The company\u2019s co-founders, Sam Spallitta, an entrepreneur with a background in medical device and hemp, and Kyle Trivisonno, a board-certified prosthetic technician, met at a hemp conference in 2017. The two quickly found they held a common desire: to see if hemp could perform effectively as a prosthetic manufacturing material, as the crop is already used in textiles, building materials, bioplastics, and much more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Trivisonno developed a successful 100% hemp prototype for a below-the-knee prosthetic, they knew they were onto something. Nearly four years ago, the two turned their ideas into a business called Human Plant Solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Starting Out<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen Spallitta and Trivisonno were researching where to headquarter the business, they found many organizations in Kansas took interest in their work. After completing grant work in North Carolina, Spallitta says Human Plant Solutions formed partnerships with the state of Kansas, Kansas University, and Wichita State University, and they decided to relocate there in 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe saw that if hemp fiber could be something big, Kansas would be a great place to build an infrastructure,\u201d Spallitta explains. \u201cThere is more land than the eye can see, which is great because we don’t want to have this crop competing with the economics from other established crops in the region.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To build an infrastructure for hemp, Spallitta says that they needed to be in a location with investor opportunities, collaboration, and convenient logistics. Kansas, being in the center of the country and home to organizations supportive of their work, checked their boxes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spallitta adds that Human Plant Solutions also has partnerships with the National Science Foundation, University of Missouri, and Synergy Prosthetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Hemp Fiber Becomes a Prosthetic <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHemp yarn is derived from the long fibers of the outer portion of the hemp stalk, called the bast. Once it\u2019s properly retted and processed (in Human Plant Solutions\u2019 case, from a source in China), the long fiber is woven into hemp yarn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Human Plant Solutions uses automated knitting equipment controlled by computerized technology to achieve precise and custom manufacturing of hemp yarn into a consistent product that meets industry standards. With the manufactured hemp material on hand, the next step is to create a mold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A patient\u2019s physician creates a cast of the patient\u2019s limb, called the test socket. This is the cast Trivisonno uses to create a positive model of the hemp socket\u2014the part of the prosthetic that the patient puts their residual limb into. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUsing this positive model, we add various layers of materials over the cast and compress layers under a vacuum,\u201d explains Spallitta. \u201cWe are using hemp as a plugin replacement for carbon or other conventional fibers used in the manufacturing process. We also manufacture devices from conventional materials or even combine the two.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After that, he says, a bio-resin is added on top to harden the mold in a process called lamination. When the mold is cured, it\u2019s removed from the cast and the edges are ground down until smooth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Human](\"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2022\/03\/image.png\")
Human Plant Solutions prosthetic leg \u00a9Human Plant Solutions<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHemp Versus Carbon<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSpallitta says he\u2019s found that hemp offers some advantages when compared with carbon fiber\u2014it\u2019s cheaper, sustainable, more elastic, and lighter than commonly used carbon fiber, with equal strength. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spallitta reports that he\u2019s received feedback from patients describing less redness and less irritation on their skin with sockets that include hemp compared to carbon fiber sockets. The other major benefit, he adds, is the durability of their hemp material when laminated correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor example, if you took a carbon device and you dropped it on the ground, it’s probably going to crack and start to delaminate,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen it delaminates, it’s going to splinter, so putting it back on is not going to be an option. When we finally got our [hemp prototype] to crack after I was jumping on it for a long period of time, \u2026 it stayed in its form. You see the crack in it, but you’re like, \u2018this still works!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carbon fiber also produces sharp and splintery airborne particles that are dangerous to breathe and are incredibly itchy for technicians, Spallitta says, while hemp doesn\u2019t appear to have those qualities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c[Hemp] is a very friendly material to work with because the particles kind of just drop to the ground, versus other materials that have very small particles, [where] when you start to grind them, they\u2019re just kind of like dust everywhere,\u201d Spallitta says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Making a Change<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nMarc Dunshee is a below-the-knee amputee who experienced the benefits of a prosthetic leg designed with a hemp socket after receiving Trivisonno\u2019s first 100% hemp prototype in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen I got it, it felt as strong as a carbon socket, but it was twice as