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Clip-on Fin to Turn to Aquaman
Of course, there’s a catch, you’ve gotta have a missing lower limb first to use this particular silicone appendage. This project is an orthopaedic swimming aid by Richard Stark called “Neptune.” It’s bright blue and yellow colors will be blurs to you as they zip past in the pool. Hinge lock, mount for those with mountable appendages, adjustable strength, simple design. You’ll be cruising in a whole new way in no time. And with a designer name like “Stark” you know it’s high quality.
Be sure to note: the designer of the Neptune’s name is Richard Stark. The designer of the Iron Man suit’s name is Tony Stark. They are different people. But, like one another in a very important way, they both hope to make the world a better place to live.
The Neptune uses a standard silicone liner which, when working with the cup mounted to it, distributes forces away from the tip of the limb. The fin, mounted to the the cup, can be turned 90degrees to allow different strokes. Then, as mentioned, the strength of the fin can be adjusted by moving the slider from top to bottom or bottom to top.
Then just cruise.
Designer: Richard Stark
What a load of ignorant..."
40 Comments »
mif991 says
Ok. Correct me if I am wrong…Wouldn’t the swimmer be going around in circles?
Richard says
The fin is very similiar in power output to that of a human leg. It is designed to give accurate and balanced “propulsion” as a substitute for a lower limb. Without the fin, an amputee tends to swim in “circles” resulting in unbalanced ergonomics in the upper body, wich can cause physical stress in joints for example. Neptune can be adjusted to different power outputs, to suit individual differences and follow your physical development. And I have to emphasize the fins ability to perform breaststroke swimming, wich has been a challenge to design. With one leg only, its almost impossible to swim effective breaststroke. Since breaststroke is a very common style of swimming, this is a very important function.
I hope this cleared out some questions =)
mif991 says
Thank you. Well done.
corrected says
the swimmer wouldn’t be going around in circles
corrected :p
no in all seriousness I dont think they would not unless this fin provided an extremely efficient method of swimming \the leg. There maybe be a factor to take into account that pro swimmers (from what I remember as a friend was an international) don’t use lower leg but is more in the thighs and shoulders for propulsion.
Be interesting to see though
on the premises of it all though love the design!
Kit Peters says
Hi there … fantastic development!! … I’m a monopede and a swimmer/diver .. have long wanted such a thing .. often dreamed about it!
I’m in Australia … can I get one here? Thanks!!
Stark says
I´m sorry to say that the Neptune is nothing but a conceptual design at the moment. Perhaps you´ve seen some video of it in action with a swimmer, but what is used in the video is only prototypes of different kinds. The last couple of days I´ve been getting loads of attention on it, and my hopes are that it will get into production in the future. But right now it´s just an idea that developed during a couple of weeks…
But keep your eyes wide open for it, and maybe you´ll find it on the market in a not so distant future!
adam says
Your process was great and it was truly inspirational to see you work this through. Simply and great look on functional use.
Lee Sheldon says
So how do I oeder one. Couldn’t do it on the website.
Stark says
Neptune is but a conceptual design at this stage. I´m sorry to disappoint you, but it´s just an idea. Maybe it´ll get real sometime.. I´m working on it! =)
Bob says
Richard
Can you share your email address?
Bob says
Richard
Can you share your email address?
Mark S. Stevens says
I am a bilateral AKA and have two short stumps. I swim 2500 metres a few times a week and I would be very interested in a pair for Bilat aka. will it be available at the same time in the future. The Iclandic sock is also avaiable for Bilat AKAs so this should not be a problem. If your price is reasonable then you would sell a ton of them as there are over 44 000 Bilat AKAs in the States alone. In the States emphasis is placed on rehabilitation of amputees and one of the methods is swimming. I wear two c-legs so I know what I am talking about. I am situated in Israel
Mark S. Stevens says
I am a bilateral AKA and have two short stumps. I swim 2500 metres a few times a week and I would be very interested in a pair for Bilat aka. will it be available at the same time in the future. The Iclandic sock is also avaiable for Bilat AKAs so this should not be a problem. If your price is reasonable then you would sell a ton of them as there are over 44 000 Bilat AKAs in the States alone. In the States emphasis is placed on rehabilitation of amputees and one of the methods is swimming. I wear two c-legs so I know what I am talking about. I am situated in Israel
Mike Williams says
Congratulations, a wonderful innovation!
Mike Williams says
Congratulations, a wonderful innovation!
Steve R says
This is a great concept, but this story has been bumping around the internet for several years now. Could you post whether or not you are actually going to produce these for sale, and give an estimated date?
