Ernesto Schiapella

Argentinian inventor creating affordable prosthetics from recycled materials

Ernesto Schiapella (ProtesisX CEO) disrupted medical tech by developing $23 prosthetic limbs from e-waste. His "Phantom Limb" technology uses 3D-printed socket adapters from recycled printers, benefiting 12,000+ amputees across Latin America since 2018 (WHO 2022 report).

The Modular Prosthetic System allows users to upgrade components through bionic marketplaces. Schiapella's open-source designs are translated into 9 indigenous languages. Partnering with Brazil's waste picker cooperatives, his Lima-based factory recycles 4.7 tons of e-waste monthly while training disabled assemblers.