thick,\u201d Dunshee says. \u201cWhich is a good thing because when they\u2019re thin, they end up cutting you\u2026it ends up feeling like a weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dunshee has since run multiple marathons and competed in an Iron Man competition using his hemp prosthetic. And five years later, he\u2019s still using it; however, when he shows it off to other amputees, opinions are split on the new material. \u201cAll the younger kids love it, but the older people are skeptical,\u201d he says, because to some folks, the idea of using a plant to create a hard prosthetic device seems unreal. \u201cThey think you\u2019re pulling a trick on them,\u201d Dunshee says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of a 100% hemp socket might be enticing to some, but Human Plant Solutions has a recommended \u201clayup\u201d or combination of materials it uses to make sockets, which includes hemp in combination with other conventional materials currently being used in the industry like carbon fiber or Kevlar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having different material options is important, Spallitta says, because every amputation is completely different. Because hemp is more flexible but just as durable as carbon fiber, it can be more comfortable for amputees over time. \u201cThere is swelling when [amputees] are moving around, and over time they get atrophy to their bones,\u201d Spallitta explains. \u201cThat’s why try to have a better-fitting device for the patient\u2014[to] prevent even the most minimal amount of swelling and protect the bone for as long as we can.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many patients who have chosen a device with hemp are usually very happy with it, Spallitta says. \u201cWe are getting amazing feedback from people choosing hemp right now from Veterans Affairs, which is really amazing,\u201d he adds. \u201cIt\u2019s great that we get to be in a space where we can offer it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To ensure its hemp yarn is ethically and sustainably sourced, Human Plant Solutions works with Colorado-based EnviroTextiles, a sustainable and organic textile and hemp fabric source. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through EnviroTextiles, Spallitta says the company gets majority of its hemp yarn from China, the leading hemp fiber producer in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working with a source like EnviroTextiles that\u2019s in tune with ethical hemp standards is essential to Human Plant Solutions\u2019 business, Spalliltta explains. \u201cI bought hemp from other sources, and it wasn’t hemp, it was flax or jute. It was hemp mixed with other materials,\u201d he says. \u201cSourcing 100% hemp yarn that is processed correctly took lots of time, but thanks to Barb Filippone at EnviroTextiles, we were able to have a direct connection with the factories in China.\u201d (Editor\u2019s note: Filippone is a member of the <\/em>Hemp Grower editorial advisory board.<\/em>) <\/p>\n\n\n\nOpportunities Ahead<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nEventually, Spallitta and Trivisonno hope to source hemp directly from the U.S.; however, they need to see a major improvement in the country\u2019s hemp infrastructure before that can happen. \u201c[A hemp] infrastructure is not cheap and cannot be done by just one group,\u201d Spallitta says, adding that it requires a community effort. \u201cIt’s very important that higher education institutes, states, governments, and businesses work together towards a common goal.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the meantime, Human Plant Solutions has a patent submission for a material product that offers an alternative to conventional prosthetic material, which is in the final application phase with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spallitta maintains that life-changing products like theirs will help keep the ball rolling in the hemp industry. \u201cWe wanted to use our company to show that we have applications [for] this plant that can do amazing things economically, and for humanity,\u201d Spallitta says. He adds that his goal for the company is to see it continue to grow and for the amputee community to utilize hemp and Human Plant Solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0\u201cIf the hemp community and the amputee community can work together, I think that is going to be a huge boost for everyone and for hemp in the United States,\u201d Spallitta adds. \u00a0\u201cIt really shows what we’re doing for sustainability and humanity.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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About the author<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hemp yarn is derived from the long fibers of the outer portion of the hemp stalk, called the bast. Once it\u2019s properly retted and processed (in Human Plant Solutions\u2019 case, from a source in China), the long fiber is woven into hemp yarn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Human Plant Solutions uses automated knitting equipment controlled by computerized technology to achieve precise and custom manufacturing of hemp yarn into a consistent product that meets industry standards. With the manufactured hemp material on hand, the next step is to create a mold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A patient\u2019s physician creates a cast of the patient\u2019s limb, called the test socket. This is the cast Trivisonno uses to create a positive model of the hemp socket\u2014the part of the prosthetic that the patient puts their residual limb into. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUsing this positive model, we add various layers of materials over the cast and compress layers under a vacuum,\u201d explains Spallitta. \u201cWe are using hemp as a plugin replacement for carbon or other conventional fibers used in the manufacturing process. We also manufacture devices from conventional materials or even combine the two.