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About Us

I have returned back to work and without the digits it wouldn't be possible. So your company is a life changing company. And me and my family appreciate the work you guys do for people who are amputees.

- Thaddrick (Sapp), four Point Digits

Point Designs was founded by researchers in the field of upper limb prosthetic design from the Biomechatronics Development Laboratory at the University of Colorado. Professors Richard Weir and Jacob Segil have decades of research experience spanning neural interfaces, myoelectric control algorithms, and upper limb prosthetic design. 

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Along with co-founders Dr. Levin Sliker and Stephen Huddle, the Point Designs team continues to advance the field of partial hand prosthetic design with expertise in additive manufacturing, mechanical design, and clinical care.  We are a group of dedicated and passionate individuals working together to improve the lives of the people we serve.

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Our Team

Levin Sliker is the CEO and Co-Founder of Point Designs, a manufacturer of highly functional and durable prosthetic fingers for people with partial hand amputations. Levin Sliker received his PhD, MS, and BS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder. He was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship during 2010-2013 to attend graduate school. During 2013-2014, he worked at the BioRobotics Institute in Pisa, Italy as a Fulbright and Whitaker Fellow where he developed robotic capsule endoscopes. In 2015, Levin started working in the assistive technology field as research faculty in the Bioengineering Department at the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus. His career interests focused on prosthetics after spinning off Point Designs with colleagues Dr. Richard Weir, Dr. Jacob Segil, and Mr. Stephen Huddle. In his free-time, he enjoys spending time with his family on the river or somewhere else in nature.
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Levin Sliker, PhD

CEO & Co-founder
Ben Pulver is the Director of Product Development for Point Designs, a manufacturer of highly functional and durable prosthetic fingers for people with partial hand amputations. Ben received his BS from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in biomedical engineering and his MS in bioengineering from the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, where he connected with Dr. Richard Weir and was first introduced to Point Designs. He's worked in upper limb prosthetics and orthotics research and product development since 2016, doing everything from component manufacturing and assembly to design and simulation. Outside the office, you can most likely find him out in the mountains of Colorado hiking and backpacking or at home playing board games with friends and family.
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Ben Pulver, MS

Director of Product Development
Susan Waruinge is the Director of Operations at Point Designs. She received her BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado Denver. She started her career working in manufacturing engineering for a medical device company and later on in the defense industry. Susan joined Point Designs in 2020 as a manufacturing engineer with a desire to return to the medical device industry. As the company grew, she moved into her current role as the Director of Operations. In her free time Susan enjoys running and spending time with family.
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Susan Waruinge

Director of Operations
Barath Murali received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, where he was actively involved in rehabilitation engineering research with faculty on campus and at the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus. After graduation, he was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship to pursue graduate school at Rice University. After receiving his MS in Mechanical Engineering, he joined the engineering team at Point Designs. Outside of the office, he enjoys Nordic skiing during the winter months, playing guitar, and spending time with his Labrador Retriever.
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Barath Murali, MS

Mechanical Engineer
Drake Taylor is an R&D Engineer at Point Designs. Drake received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama and his MS, also in Mechanical Engineering, from the University of Denver. Throughout his college career, he developed an interest in robotics while competing in the NASA Robotic Mining Competition, being part of the winning team two years in a row. Drake also gained a love for rock climbing at the same time, helping guide his career to develop durable prosthetic fingers.
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Drake Taylor, MS

Mechanical Engineer
Tom Noë is an Engineer at Point Designs. Tom received his BS in Industrial Design and MS in Biomedical Engineering from the Delft University of Technology. Following an internship at the Biomechatronics lab at the University of Colorado Denver under Dr. Richard Weir, Tom started working freelance for Point Designs as an independent contractor. In 2023 he joined Point Designs as a permanent employee. Working from the Netherlands, Tom enjoys developing products with real life impact. In his free-time, he likes to spend time tinkering with personal projects and traveling.
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Tom Noe

Mechanical Engineer
Serena Kishek is an R&D Engineer at Point Designs. Serena received his BS in Bioengineering from the University of Colorado, Denver. She is pursuing her MS, in Mechanical Engineering, from Colorado School of Mines. She has been passionate about prosthetics since her early college career and has developed an interest in robotics from her time in grad school. Serena also enjoys reading, yoga, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
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Serena Kishek

Technical Solutions Engineer

While studying materials science and engineering at North Carolina State University, Griffin became interested in the potential applications of 3D printing and low cost manufacturing. This led him and a few other classmates to create the North Carolina State University chapter of The Helping Hand Project, a non-profit dedicated to providing free recreational prosthetic devices to children in need. 