I lead support groups & counsel amputees, and having this hang out there on the internet to be recycled over & over again with no production in site is both frustrating and somewhat unfair to the amputees I counsel.
Stark says
I would love to have an answer to that! Right now I'm still a student and the concept was done as a very short school project. I am in contact with potential partners for production and commercialization, but no deal is done. It's hard for me to deal with this on the side of school, since school takes 10-14 hours/day 7 days per week. I'm sad to hear this is bringing up frustration when I want to trigger inspiration! =/
Steve R says
This is a great concept, but this story has been bumping around the internet for several years now. Could you post whether or not you are actually going to produce these for sale, and give an estimated date?
I lead support groups & counsel amputees, and having this hang out there on the internet to be recycled over & over again with no production in site is both frustrating and somewhat unfair to the amputees I counsel.
Stark says
I would love to have an answer to that! Right now I'm still a student and the concept was done as a very short school project. I am in contact with potential partners for production and commercialization, but no deal is done. It's hard for me to deal with this on the side of school, since school takes 10-14 hours/day 7 days per week. I'm sad to hear this is bringing up frustration when I want to trigger inspiration! =/
chris says
Hi Richard,
Really interested in this design of yours. Would love to be kept involved with any future design testing and also purchase. hook me up on my email if you need more test guinea pigs!
chris says
Hi Richard,
Really interested in this design of yours. Would love to be kept involved with any future design testing and also purchase. hook me up on my email if you need more test guinea pigs!
Tracy says
Hi, Brilliant invention such a tease … know where the expression ignorance is bliss comes from… i’m a bilateral aka … strong swimmer though scuba diving proves to need adapted finns an nothing out there an this seems perfect ;-] way to go! did you get a way to become a provider?
Sarah says
Has this ever developed into a product you can actually buy? If so, where can I buy one?
Stark says
This is still in development as a project on the side for me. But without a partner for investment it’s pretty much on hold for the moment. It might turn into a Kickstarter project.
All the attention this project gets is important and usefull when I connect with possible partners, so thanks to everyone who shows interest in the concept!
I will let you know when I have any updates to share. //Richard Stark
Stark says
Hi Steve! Great of you to make me aware of this, thanks! I’ve always left my email in the comments but never realised it’s not shown in “public”. But here you now have a way to contact me:
rstarkdesign@gmail.com
I hope that I get the possibility to further develop the Neptune concept and release it! It’s quite stressful to have an idea like this as well as the support from the user community. While still being a student without time or money to push it further..
Stark says
The link to my site in the article is not working! If you want to make a visit and check out my portfolio turn your heads this way:
https://sites.google.com/site/ricstark/
// Richard Stark
Robyn McLachlan says
The thought of getting in the pool with a Neptune Flipper is very exciting. Do you have any idea when this many become a reality to us amputees. There has already been interest shown through an Amps Link forum here in Australia regarding your flipper
Cheers
Robyn
Stark says
Robyn! I would love to be able to tell you about a release, if I had any answer. As it seems now, there’s a long way to go in realising this idea. We are talking about years pretty much. But if a company partners up to support me it could go quicker. As I wrote to Steve, I hope that I get the possibility to further develop the Neptune concept and release it! It’s quite stressful to have an idea like this as well as the support from the user community. While still being a student without time or money to push it further..
Jo Kelley says
This looks absolutely amazing! I am a below knee amputee from UK and love swimming but find it frustrating that I swim so slowly. This fin would enable me to swim as fast as anyone. I wish you well with the further development of the fin.
Stark says
Exactly! And Thank you, let’s keep our fingers crossed for the future of this concept =)
Amy says
Hey I am a amputee below knee. And I love to swim! before I lost my leg I swimmed a lot but I noticed this past summer swimming without a leg is kinda difficult to do I did it but i didn’t really like it. And I am wanting to look into getting a swimming prosthesis this summer and I really like this one..how much is these and where can I purchase one at?
Jason Cruit says
I am a right leg Above knee amputee. I have been swimming for a few months and thought this same idea up in my mind and decided to see if someone had done it. I talked to my Prosthetic Dr. and he said it could not be done. I like the simplicity of yourt idea and believe it would be great for balancing me and give my stump a much better workout.I was extremely excited when I saw your design! I want one please contact let me know were this is in development? I live in America in Ohio. you are improving the quality of life my friend, don’t let anything stop you!
Lynn Boots says
How much is this unit, and where can I buy it?
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