meet lytra: the modular prosthetic leg that helps amputees shower safely

Lytra prosthetic shower leg by harry teng

Industrial designer Harry Teng introduces ‘Lytra’, the one and only affordable prosthetic leg that allows below-the-knee amputees to take showers safely and maintain residual limb hygiene. Designed with the goal of pushing the concept to a market-ready product, Lytra is not only a structure to overcome some physical obstacles, but also a body extension that has emotional attachments for amputees to rely on every day.

all images courtesy of Harry Teng

addressing a daily hassle

Harry Teng got the idea of creating Lytra after meeting Phil, an 80-year-old Below-Knee (Trans-Tibial) amputee who inspired the designer to realize that there are 185,000 new lower extremity amputations that occur in the United States each year. More than half of these are people aged 50 and over and it seems like none of them can take shower as they wish.

Due to their metal components, the prostheses that amputees wear every day cannot be carried with them to shower. So, some of them jump or crawl to the shower, while some of them even choose to reduce the frequency of their showers due to the hassle they bring. However, if they fail to wash their residual limb adequately, bacteria might infect the wound and cause further health issues.

solving the problem through valuable feedback

‘After interviewing some amputees, I realized that some basic day-to-day life tasks like showering can be extra difficult for them. Some of them are seeking the best ways to take shower and clean their limbs online. However, there is no such ‘universal way’ in existence to solve their problem, since they all have different levels of amputations.’ the designer shares.

The challenge for Teng was to create a product that doesn’t even exist on the market. He started developing the concept by sketching down some solutions that help to solve my hypothesis. Then, he built mock-ups and asked amputees to try them on in order to provide him with feedback. Their feedback eventually became insight that fed into new sketches which were more feasible. This ongoing process was carried out throughout the whole project until it solved the users’ problems.

Modular and customizable

Lytra is made from Proteus® Sheets (medical grade polypropylene) which are molded into curvatures and assembled together to gain incredible strength as a unit. The design features a wide variety of parts that are interchangeable and can be purchased online or directly from a clinic. Any component that is damaged or deformed can be replaced with a new part without requiring the user to purchase a new leg.

Thanks to its modular nature, the Lytra can be fully customizable, matching the preference of the users. The prosthesis features a socket that comes in XS, S, M, L, and XL. It also has a silicone gel bottom to provide soft and comfortable support to the residual limb, which is interchangeable for hygienic purposes. The flexible foot allows amputees to move more naturally in the bathroom, and the slip-resistant rubber outsole is textured in a pattern to provide a strong grip against the floor and prevent hydroplaning.

Lytra is still in its incubation phase, with Teng seeking an opportunity to collaborate with world-class engineers to ensure the product’s safety and reliability. It is designed to be an off-from-the-shelf product that individuals will be able to purchase directly from retailers.