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After that, he says, a bio-resin is added on top to harden the mold in a process called lamination. When the mold is cured, it\u2019s removed from the cast and the edges are ground down until smooth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hemp Versus Carbon<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSpallitta says he\u2019s found that hemp offers some advantages when compared with carbon fiber\u2014it\u2019s cheaper, sustainable, more elastic, and lighter than commonly used carbon fiber, with equal strength. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spallitta reports that he\u2019s received feedback from patients describing less redness and less irritation on their skin with sockets that include hemp compared to carbon fiber sockets. The other major benefit, he adds, is the durability of their hemp material when laminated correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor example, if you took a carbon device and you dropped it on the ground, it’s probably going to crack and start to delaminate,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen it delaminates, it’s going to splinter, so putting it back on is not going to be an option. When we finally got our [hemp prototype] to crack after I was jumping on it for a long period of time, \u2026 it stayed in its form. You see the crack in it, but you’re like, \u2018this still works!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carbon fiber also produces sharp and splintery airborne particles that are dangerous to breathe and are incredibly itchy for technicians, Spallitta says, while hemp doesn\u2019t appear to have those qualities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c[Hemp] is a very friendly material to work with because the particles kind of just drop to the ground, versus other materials that have very small particles, [where] when you start to grind them, they\u2019re just kind of like dust everywhere,\u201d Spallitta says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Making a Change<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nMarc Dunshee is a below-the-knee amputee who experienced the benefits of a prosthetic leg designed with a hemp socket after receiving Trivisonno\u2019s first 100% hemp prototype in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen I got it, it felt as strong as a carbon socket, but it was twice as thick,\u201d Dunshee says. \u201cWhich is a good thing because when they\u2019re thin, they end up cutting you\u2026it ends up feeling like a weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dunshee has since run multiple marathons and competed in an Iron Man competition using his hemp prosthetic. And five years later, he\u2019s still using it; however, when he shows it off to other amputees, opinions are split on the new material. \u201cAll the younger kids love it, but the older people are skeptical,\u201d he says, because to some folks, the idea of using a plant to create a hard prosthetic device seems unreal. \u201cThey think you\u2019re pulling a trick on them,\u201d Dunshee says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of a 100% hemp socket might be enticing to some, but Human Plant Solutions has a recommended \u201clayup\u201d or combination of materials it uses to make sockets, which includes hemp in combination with other conventional materials currently being used in the industry like carbon fiber or Kevlar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having different material options is important, Spallitta says, because every amputation is completely different. Because hemp is more flexible but just as durable as carbon fiber, it can be more comfortable for amputees over time. \u201cThere is swelling when [amputees] are moving around, and over time they get atrophy to their bones,\u201d Spallitta explains. \u201cThat’s why try to have a better-fitting device for the patient\u2014[to] prevent even the most minimal amount of swelling and protect the bone for as long as we can.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many patients who have chosen a device with hemp are usually very happy with it, Spallitta says. \u201cWe are getting amazing feedback from people choosing hemp right now from Veterans Affairs, which is really amazing,\u201d he adds. \u201cIt\u2019s great that we get to be in a space where we can offer it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To ensure its hemp yarn is ethically and sustainably sourced, Human Plant Solutions works with Colorado-based EnviroTextiles, a sustainable and organic textile and hemp fabric source. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through EnviroTextiles, Spallitta says the company gets majority of its hemp yarn from China, the leading hemp fiber producer in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working with a source like EnviroTextiles that\u2019s in tune with ethical hemp standards is essential to Human Plant Solutions\u2019 business, Spalliltta explains. \u201cI bought hemp from other sources, and it wasn’t hemp, it was flax or jute. It was hemp mixed with other materials,\u201d he says. \u201cSourcing 100% hemp yarn that is processed correctly took lots of time, but thanks to Barb Filippone at EnviroTextiles, we were able to have a direct connection with the factories in China.\u201d (Editor\u2019s note: Filippone is a member of the <\/em>Hemp Grower editorial advisory board.<\/em>) <\/p>\n\n\n\nOpportunities Ahead<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nEventually, Spallitta and Trivisonno hope to source hemp directly from the U.S.; however, they need to see a major improvement in the country\u2019s hemp infrastructure before that can happen. \u201c[A hemp] infrastructure is not cheap and cannot be done by just one group,\u201d Spallitta says, adding that it requires a community effort. \u201cIt’s very important that higher education institutes, states, governments, and businesses work together towards a common goal.