Open Bionics
{{Short description|UK prostethic limb manufacturer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{infobox company
| name = Open Bionics
| logo = Open Bionics Logo.png
| type = Private company
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| location_city = Bristol
| location_country = United Kingdom
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| key_people = {{plainlist|
- Joel Gibbard MBE CEO
- Samantha Payne MBE COO
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| industry = Medical devices, healthcare
| products = 3D printed bionic prosthetics
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| homepage = {{url|https://openbionics.com/|www.openbionics.com}}
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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.{{cite web|title=Future Space Case Studies - Open Bionics|url=https://www.futurespacebristol.co.uk/2016/09/14/open-bionics/|access-date=2016-02-03|website=www.brl.ac.uk}} The company was founded in 2014 by Joel Gibbard MBE and Samantha Payne MBE.{{Cite news |last=Ward |first=Chris |date=5 April 2023 |title=South West Business Leader of the Month: Pioneers for the Bionic Age: Samantha Payne |url=https://www.insidermedia.com/south-west/business-leader/pioneers-for-the-bionic-age-samantha-payne |access-date=14 April 2024 |work=Insider Media}}
In 2020 Joel Gibbard and Samantha Payne were awarded MBEs for their services to Innovation, Engineering, and Technology.
History
Open Bionics grew out of the Open Hand project created by Joel Gibbard after studying robotics at the University of Plymouth.{{Cite magazine |last=Solon |first=Olivia |title=Open Hand Project makes robotic prosthetics much more accessible |url=https://www.wired.com/story/open-hand-project/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}} 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.
In 2018 they were named the Hottest Startup Founders in Europe at the Europa Awards.{{Cite web |last=Butcher |first=Mike |date=2018-07-04 |title=The Winners of The Europas Awards 2018 show Europe's startup power |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/07/04/the-winners-of-the-europas-awards-2018-show-europes-startup-power/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=TechCrunch |at=Award 22 |language=en-US}}
In late 2023, Open Bionics expanded its clinical presence in the United States, with clinics located in Denver, Los Angeles, Orlando, Austin, Chicago, and New York City. {{cite web | url=https://openbionics.com/visit-an-open-bionics-prosthetics-clinic-near-you/ | title=Visit an Open Bionics Prosthetics Clinic Near You! }}
Products
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. 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.{{Cite web |title=The Hero Arm Overview is a Prosthetic Arm Made by Open Bionics |url=https://openbionics.com/en/hero-arm-overview/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=Open Bionics |language=en-GB}} Users have access to a Sidekick App developed by Calvium with interactive training guides and personalization controls.{{Cite web |title=Open Bionics - Calvium |url=https://calvium.com/projects/open-bionics/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |language=en-GB}}
In 2025, Open Bionics launched new models of the Hero Arm, the Hero Pro & Hero RGD. These hands are wireless and waterproof, and work when detached from the wearer.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-10 |title=World’s most advanced bionic arm can crawl around on its own |url=https://www.the-independent.com/tech/robotics-open-bionics-bionic-arm-b2730200.html |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=The Independent |language=en}}
Partnerships
In 2015, Disney and Open Bionics announced a partnership to create superhero-themed prosthetics for young amputees.{{Cite magazine|title = Open Bionics and Disney release Star Wars, Iron Man and Frozen themed prosthetics|url = https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-10/13/disney-open-bionics-prosthetics|magazine = Wired UK|access-date = 2016-02-03}} In the same year, the company won the 2015 James Dyson Award in the UK for innovative engineering {{Cite magazine|title = Open Bionics 3D-printed robotic hand wins Dyson Award|url = https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-08/25/open-bionics-james-dyson-award|magazine = Wired UK|access-date = 2016-02-03}}{{Cite news|date=2015-08-24|title=Open Bionics robotic hand for amputees wins Dyson Award|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34044453|access-date=2020-12-01}} and Tech4Good's 2015 Accessibility Award.{{cite web|title = Winners 2015 - Tech4Good Awards|url = http://www.tech4goodawards.com/winners-2015/|website = Tech4Good Awards|access-date = 2016-02-03|language = en-US}}{{Cite news|last=Balch|first=Oliver|date=2015-07-31|title=A bionic hand in five days: how tech innovation is changing lives|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/jul/31/3d-printed-limbs-listening-apps-disability-tech-changing-lives|access-date=2020-12-01|issn=0261-3077}} In 2016, it won a Bloomberg Business Innovators award.{{cite web|title = Open Bionics - Bloomberg Business Innovators|website = Bloomberg News|url = https://www.bloomberg.com/ukinnovators/innovators/open-bionics/|access-date = 2016-02-03}}{{cite web|date=2019-10-01|title=Open Bionics: Diese neuen Armprothesen machen aus Kindern Superhelden|url=https://www.mobilegeeks.de/artikel/open-bionics-diese-neuen-armprothesen-machen-aus-kindern-superhelden/|access-date=2020-12-01|website=MobileGeeks Deutschland|language=de-DE}}
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.{{cite web|title=Man Born Without Arm Given Bionic Limb Inspired By Metal Gear Solid|url=https://www.unilad.co.uk/technology/man-born-without-arm-given-bionic-limb-inspired-by-metal-gear-solid/|access-date=2020-12-02|website=www.unilad.co.uk|language=en}} Lockey lost both of her hands when she developed meningococcal sepsis at 15 months of age.{{cite web |url=https://openbionics.com/alita/ |title=Alita: Battle Angel Bionic Arms For Tilly |publisher=Open Bionics |accessdate=May 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524110319/https://openbionics.com/alita/ |archive-date=May 24, 2019 |url-status=dead }}
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.{{cite web | url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/gamer-born-without-a-hand-gets-metal-gear-solid-venom-snake-bionic-arm/ar-BB1b6Kud | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118005803/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/gamer-born-without-a-hand-gets-metal-gear-solid-venom-snake-bionic-arm/ar-BB1b6Kud | archive-date=18 November 2020 | title=Gamer born without a hand gets Metal Gear Solid Venom Snake bionic arm | website=MSN }}
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{{Cite news |date=2023-04-14 |title=Ukraine war: 'I'm going back to the frontline with my bionic arm' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65145482 |access-date=2023-06-02}}
Funding
In January 2019, Open Bionics raised Series A funding of $5.9 million.{{cite web|title=Open Bionics closes $5.9M Series A for its affordable and cool bionic limbs|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/14/open-bionics-closes-5-9m-series-a-for-its-affordable-and-cool-bionic-limbs/|access-date=2020-12-02|website=TechCrunch|date=14 January 2019 |language=en-US}}{{cite web|date=2019-01-11|title=Open Bionics raises $5.9 million to make affordable 3D printed bionic limbs|url=https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/open-bionics-raises-5-9-million-to-make-affordable-3d-printed-bionic-limbs-146878/|access-date=2020-12-02|website=3D Printing Industry|language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite news|last=Cook|first=James|date=2019-10-04|title=Tej Kohli: The Indian tech billionaire who plans to turbocharge Britain's start-up scene|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2019/10/04/tej-kohli-indian-tech-billionaire-plans-turbocharge-britains/|access-date=2020-12-02|issn=0307-1235}}{{cite web|last=Baker|first=Hannah|date=2019-01-15|title=Bristol 'superhero' arm-making company lands multi-million deal|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/business/bristol-superhero-arm-making-company-2425775|access-date=2020-12-02|website=BristolLive|language=en}}
References
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External links
- {{official website|https://openbionics.com/}}
Category:Medical technology companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Prosthetic manufacturers
Category:Engineering companies of England
Category:Companies based in Bristol
Category:2014 establishments in England
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