News / NHS
Bionic arms being rolled out on NHS for first time
For the first time, upper limb amputees are now being offered custom-made bionic arms through the NHS.
Bristol company, Open Bionics‘ Hero Arms are one of the first models to be offered to amputee patients to adults and to children as young as nine.
High-tech prosthetics like these were previously only available on the NHS exclusively for military veterans injured in service.
The multi-grip arms, which are controlled by the electrical brain signals generated naturally by the brain and muscles, enable users to have a greater range of movements, making completing tasks easier.
We’re thrilled to learn that advanced prosthetic arms will soon be available on the NHS, & applaud @openbionics for its part in this development.
The team were recently invited to the premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, along with Chase & his Special Edition arm covers! pic.twitter.com/kIUItyCWhu
— Science Creates (@ScienceCreates) November 16, 2022
Before this, prosthetics offered by the NHS had limited open and close gripping movements. Others were cosmetic with no function.
Open Bionics is one of the manufacturers supplying the NHS with bionic arms for eligible amputees.
The type of bionic arm patients get will be based on individual needs and eligible patients must have enough residual upper arm muscles for the bionic arm to function.
‘I have a seven-year-old daughter and it allows me to do a lot more with her. I don’t feel excluded from any part of her life anymore.’
In 2008, Daz lost his lower right arm and was one of the first people to receive a multi-grip arm from the NHS. pic.twitter.com/MG3yKrngr2
— NHS England (@NHSEngland) November 5, 2022
The Bristol company, which has a mission to ‘turn disabilities into superpowers’, has created the Hero Arm, based on science fiction influences of science fiction.
The Hero Arm is the lightest and smallest multi-grip available in the UK and has been created with influences from Star Wars, Black Panther, Marvel Iron Man, Deus Ex and Frozen.
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “These incredible multi-grip prosthetics have already made a huge difference to veterans and so it is fantastic to be able to offer them to all patients in England who need them.
“The arms, for both children and adults, use the very latest tech which will boost peoples’ independence and change the lives of dozens across the country.
“The NHS is at the forefront of medical innovation and this rollout is the latest example of how we are adopting the best medical advances for patients”.
Main photo: Open Bionics
Read next:
- Star Wars star teams up with Bristol company for viral video
- £100k NHS funding for Open Bionics
- Welcome to the Future
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