Our Inspiration
Tilly Lockey lost both her hands at age 15 months. But when you watch her videos, you don’t feel any sense of loss. What you see is a bright, happy teenager with unlimited potential.
Much of that is a credit to her and her family. But as she says in this video, having cool bionic arms helps.
Our Mission
The Bionic Revolution is here. It is already improving the lives of those who have lost physical or neurological abilities to accident, disease, or genetic disorders.
Our goal is to educate people about the latest bionic technologies available to them. We’re also trying to build public support for expanded insurance coverage to help pay for these solutions.
Key Resources
The following pages provide quick access to resources of special interest:
State of Bionic Technologies
Below-the-Elbow Arms/Hands
Much of the required technology is already on the market. There is also an explosion of new devices, which is finally helping to lower prices. We’re also seeing new financing options for the first time, with the ability to purchase with monthly payments.
But we still need expanded government and insurance coverage to give those with limb differences the technology they deserve.
Above-the-Elbow Arms/Hands
The core technology exists in laboratories or field trials. And there are a few above-the-elbow bionic arms commercially available. That’s the good news.
The main problem is high costs. The only ones who can currently afford these devices are military veterans through the VA. They certainly deserve them, but we need to find a way to broaden coverage to include the general public.
Bionic Legs
Bionic legs consist mainly of bionic knees and ankles. These are available commercially and do a fantastic job of improving mobility while reducing the stress on other joints.
New technology breakthroughs like mind-control and sensory feedback are also starting to make their way into these devices.
The problem again is one of costs. We have to find a way to make these wonderful devices available to all.
Latest Technology Articles
Current Partial Hand Prosthesis Options
Want a quick list of the current partial hand prosthesis options? For your convenience, this page shows you each of the options that we’ve reviewed, along with links to the full review.
Mechanical Partial Hand Prostheses
Partial hand amputations account for nearly 2/3 of all upper limb amputations. Bionic partial hand prostheses are ideal for these situations, but they’re also very expensive. Hi-tech body-powered and ratcheting mechanical prostheses, by comparison, are much more affordable.
Vincent Partial 3 Hand
Based on the limited information we have, the Vincent Partial 3 seems to be a highly advanced bionic partial hand. It apparently includes an option for pressure sensors, which makes it unique among bionic partial hands.
Ossur i-Digits
Nearly 2/3 of upper limb amputations involve finger or partial hand loss. Ossur’s i-Digits line of products provides one of the few bionic options to meet this need. Based on i-Limb technology, i-Digits offers myoelectric control over anywhere from 1…
Ossur Proprio Foot/Ankle With Microprocessor
Ossur’s Proprio Foot was originally launched in 2006 and was the first microprocessor foot/ankle system on the market. It has since been updated multiple times and includes many of the advanced features found in other foot/ankle systems.
Blatchford Elan Foot/Ankle With Microprocessor
Blatchford’s Elan Foot is another worthy competitor in the microprocessor foot/ankle market. Its ability to automatically adjust both dorsiflexion and plantarflexion resistance on each step produces a smooth gait on many different types of terrain, including ramps, slopes, and stairs.
Bionic Groundbreakers
Master Innovators in Bionic Limbs
The innovators featured in this post are all accomplished scientists, engineers, and/or inventors. They have all made significant contributions to the advancement of bionic limbs. But what makes them truly special is their passion to improve the lives of those…