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Open Bionics

Open Bionics is a UK-based company that develops low-cost, 3D printed bionic arms for amputees with below elbow amputations (more formally known as myoelectric prostheses). Their bionic arms are fully functional with lights, bio feedback vibrations and different functions that allow the user to grab, pinch, high-five, fist bump and thumbs-up. The company is based inside Future Space, co-located with Bristol Robotics Laboratory.[1] The company was founded in 2014 by Joel Gibbard MBE and Samantha Payne MBE.[2]

Open Bionics
Company typePrivate company
IndustryMedical devices, healthcare
Headquarters
Bristol
,
United Kingdom
Key people
Products3D printed bionic prosthetics
Websitewww.openbionics.com

In 2020 Joel Gibbard and Samantha Payne were awarded MBEs for their services to Innovation, Engineering, and Technology.

A 3D printed Star Wars bionic hand by Open Bionics in collaboration with ILM XLab.

History

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Open Bionics grew out of the Open Hand project created by Joel Gibbard after studying robotics at the University of Plymouth.[3] The project aimed to use 3D printing to create hand prostheses. Samantha Payne had interviewed him as a reporter in Bristol covering social impact stories and was keen to have a social impact herself. They founded Open Bionics together in 2014.[2]

In 2018 they were named as the Hottest Startup Founders in Europe at the Europa Awards.[4]

In late 2023, Open Bionics expanded their clinical presence in the United States, with clinics located in Denver, Los Angeles, Orlando, and New York City. [5]

Product

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The first product, the Hero Arm, was differentiated not only by its relatively low price given the functionality, but also by making a bold positive feature of the artificial arm, rather than disguising it to look like a natural body part.[2] Each arm is 3D printed to the user's specific measurements and muscle sensors control servo-actuated movement of the fingers. Key features include 6 different grip types, 180 degree wrist rotation, magnetically attached swappable decorative covers, adjustable fit to compensate for limb expansion (e.g. with temperature), and a ventilated liner.[6] Users have access to a Sidekick App developed by Calvium with interactive training guides and personalisation controls.[7]

Partnerships

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In 2015, Disney and Open Bionics announced a partnership to create superhero-themed prosthetics for young amputees.[8] In the same year, the company won the 2015 James Dyson Award in the UK for innovative engineering [9][10] and Tech4Good's 2015 Accessibility Award.[11][12] In 2016, it won a Bloomberg Business Innovators award.[13][14]

In January 2019, James Cameron and 20th Century Fox partnered with Open Bionics to give 13-year-old double amputee Tilly Lockey a pair of Alita-inspired bionic Hero Arms for the London premiere of Alita: Battle Angel.[15] Lockey lost both of her hands when she contracted meningococcal septicemia at 15 months of age.[16]

In 2020, Open Bionics partnered with gaming company Konami to create 'Venom Snake' Hero Arm covers, which are featured in the 2015 video game Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.[17]

In 2023, Open Bionics collaborated with Ukraine charity Superhumans Center to fit Ukrainian soldiers with bionic Hero Arms as a result of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine[18]

Funding

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In January 2019, Open Bionics raised Series A funding of $5.9 million.[19][20] The round was led by Foresight Williams Technology EIS Fund, Ananda Impact Ventures and Downing Ventures, with participation from F1's Williams Advanced Engineering Group among others.[21][22]

References

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  1. ^ "Future Space Case Studies - Open Bionics". www.brl.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Ward, Chris (5 April 2023). "South West Business Leader of the Month: Pioneers for the Bionic Age: Samantha Payne". Insider Media. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  3. ^ Solon, Olivia. "Open Hand Project makes robotic prosthetics much more accessible". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  4. ^ Butcher, Mike (4 July 2018). "The Winners of The Europas Awards 2018 show Europe's startup power". TechCrunch. Award 22. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Visit an Open Bionics Prosthetics Clinic Near You!".
  6. ^ "The Hero Arm Overview is a Prosthetic Arm Made by Open Bionics". Open Bionics. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Open Bionics - Calvium". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Open Bionics and Disney release Star Wars, Iron Man and Frozen themed prosthetics". Wired UK. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  9. ^ "Open Bionics 3D-printed robotic hand wins Dyson Award". Wired UK. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Open Bionics robotic hand for amputees wins Dyson Award". BBC News. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Winners 2015 - Tech4Good Awards". Tech4Good Awards. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  12. ^ Balch, Oliver (31 July 2015). "A bionic hand in five days: how tech innovation is changing lives". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Open Bionics - Bloomberg Business Innovators". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  14. ^ "Open Bionics: Diese neuen Armprothesen machen aus Kindern Superhelden". MobileGeeks Deutschland (in German). 1 October 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Man Born Without Arm Given Bionic Limb Inspired By Metal Gear Solid". www.unilad.co.uk. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Alita: Battle Angel Bionic Arms For Tilly". Open Bionics. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  17. ^ "Gamer born without a hand gets Metal Gear Solid Venom Snake bionic arm". MSN. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Ukraine war: 'I'm going back to the frontline with my bionic arm'". BBC News. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  19. ^ "Open Bionics closes $5.9M Series A for its affordable and cool bionic limbs". TechCrunch. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Open Bionics raises $5.9 million to make affordable 3D printed bionic limbs". 3D Printing Industry. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  21. ^ Cook, James (4 October 2019). "Tej Kohli: The Indian tech billionaire who plans to turbocharge Britain's start-up scene". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  22. ^ Baker, Hannah (15 January 2019). "Bristol 'superhero' arm-making company lands multi-million deal". BristolLive. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
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