Carl Caspers, CPO, often recognized as the father of vacuum suspension for prosthetic devices, passed away June 10. He was 82 years old.
Caspers was born in Minneapolis and lost his leg in an accident at the end of his senior year in high school, an event that inspired him to go to Northwestern University to become a CPO. He began his practice in St. Paul, Minnesota, and later moved to Montana to start another O&P practice before returning to St. Cloud, Minnesota, and founding Northwestern Artificial Limb & Brace and TEC Interface Systems.
Caspers had 18 patents for prosthetic liners, suspension sleeves, and post-operative and volume-management products, as well as technology for the prosthetic industry. He co-authored a book with Glenn Street, MD, In Pursuit of Socket Harmony.
Caspers received many awards throughout his O&P career: In 1995, Caspers and his partner Scott Schneider were the St. Cloud and Minnesota Small Business of the Year winners. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 from the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association, and the Titus Ferguson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 from the American Academy of Orthotic and Prosthetic Association.
He is survived by his wife, Barb; children, grandchildren, and siblings, along with many other family members and friends.
