Carrying Forward a Family Legacy While Shaping the Future of Prosthetic Care
At Robard Bionics in Del Mar, California, every prosthesis begins with a simple question: What does this person want to get back to doing?
Whether that’s returning to work, spending time with family, or simply regaining independence, the Robard team believes every prosthetic solution should be designed for each individual’s goals. That patient-first philosophy, combined with in-house fabrication and a commitment to personalized care, has made Robard Bionics a trusted provider for amputees throughout Southern California.
For Haiden Nelson, CPO, that philosophy isn’t something he learned overnight. It’s one he’s been surrounded by his entire life.
A Profession That Runs in the Family
Prosthetics has been a part of Haiden’s family story for decades.
Growing up, he watched his father dedicate more than 50 years to helping individuals regain mobility and confidence after limb loss. Seeing those patient relationships firsthand sparked an appreciation not only for the craftsmanship involved in prosthetics, but also for the lasting impact the industry can have on someone’s life.
Image courtesy of https://www.robardbionics.com/the-process
Haiden officially joined the practice as a technician in 2016 before earning his Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Today, he works directly with patients to evaluate their needs, design customized prosthetic solutions, make ongoing adjustments, and ensure each individual feels stable, confident, and supported throughout their rehabilitation journey.
Passionate About Innovation
While many clinicians wait for new technologies to become mainstream, Haiden has always enjoyed exploring what’s next.
During graduate school, he founded the Prosthetics and Orthotics Leaders of Innovation organization at California State University, Dominguez Hills. The student-led group focused on researching emerging technologies while giving future clinicians hands-on experience with new approaches to prosthetic care.
It is that same curiosity that eventually led him to Limber.
Having followed the company’s university research and work in additive manufacturing, Haiden was interested in understanding how 3D-printed prosthetics could complement traditional clinical care. When the opportunity arose to meet the Limber team and learn more about the Px1, he was eager to explore how it might benefit his patients.
Finding the Right Solution for Water Activities
Before incorporating the Px1 into his practice, Haiden often relied on a familiar solution for patients who wanted a prosthesis for water-related activities.
Like many prosthetists, he would help patients repurpose an older everyday prosthesis into a dedicated water leg. While functional, it wasn’t always the ideal long-term solution.
The Px1 offered a purpose-built alternative.
To date, Haiden has fit two patients whose primary goals centered around pool access and water aerobics. Both reported positive experiences, and Haiden was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly the fitting process went.
“It was pretty much plug-and-play. The initial fittings were accurate and required very little adjustment before the patients were ready to start using it.”
The design itself also stood out to Haiden, particularly for an activity-specific prosthesis.
“One of the things I appreciate most is how lightweight it is. Keeping the weight closer to the patient makes a real difference, especially for a prosthesis designed around a specific activity.”
For Haiden, the Px1 fills an important need for patients who want a dedicated option for aquatic environments rather than relying on an older prosthesis that was never designed specifically for water use.
“For the right patient, it fills a need that we’ve traditionally solved by repurposing an older prosthesis. I’d absolutely recommend other clinicians take a look at it as another option for patients who want to stay active around water.”
Integrating Innovation Into Everyday Practice
The success of introducing a new technology into a busy clinic depends on the transition from one workflow to another.
For Haiden, that transition proved easier than expected.
Using the Limber app as a guide, he was able to learn the digital workflow in approximately an hour while working alongside a patient.
“The learning curve really wasn’t difficult. The app walks you through the process step by step, and after about an hour I felt comfortable incorporating it into our workflow.”
Haiden also highlighted the responsiveness of the Limber team as an important part of the experience.
“One thing that’s stood out is how responsive the Limber team has been. Whether it’s a question during a fitting or something that comes up afterward, they’ve always been easy to reach.”
The experience reinforced something Haiden values about innovation: it should simplify the clinician’s job without compromising quality.
Looking Ahead
As legislation surrounding activity-specific prosthetic devices continues to evolve, Haiden is optimistic that more individuals will gain access to specialized solutions designed around the activities that matter most to them.
At Robard Bionics, that future is about more than adopting new technology.
It’s about combining decades of clinical experience with thoughtful innovation to give every patient the opportunity to pursue their goals with confidence.