’s Prosthetics

Figure 1

In 1959, Carl Caspers was an active, athletic high school senior from Edina, Minnesota. A mishap with a gun led to the amputation of his left calf and foot when he was just 18. Prosthetic legs at the time were painful, bulky, and physically limiting. None that Caspers wore let him do the things he wanted to do. This beautiful jointed prosthetic leg is one of the painful devices that Caspers used (fig. 1).

One night on TV, Caspers saw Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates dancing and had an idea. Carl collaborated with his prosthetic maker to fashion a “peg leg” that allowed him to do things the traditional prosthetic did not. This simplified peg leg that Caspers used was a much more comfortable and agile device (fig. 2).

Figure 2

On a quest to create better devices for himself and other amputees, Caspers pursued a career in prosthetics.

In collaboration with biomechanics professor Glenn Street of St. Cloud State University, Caspers invented a prosthetic leg that uses vacuum-assisted socket technology. The vacuum and the secure urethane socket allow amputees to enjoy an active life without the pain that can be caused by traditional prosthetics. Caspers’ ideas and commitment to make something better for amputees has led to more than 15 patents.

This prosthetic includes the vacuum-assisted socket technology that Caspers invented (fig. 3).

Figure 3