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the meantime, Human Plant Solutions has a patent submission for a material product that offers an alternative to conventional prosthetic material, which is in the final application phase with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spallitta maintains that life-changing products like theirs will help keep the ball rolling in the hemp industry. \u201cWe wanted to use our company to show that we have applications [for] this plant that can do amazing things economically, and for humanity,\u201d Spallitta says. He adds that his goal for the company is to see it continue to grow and for the amputee community to utilize hemp and Human Plant Solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0\u201cIf the hemp community and the amputee community can work together, I think that is going to be a huge boost for everyone and for hemp in the United States,\u201d Spallitta adds. \u00a0\u201cIt really shows what we’re doing for sustainability and humanity.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About the author<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marc Dunshee is a below-the-knee amputee who experienced the benefits of a prosthetic leg designed with a hemp socket after receiving Trivisonno\u2019s first 100% hemp prototype in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen I got it, it felt as strong as a carbon socket, but it was twice as thick,\u201d Dunshee says. \u201cWhich is a good thing because when they\u2019re thin, they end up cutting you\u2026it ends up feeling like a weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dunshee has since run multiple marathons and competed in an Iron Man competition using his hemp prosthetic. And five years later, he\u2019s still using it; however, when he shows it off to other amputees, opinions are split on the new material. \u201cAll the younger kids love it, but the older people are skeptical,\u201d he says, because to some folks, the idea of using a plant to create a hard prosthetic device seems unreal. \u201cThey think you\u2019re pulling a trick on them,\u201d Dunshee says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea of a 100% hemp socket might be enticing to some, but Human Plant Solutions has a recommended \u201clayup\u201d or combination of materials it uses to make sockets, which includes hemp in combination with other conventional materials currently being used in the industry like carbon fiber or Kevlar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having different material options is important, Spallitta says, because every amputation is completely different. Because hemp is more flexible but just as durable as carbon fiber, it can be more comfortable for amputees over time. \u201cThere is swelling when [amputees] are moving around, and over time they get atrophy to their bones,\u201d Spallitta explains. \u201cThat’s why try to have a better-fitting device for the patient\u2014[to] prevent even the most minimal amount of swelling and protect the bone for as long as we can.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many patients who have chosen a device with hemp are usually very happy with it, Spallitta says. \u201cWe are getting amazing feedback from people choosing hemp right now from Veterans Affairs, which is really amazing,\u201d he adds. \u201cIt\u2019s great that we get to be in a space where we can offer it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To ensure its hemp yarn is ethically and sustainably sourced, Human Plant Solutions works with Colorado-based EnviroTextiles, a sustainable and organic textile and hemp fabric source. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through EnviroTextiles, Spallitta says the company gets majority of its hemp yarn from China, the leading hemp fiber producer in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working with a source like EnviroTextiles that\u2019s in tune with ethical hemp standards is essential to Human Plant Solutions\u2019 business, Spalliltta explains. \u201cI bought hemp from other sources, and it wasn’t hemp, it was flax or jute. It was hemp mixed with other materials,\u201d he says. \u201cSourcing 100% hemp yarn that is processed correctly took lots of time, but thanks to Barb Filippone at EnviroTextiles, we were able to have a direct connection with the factories in China.\u201d (Editor\u2019s note: Filippone is a member of the <\/em>Hemp Grower editorial advisory board.<\/em>) <\/p>\n\n\n\n Eventually, Spallitta and Trivisonno hope to source hemp directly from the U.S.; however, they need to see a major improvement in the country\u2019s hemp infrastructure before that can happen. \u201c[A hemp] infrastructure is not cheap and cannot be done by just one group,\u201d Spallitta says, adding that it requires a community effort. \u201cIt’s very important that higher education institutes, states, governments, and businesses work together towards a common goal.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the meantime, Human Plant Solutions has a patent submission for a material product that offers an alternative to conventional prosthetic material, which is in the final application phase with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Spallitta maintains that life-changing products like theirs will help keep the ball rolling in the hemp industry. \u201cWe wanted to use our company to show that we have applications [for] this plant that can do amazing things economically, and for humanity,\u201d Spallitta says. He adds that his goal for the company is to see it continue to grow and for the amputee community to utilize hemp and Human Plant Solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0\u201cIf the hemp community and the amputee community can work together, I think that is going to be a huge boost for everyone and for hemp in the United States,\u201d Spallitta adds. \u00a0\u201cIt really shows what we’re doing for sustainability and humanity.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n About the author<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nOpportunities Ahead<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n