Every 30 seconds, a leg is amputated worldwide. Despite decades of advancement, amputees still face poor socket fit, often requiring several adjustments throughout the day to maintain mobility and comfort. Vessl Prosthetics is demonstrating how its innovation improves the lives of amputees, while momentum grows as the company expands across North America.
Lower-limb amputation transforms a person’s life, and for many people, it marks the beginning of a daily challenge: finding a prosthetic fit that supports their lifestyle.
One of the greatest challenges in finding the right prosthesis is that the residual limb naturally changes in size throughout the day. Its size can fluctuate due to physical activity, changing temperatures, or fluid changes in the body, to name a few.
As this occurs, traditional prosthetic sockets can become too tight or too loose, requiring adjustments to maintain comfort and mobility.
However, a London-based medtech startup founded by Western graduates is working toward a solution that could benefit millions of people worldwide.
Vessl Prosthetics, founded by CEO Sydney Robinson and CTO Oleksiy Zaika through the Western Medical Innovation Fellowship, has developed the Kinn System, officially known as The Kinn Automatic Volume Management System. The technology is embedded in a prosthetic socket and automatically adapts to limb volume throughout the day, reducing the number of adjustments needed and improving the user experience.
However, Vessl’s momentum extends beyond technology itself. With a commitment to making Kinn more accessible, the company is entering its next phase of expansion. As the Kinn enters the market, Vessl is marking one of its biggest milestones since its founding.
Reflecting on the transition, Robinson reaffirms Vessl’s focus on scaling the impact of Kinn, while improving the lives of people who rely on prosthetic sockets.
"Moving from a research-and-development focused company to a company whose product is available in the market is a huge shift,” says Robinson. “We've spent months preparing resources, hiring new consultants and team members, and reviewing our plans for growth. The most exciting part of having a product in the market is how many lives we can impact; we started Vessl to make a difference for people with leg amputations and limb differences and now we are seeing that mission become a reality."
Kinn is now registered as a Class I medical device with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and revenue from pilot sales to prosthetists who have closely followed the technology since its research stage have begun flowing in.
To meet demand during this new stage of growth, Vessl expanded its team by more than 300 percent, bringing in expertise from manufacturing, technology, and commercialization.
Internationally, the company has presented and exhibited at leading medtech conferences across North America, bringing Kinn technology to clinicians and investors showcasing what began in London and is now leading innovation.
Vessl’s growth is a win for London’s economy, signaling a new era of medtech innovation for the city. From its origins through the Medical Innovation Fellowship to its roots in the community, Vessl has leveraged the local research, talent, and support London offers to develop its product and scale globally.
‘Vessl’s emergence and growth confirm London’s life sciences ecosystem can support medical innovations and talented entrepreneurs,’ said Larry MacKinnon, Director, Business Development at London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC).
With expanding market reach, increased momentum, and strengthened internal capabilities, the next stage of growth for Vessl is here, and London’s reputation as an innovation hub is growing with it.
