Grand Rapids Prosthetist Built Legs From Bicycle Parts
A Michigan clinician has developed a low-cost prosthetic limb that uses recycled bicycle materials.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Special Needs
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Ben Hogan, a prosthetist at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, created functional artificial legs using repurposed bicycle parts. He has released the designs for free to address a global lack of access to expensive medical equipment.
Why it matters
Ninety percent of people worldwide lack access to or cannot afford conventional prosthetic devices that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. By providing these blueprints for free, Hogan hopes to bridge the gap for those in underserved communities.
Conventional prosthetic limbs cost up to tens of thousands of dollars, whereas the bicycle-part alternatives use readily available steel, cables, and recycled tire treads. The device features a breathable, woven socket for patient comfort.
The players
Ben Hogan
He is a prosthetist at the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids who developed affordable, open-source prosthetic limbs.
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
This is a specialized rehabilitation facility in Grand Rapids where Hogan maintains his clinical practice.
The details
The prosthetics utilize a rocker-bottom sole made from tire treads and a frame constructed from steel bicycle components. Users secure the device with a custom-fit breathable, woven socket, and the open-source designs are available for anyone to manufacture.
Timeline
Friday, October 9, 2026: Ben Hogan appeared on Jesse Weber Live to discuss his work.
Culture Shift
The move toward open-source medical hardware challenges the reliance on proprietary high-cost devices that have long defined the industry. This project reflects a shift toward democratization in medical aid, prioritizing accessible, repairable designs over traditional manufacturing models.
Patients and aspiring medical providers can access these designs to build durable, functional limbs at a fraction of the cost of standard prosthetics. This shift allows for rapid local production, bypassing the lengthy supply chains and financial barriers typically associated with mobility aids.
The takeaway
By refusing to patent his designs, Hogan is fostering a global network of providers capable of producing affordable medical hardware. Anyone with basic mechanical skills can now contribute to helping amputees regain mobility in their own communities.
Further reading
Learn more about initiatives aimed at improving accessibility in our Special Needs section.
More information
View the schematics and instructions for these devices via the Project Bike Leg online designs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NewsNation.
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Should low-cost, improvised medical devices be more widely used to address global healthcare shortages?
