Introduction: A Hidden Challenge in Prosthetic Care
For decades, prosthetic hygiene has been a quiet, under-discussed challenge. While simple methods such as soap and water, alcohol wipes, or improvised cleaning routines seem to be the standard approach, these methods are also inconsistent, inconvenient, and often ineffective. They don’t always remove bacteria living in the micro-tears of liners, odors remain a constant source of embarrassment, and liner materials wear down more quickly when exposed to harsh chemicals.
As prosthetic technology has advanced in design, fit, and materials, hygiene practices have lagged behind. But that is starting to change.
The Rise of Automation in Healthcare
Across medicine, automation is steadily reshaping the way care is delivered. In dentistry, UV cabinets are now routinely used to sterilize equipment. Hospitals rely on automated disinfection systems to ensure consistency and reduce human error. In consumer health, smart toothbrushes, wearables, and app-connected monitors have become commonplace, offering people new ways to manage their well-being.
Each of these innovations shares the purpose to remove the burden of guesswork and inconsistency. Hygiene, in particular, benefits most when processes are automatic, reliable, and repeatable, whether in hospitals or at home. It’s time prosthetic care catches up with this evolution.
ROSS: Automation for Prosthetic Hygiene
ROSS (Rapid Ozone Sleeve/Liner Sanitizer) is designed to do for prosthetic hygiene what dishwashers did for the kitchen. It makes cleaning simple, effective, and automatic. Instead of depending on amputees to wipe every inch of a liner with rubbing alcohol and hope for the best, ROSS uses ozone gas in a sealed chamber to sanitize the entire liner. The gas penetrates deep into creases and micro-tears where bacteria colonies thrive, neutralizes odor at its source, and delivers a validated ≥5.1 log bacterial reduction (99.9992%) every cycle, all without the risk of user error.
Importantly, ROSS is not a hospital-grade disinfector. It is intentionally positioned as a home appliance that fits seamlessly into an amputee’s daily routine. The process is as simple as placing the liner inside, pressing start, and letting the machine work quietly (often while the user sleeps).
Beyond Cleaning: The Next Frontier in Prosthetic Care
Automated hygiene is only the beginning. The future could bring smart hygiene tracking, where devices log cleaning cycles and sync with a mobile app, giving amputees and clinicians greater confidence in compliance. Clinics may also integrate hygiene data into patient records, improving follow-up care and outcomes.
Sustainability is another advantage. Automated systems reduce reliance on disposable wipes, lowering costs while cutting down on medical waste. ROSS already runs solely on electricity, requiring no consumables. Furthermore, partnerships between liner manufacturers and hygiene technology innovators could redefine what a “complete prosthetic solution” looks like. Just as prosthetics themselves have advanced in design and performance, hygiene technology is poised to evolve alongside them.
Why It Matters for O&P Professionals and Amputees
For clinicians, O&P professionals, and amputees, embracing automated hygiene offers tangible benefits. Better hygiene leads to fewer complications, reducing the risk of skin irritation, infection, and unnecessary follow-up visits. For amputees, a fresh, odor-free liner is more than just comfort—it restores confidence and dignity. Clinics that adopt and recommend automated hygiene solutions also differentiate themselves in a competitive market by offering patients cutting-edge care.
In short, the future of prosthetic hygiene is not about wipes and sprays. It is about automation, consistency, and smarter care.