4 October 2004 - World's First Prosthetic Hand with Moving Fingers

04 October 2004: The world’s first prosthetic hand with moving fingers will be launched next summer and is poised to transform the lives of millions of amputees.

Users will control the bionic hand through their own muscular impulses, and it will enable them to perform functions such as turning keys and gripping objects.

Inventor David Gow, an NHS prosthetics manager in Edinburgh, has just announced closing the first part of an investment package of £1million from a consortium of wealthy Scottish investors, Lloyds TSB bank and the public sector to back this latest advance in his revolutionary project.

Following successful trials last year on an earlier model, Gow’s company TouchEMAS has begun a programme of development that he says will put his company at the forefront of changes in the prosthetics industry.

The prosthetic hands currently available are little more than crude, claw-like devices with simple functions.

Gow’s hand, which has sophisticated electronics coated with skin-effect silicone rubber, will have a moving thumb and fingers. In addition the hand’s fingers will curl or articulate, so more closely resembling the movements of human hands.

The hand, which is likely to sell for about £2500, can lie flat and has three grips. Once the whole arm is fully developed, users will also have a powered shoulder, elbow and wrist extending the range of possible functions. These will be available in 2006.

Gow, who works at the Eastern General Hospital as director of rehabilitation engineering services, spun out his company - Touch EMAS - early last year to develop the technology.

Gow has recruited Stuart Mead, former chief executive of biopharmaceuticals company Excell Biotech, as chief executive.

Mr Mead said: “This major round of funding represents the launch-pad which will propel Touch EMAS through the next crucial 12 months and beyond. Archangel Informal Investments, as well as SHIL and Scottish Enterprise, have displayed tremendous vision and faith.”

He added that the next year would be "the most exciting in the global prosthetics market for a decade", stating that the company would be at the forefront of a change in the way patients and the medical profession view prosthetics.

Also joining the team is John Fuller, who has extensive knowledge of quality assurance, manufacturing and regulatory issues in the sector, and has worked with companies in America. He will play a crucial role in helping to bring the product to market.

The chairman is experienced businesswoman Lynne Cadenhead, while Bill Dykes, a world-renowned prosthetist at Strathclyde University, is also working with the team to help develop the technology and work with patients who are helping with trials.

Gow, who has been working in the field for 23 years, struck a deal with Elumotion, a Bath-based business, to manufacture the prototype hand that will be used for trials and to find buyers. It will be targeted mainly at the American and European markets and will hit the commercial sphere next August.

Gow believes there is a worldwide market for prosthetic arms of about £48million, though that is likely to be on the conservative side.

Touch EMAS is now looking for new premises somewhere in the Central Belt. He wants to build a centre of excellence and a training facility.

Touch EMAS was spun out of the NHS last year under the ownership of Scottish Health Innovations Ltd (SHIL) and was the first SHIL spin-out to receive significant funding.

ENDS

Further information and enquiries:

Caroline Walker, WDG Azure – +44(0)20 7849 6094, email cwalker@wdgazure.com

Background Notes

A full selection of new high resolution management team and product images is available from the Company’s Online Press Office.

Archangels’ is now one of the largest angel syndicates in Europe. It was an early investor and ongoing supporter of   whose Optomap product is saving sight around the world. Recently, Optos successfully floated on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.

Touch Bionics is the UK-based award winning company focusing on the supply of electrically powered Upper Limb Prostheses (ULP). The company is based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The Touch Bionics i-LIMB Hand offers users a step-change in functionality and performance, enabling patients to do more with their prosthetic hand. For example, the i-LIMB Hand has individually articulating fingers, a rotating thumb and a range of grip patterns. All these features are combined in a hand that is more anatomically correct than any other available product.

The i-LIMB Hand will be the first product available from the Touch Bionics i-LIMB System. The entire i-LIMB System, available in 2007, will be the world’s first complete endoskeletal modular arm system.