After graduating, Griffin was accepted into the Venture for America fellowship, a nonprofit two-year fellowship program that gives recent college graduates startup experiences that help them become leaders who make meaningful impacts with their careers. Through this fellowship, Griffin was connected with Point Designs in 2020. Griffin is passionate about making an impact with the work that he does, and is a firm believer in pursuing your passions and pushing boundaries to create positive change. In his off time, you can find Griffin skateboarding, snowboarding, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors.

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Griffin Drye

Marketing Lead
During a successful career as a manufacturer's representative in the golf industry, Mike became increasingly curious about breakthrough innovations in upper limb prosthetics. After nine months of reading countless stories of successful outcomes, Mike switched careers and became an award-winning sales representative working with medical professionals in the prosthetics industry. To continue his career growth, Mike earned his master’s degree in marketing and communications while working full-time in various sales and marketing leadership roles.

Mike is an active member of the limb loss community. After losing his arm to cancer at 14-years-old, he represented the United States in alpine skiing at the Paralympic Winter Games in Innsbruck Austria, and he won two One-Arm World Golf Championships in the United Kingdom. He provides peer support to people impacted by limb loss/limb difference and he enjoys recreational skiing and golfing with his wife and two children.

Mike works from home in Scituate Massachusetts and currently develops and implements Point Designs’ short- and long-term growth strategies.
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Mike Benning

Sales and Marketing Strategist
Paul Gilbert is the Head of Business Development at Point Designs, responsible for the Eastern US. Paul received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and also attended the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. He started his nearly 25 year sales career in the Prosthetic industry in 1997 with Ottobock, and has been with Point Designs since 2019. In his down time, Paul enjoys spending time with his family, hiking with his 2 dogs, working on home renovation projects, and is a huge fan of the Green Bay Packers.
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Paul Gilbert

Head of Business Development  East Region
Jason Vardeman is a dedicated professional known for his expertise in sales/business development and his passion for solving customer pain points.  Jason has spent the last 6+ years making a significant impact in the upper limb prosthetics field and has developed a keen understanding of market trends which have played a pivotal role in driving growth for various organizations.  

Whether he's crafting innovative business strategies or working directly with clients to uncover solutions, Jason Vardeman's commitment to addressing customer pain points has made him a respected leader in the business development arena.

Beyond his workspace, Jason is a devoted father to his 7-year-old son, Easton.  Jason’s commitment to community shines through his volunteer efforts, which include serving on his neighborhood Homeowners Association Board of Directors and taking on the role of Little League Baseball Head Coach for his son’s team– helping to shape not only the future of businesses but also the lives of young athletes.

In his well-earned moments of downtime, Jason finds joy in hanging out in his neighborhood pool, bass fishing, and cruising around the neighborhood trails in his Can-Am UTV alongside friends. 
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Jason Vardeman

Head of Business Development  West Region

After receiving a BS in Business Computer Systems from Adams State University, Ely moved to Denver in 1998. Ely has been in the manufacturing and production industry ever since. Ely is currently the Lead Production technician at Point Designs, a design and manufacturer of titanium prosthetic fingers. Ely really enjoys his work and gets a sense of fulfillment, knowing that he is making a positive impact in someone's life. Ely enjoys golfing, model building, tinkering in his garage, spending time with his 2 cats and family, and working on his vehicles.

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Ely Quintana

Lead Production Technician
Troy has 30 years of fabrication experience. 12 of those have been in the O&P industry. When he’s not working he likes to watch Looney Tunes, jog, fly kites and relax at the lake.
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Troy Pomeroy

Production Technician
Jim’s career started his junior year of high school with VoTech machine shop course (1972 -1973) which involved approximately five hours a day of mechanical drawing. He started his professional work in 1973 and has been a prototype/job shop machinist for the last 50 years. Jim enjoys the challenge of finding solutions to problems. Jim is very proud of the craftsmanship that he brings to Point Designs.
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Jim Stenzel

Prototype Machinist 
Shannon Baschuk has a bachelor of science in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of Utah. She has over four years of experience as a prosthetic technician and works with silicone materials to create custom interfaces for partial hand prostheses. Shannon enjoys traveling with her husband and kids, spending time outdoors hiking and visiting national parks, exploring new places, jogging, and cycling in her spare time. 
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Shannon Baschuk

