Össur Kristinsson passed away on Tuesday, February 6. He was 81.
Kristinsson was born with a congenital transtibial limb difference and went on to become a certified prosthetist orthotist in Sweden. In 1971, he founded an O&P Clinic in Reykjavik, Iceland, which is still in operation. Today, Össur operates in 36 countries worldwide and employs more than 4,000 people.
Among his many award-winning accomplishments as founder, inventor, and prosthetist, is the invention of Iceross, the world’s first silicone liner, and early versions of what is now the Össur direct socket. The Iceross silicone liner received its first global patent in 1986 and became the standard of care for limb comfort and socket suspension. He also received the Lifetime Achievement award from the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) in 2023.
“His entrepreneurial spirit remains in our DNA to this day and we will proudly keep his legacy alive. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones,” the company said on LinkedIn.
Kristinsson had also harbored an interest in boats and boat design from a young age. In 2005, he left Össur and established Rafnar, partly to develop a unique hull-and-keel boat design capable of significantly reducing wave slamming and providing better seakeeping performance. Development of the patented hull took ten years and involved extensive cooperation with the Icelandic Coast Guard and Icelandic Search and Rescue Association.
Kristinsson was married to Björg Rafnar, a virologist, until her passing in 2017. He is survived by two children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
