Throughout the history of the global prosthetics and orthotics (O&P) industry, Hanger has been a highly representative company.
From a single individual’s pursuit of prosthetic solutions inspired by his own amputation experience in the 19th century, to today’s comprehensive business structure covering patient care, products and services, research, and education, Hanger’s development has spanned more than a century and witnessed the continuous evolution of modern prosthetic and orthotic technologies.
Today, Hanger has established a business framework centered around Patient Care and Products & Services, providing products and services to patients, clinical professionals, and the broader O&P community through its various business units.
 
Beginning with Personal Experience: The Journey of Prosthetic Innovation
The history of Hanger can be traced back to 1861.
Hanger’s founder, James Edward Hanger (J.E. Hanger), was a young engineering student. During the American Civil War, he suffered a severe leg injury in battle and underwent amputation. After returning home, he began exploring new approaches to prosthetic design.
In November 1861, he first used the prosthesis he had created himself. Inspired by his own experience, he hoped to help more people living with limb loss and continued to dedicate himself to this mission.
Starting from the founder’s personal journey, Hanger gradually developed into the O&P company it is today. According to Hanger’s official information, the company’s history has closely followed the advancement of prosthetic technologies, including developments in microprocessor technology, carbon fiber materials, accelerometers, robotics, and advanced socket materials.
With more than 165 years of development, Hanger’s history has become closely connected with the evolution of the modern prosthetics and orthotics industry.
 
From Patient Care to Products & Services
Today, Hanger has developed a comprehensive business structure.
Within its Patient Care business segment, Hanger Clinic provides prosthetic and orthotic clinical services for patients of different ages. According to Hanger’s official information, Hanger Clinic currently operates more than 925 locations across the United States, supported by a team of approximately 1,800 certified clinical professionals. Its services cover prosthetics, upper and lower limb orthotics, pediatric care, and other related orthotic solutions.
Meanwhile, Hanger’s Products & Services business serves the broader O&P professional community.
This segment includes several businesses with different areas of expertise, including SPS, Fillauer, Coapt, Point Designs, Surestep, O&P Insight, Hanger Fabrication Network, and SureFit.
Each business focuses on different areas, including product manufacturing, product distribution, custom fabrication, consulting services, and related technologies. Together, they form Hanger’s comprehensive product and service ecosystem for the O&P industry.
 
 
SPS: Connecting Products with O&P Clinical Practice
Within Hanger’s Products & Services portfolio, SPS is an important component.
SPS, short for Southern Prosthetic Supply, primarily provides products and related services to the independent O&P community. Hanger officially describes SPS as a distributor of O&P products and components.
For O&P professionals, product availability is an essential foundation of clinical practice. From prosthetic feet, knee components, and liners to orthotic products, components, and related supplies, clinicians need access to a wide range of products from different brands with different functions and applications.
SPS’s business is built around addressing these needs.
According to SPS’s official information, its product portfolio includes more than 400,000 O&P products, and it supports independent O&P clinics through product ordering, distribution, education, and customer support services.
Within Hanger’s overall business structure, SPS extends Hanger’s reach beyond direct patient care into the broader O&P professional community.
 
 
Fillauer: An Important Part of Manufacturing and Innovation
In addition to SPS, Fillauer is another important member of Hanger’s Products & Services business.
In February 2024, Hanger officially completed the acquisition of Fillauer. According to Hanger’s official announcement, Fillauer joined Hanger’s Products & Services segment while continuing to operate under its own brand and retain its leadership team and existing employees.
Fillauer has long focused on the design, manufacturing, and innovation of O&P products, with extensive industry experience in prosthetics, orthotics, and related products.
Hanger’s acquisition of Fillauer further expanded its capabilities in O&P product manufacturing and research and development, allowing its business portfolio to extend beyond clinical services into product development and manufacturing.
 
From Upper Limb Bionic Technology to Partial Hand Prostheses
Hanger’s Products & Services portfolio also includes businesses specializing in specific areas of technology.
For example, Coapt focuses on upper limb prosthetic control technology. Based on research in bionics and engineering, its technology provides more personalized control solutions for upper limb prosthesis users.
Point Designs, meanwhile, focuses on the partial hand amputation field. By applying engineering technologies to the development of prosthetic fingers, the company provides functional restoration solutions for people with partial hand amputations.
Hanger currently also integrates technologies from Coapt, Fillauer, and Point Designs through Upper Limb Integrated Solutions, connecting upper limb products, educational resources, and clinical expertise from these businesses to provide clinical professionals with a more comprehensive portfolio of upper limb solutions.
This also reflects one aspect of Hanger’s current business development: rather than focusing solely on individual products, the company seeks to connect technologies and products across different areas of expertise.
 
Driven by Clinical Outcomes and Industry Development
In addition to patient care and productrelated businesses, Hanger also operates the Hanger Institute for Clinical Research and Education, which is dedicated to advancing evidencebased clinical practice, research, and professional education.
For the O&P industry, product technologies ultimately need to address patients’ realworld needs. Clinical outcomes, functional performance, and patient experience have therefore become important references for the development of products and technologies.
Hanger’s business structure has evolved beyond traditional prosthetic manufacturing or clinical services. It now encompasses multiple areas, including patient care, product development and manufacturing, product distribution, clinical education, and research.
 
International Exchange Across Borders
In terms of international industry exchange, Yoband Prosthetics & Orthotics Group has also had the opportunity to engage with Hanger.
Yoband’s CEO previously visited Hanger and exchanged views with relevant personnel on the U.S. O&P industry and business development.
This interaction was an exchange focused on the industry and mutual learning.
For the O&P industry, different countries and regions have their own characteristics in terms of clinical models, product development, business operations, and industry development. International exchanges provide industry professionals with an opportunity to better understand developments in different markets and gain insight into global O&P trends.
 
More Than a Century Later, Innovation Continues
From J.E. Hanger’s exploration of prosthetic solutions following his own amputation in 1861, to today’s two major business segments of Patient Care and Products & Services, Hanger’s development has spanned more than 165 years.
Today, from Hanger Clinic’s clinical services to SPS’s product distribution; from Fillauer’s O&P product manufacturing and innovation to Coapt and Point Designs’ exploration of technologies in the field of upper limb prosthetics, Hanger is building an O&P business ecosystem that covers multiple areas of professional expertise through its various businesses.
More than a century of history has given Hanger extensive industry experience, while continuously developing technologies and changing patient needs continue to encourage the company to explore new directions.
For the prosthetics and orthotics industry as a whole, from products to clinical care and from technology to services, the ultimate focus remains on developing solutions that better meet the realworld needs of users.
Spanning more than a century, Hanger’s story began with a prosthesis and continues to evolve alongside the development of the global O&P industry.