Fabrication Lab Manager
An advocate for the transformative power of additive manufacturing in upper limb prosthetics, Chris Baschuk, MPO, CPO, FAAOP(D), brings a pioneering approach to the field. Serving as the Director of Clinical Services for Point Designs, LLC, he is at the forefront of integrating the revolutionary capabilities of additive manufacturing and silicone customization into the design and implementation of prosthetic solutions for individuals with partial hand and finger differences. Chris's educational foundation is rooted at the University of Utah, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and the designation as an undergraduate research scholar for his contributions in the study of osseointegration for prosthetic applications. He is an alumnus of UT Southwestern Medical Center, where he earned his Master of Prosthetics and Orthotics.  He completed both his residency in prosthetics and orthotics at Kootenai Prosthetics and Orthotics in Post Falls, ID. His excellence and commitment to the profession, serving as the Chair of the Upper Limb Prosthetics Society since 2017 as well as volunteering in other capacities, have earned him the prestigious honor of Fellow with Distinction from the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists. He is a past recipient of the NCOPE Larry Lange Travel Fellowship,  The OPERF Fellowship Award,  and the OPERF Student Award.  As a testament to his influence, Chris has delivered lectures at eminent institutions and conferences globally on topics related to upper limb prosthetic rehabilitation.  Chris's multidimensional impact on the field is also evident in his scholarly pursuits; he has authored multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts that grace the pages of diverse scientific journals.  Furthermore, Chris's commitment to his profession goes beyond academic and clinical endeavors. He is a fervent advocate for prosthetic rehabilitation, especially for individuals with upper limb loss or differences. Through his volunteer work with the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, he channels his expertise and passion into the preservation and enhancement of access to prosthetic rehabilitation, ensuring that those in need can live their lives to the fullest potential.  Chris's endeavors are buoyed by the loving support of his wife, Shannon, and their growing family, currently of four and soon-to-be five children. Together, they make their home in Centerville, UT, where they celebrate life's milestones and cherish everyday moments between swinging hammers and rolling paint as they continuously remodel their house.
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Chris Baschuk, MPO, CPO

Director of Clinical Services
Bekah Stephens is a multimedia artist who graduated with a Bachelors from Broward College. She is currently working with silicone in the creation process for hand prosthetics, combining her artistic skills and passion for helping others. She loves to read and travel with her family, which inspires her creative projects.
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Rebekah Stephens

Fabrication Technician 
Athena Perkins is a multimedia artist with a Bachelor of Science in Media Arts from AISLC. During the past eight years, she has devoted most of her time to designing anatomical models for additive manufacturing. This gave her a unique understanding of the challenges and opportunities in designing prosthetics to fit the needs of each individual. In her spare time, she enjoys camping and fishing with her family.
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Athena Perkins

Digital Prosthetic Designer
Lisa Jarko is the Administrative Assistant at the Colorado Main Office, in support of Headquarters staff. She has worked in the medical and administrative field for several years and is a focused and enthusiastic addition to the team. In her free-time, she can be found up in the mountains spending time with her family and friends.
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Lisa Jarko

Administrative Assistant

Advisory Board

Richard F. ff. Weir, PhD, is President and Co-Founder of Point Designs, a manufacturer of functional yet durable prosthetic options for persons with partial hand amputations. Dr. Weir also directs the Biomechatronics Development Laboratory at CU Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus and holds a Research Career Scientist appointment at the VA. Dr. Weir has been in the field of Prosthesis design and Rehabilitation Research for over 30 years. Dr. Weir was the Founding director of the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. Biomechatronics Development Lab. as well as a former instructor at NUPOC where he completed the UL and TT components of the prosthetist's training and was also National Director of Research at Arm Dynamics for 2 years. Richard received his BAI in Microelectronics and Electrical engineering and BA in Mathematics from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland in 1983, and worked in industry in England as a control engineer automating dairies and breweries before moving to the USA to get his MS and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University (Evanston IL) under the mentorship of Dr. Dudley Childress. Richard's research has been focused on the development of advanced prosthetic systems for individuals with limb loss. His research covers all aspects of the problem ranging from neural control and sensing, mechatronic design and development, novel actuator technologies, as well as clinical deployment of these systems. He and his team have led or been involved with some of the most important upper-limb prosthetics development initiatives of the past few decades such as the the prosthetic arm systems built under both DARPA Revolutionizing Prosthetics initiatives [RP2007 & RP2009]; the Implantable Myoelectric Sensor (IMES) system for control of prosthetic systems that underwent first-in-human trials at Walter Reed Medical Center; and most recently, he and his lab. have been exploring novel ways of using optogenetics to non-invasively optically couple with the peripheral nervous system with the goal of providing enhanced prosthesis sensory feedback and control to users with limb loss. While also developing robust mechatronic artificial finger replacements using our expertise in 3D metal printing to fabricate high strength small parts which resulted in spinning out Point Designs with partners Dr. Levin Sliker, Dr. Jacob Segil, and Mr. Stephen Huddle.
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Richard Weir, PhD

