What If The Best Prosthetic Innovation Is Repeatability with Rob Gabourie

Send us Fan MailWe welcome  prosthetist and Niagara Foot inventor Rob Gabourie for a fascinating conversation spanning more than five decades of prosthetic innovation. Rob shares how his career began after his brother's industrial accident, reflects on hand-carving wooden sockets for World War II veterans, and explains how the demands of Vietnam veterans helped accelerate advances in prosthetic technology. Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes a philosophy of practical problem-solving—continually "fiddling" with designs to make them simpler, more durable, and more effective for the people who depend on them every day. The conversation also explores the development of the Niagara Foot, lessons learned from decades of fitting transfemoral patients, and the importance of balancing engineering with clinical experience. Brent and Rob discuss how additive manufacturing is transforming prosthetics, where 3D printing fits into the future of patient care, and why repeatable, data-driven socket design may be the next major leap forward. It's an episode filled with history, wisdom, and practical insights for clinicians, engineers, and anyone passionate about improving mobility through thoughtful innovation. Special thanks to Advanced 3D for sponsoring this episode.Support the show