A SCOTTISH tech firm has secured £800,000 in funding to help develop the world’s first mechanical bionic hand to help improve the lives of amputees.
Metacarpal, based in Edinburgh, uses advanced engineering techniques to create a highly functional prosthetic hand that is controlled and powered by body motion, without the need for electronics.
The company was founded by a University of Strathclyde product design engineering graduate Fergal Mackie in 2020 and was inspired by an accident he had in the final year of his studies.
After falling over and breaking both of his wrists, Mackie had to discover new ways to complete his daily tasks, sparking an interest in prosthetics.
Mackie, CEO and founder of Metacarpal, said the funding is a huge milestone in the project and that it provides the potential to change people's lives.
He said: “Metacarpal was established to create a better quality of life for amputees. With the use of truly revolutionary, unique and disruptive technology, our body-powered bionic hand is raising the standard of upper-limb prosthetics. It is the only device to utilise reactive body-power technology giving fingers individual motion.
“The success of the seed funding round is a huge milestone for the business, which will enable us to develop our bionic into a commercially viable product with the potential to change the lives of prosthetics users. I cannot wait to see the impact that it has”
The bionic hand combines body-powered control with a myoelectric prosthetic, which are artificial limbs that are powered by electric motors and controlled by the electrical signals generated by the user's muscles.
The bionic hand has full five-finger motion, variable grips, and wrist positions, and is believed to be the first in the world of its kind.
Funding for the project has come from a variety of investors, including Scottish Enterprise and the University of Strathclyde.
Most of the developments in prosthetics have focused on robotic hands, leaving a large gap in the market for body-powered devices.
Research by the NHS estimates that 26-45% of upper-limb amputees choose not to wear a prosthetic at all rather than using any currently available products.
Mackie hopes that his bionic hand will help provide an alternative for amputees and ultimately improve their quality of life.