Co-founder
Jacob Segil, Ph.D. is the Co-founder of Point Designs LLC and a member of the Advisory Board.  His career focuses on blurring the lines between humans and machines through prosthetic limb design, neural interfaces, and sensory perception.  He works across academia and early-stage ventures as a researcher, inventor, founder, and operator.  
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Jacob Segil, PhD

Co-founder
Stephen Huddle is a Co-Founder, advisor, and board member of Point Designs. Stephen Huddle received his MS degree with a bioengineering emphasis and BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Since 2013 Stephen has worked as a Senior Professional Research Assistant in the Bioengineering Department of the University of Colorado, Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus under Dr. Richard Weir. Stephen’s focus has been on the design and manufacture of upper limb prosthesis, including the first Point Digit, using cutting edge manufacturing techniques. In 2016 Stephen, along with Dr. Richard Weir, Dr. Jacob Segil, and Dr. Levin Sliker started Point Designs, to move the designs Stephen developed in Dr. Weir’s lab at CU Denver into the marketplace. Stephen enjoys time with his wife Tammie and his energetic twin girls.
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Stephen Huddle, MS

Co-founder
Rahul Kaliki is the Chief Executive Officer of Infinite Biomedical Technologies, a spin-off of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland that is dedicated to commercializing innovative control interfaces and machine learning algorithms for upper limb prostheses control. Dr. Kaliki received his PhD and MS degrees in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Southern California, where he worked on a control strategy for upper limb prostheses based on artificial neural networks. He has been the CEO of IBT since 2011. At IBT he has successfully commercialized four products that have been sold globally to thousands of patients. In addition to his position at IBT, Dr. Kaliki is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where he manages graduate student research projects related to upper limb prostheses. As Board Member at Point designs, he is excited to help Point Designs push the boundaries of partial hand prosthetic technologies even further.
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Rahul Kaliki, PhD

Strategic Advisor

Dr. Natarajan is a physician and engineer who specializes in utilization of advanced technology to solve pressing clinical problems.  He founded Infinite Biomedical Technologies (IBT) in 1997 and served as the Chief Executive Officer of the company for over ten years.

                
IBT has been involved in launching several related companies, including a healthcare information technology company. Vigilant Medical provides medical image sharing for clients, which have included four of the “Top 10 Heart Hospitals” as ranked by U.S. News and World Report. Over 40,000 patients per year are cared for using the Vigilant system.
 
IBT has developed dexterous prosthetic technology for upper limb amputees, including a machine learning control system, flexible batteries, and advanced electrodes. Over 4,000 amputees in 37 countries are currently using one or more components of this system. Ananth has also been an active angel investor and helped fund over a dozen early-stage technology companies, including Vaxart (NASDAQ: VXRT).

Ananth received the TR35 award from Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Technology Review and the Duke University Engineering Distinguished Young Alumnus Award. He has been featured in the Red Herring magazine in a cover story as one of “5 Technology Innovators Changing the World.”  He is a member of the California Club, the Athenaeum, and the Economic Round Table (Past-President). 
 
He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board for Infinite Biomedical Technologies, Point Designs, and Vigilant Medical, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Wine and Food Society of the Americas. In the past he has served on the Boards of the Caltech Associates (Past President), the Duke University Biomedical Engineering Advisory Board, HIVE Lighting, Innovate Pasadena, the Pasadena Angels, and the Pasadena Symphony. He is also Past President of the Physicians’ Wine & Food Society. For over twenty years he has served as a Member or Chairman of various review panels for the National Institutes of Health. Currently, he is Chairman of the NIH Neurological Sciences and Disorders C panel (NSD-C), which is focused on neurotechnology, pain relief devices, and the BRAIN initiative.

Dr. Natarajan received his BSE in Biomedical Engineering and Electrical Engineering from Duke University (at age 18, with Distinction).  He received an MSE in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and his MD from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.  Additionally, he completed his residency training in Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Southern California, and he has held adjunct faculty appointments at both the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the USC Keck School of Medicine.

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Ananth Natarajan, MD

Medical Advisor