In 1988, work began in earnest on electronic arms, including shoulders, wrists and hands. In 1993, a partial hand system received international publicity and in 1998, major international profile was achieved through the fitting of the world’s first electrically powered shoulder.

In early 2003, the company was spun out from the National Health System, with significant shareholding held by Scottish Health Innovations Ltd., and became the first SHIL spin-out to receive significant funding. An initial SMART award from Scottish Enterprise got the company going, and it has now received investment funding from existing and new investors, including Archangel Informal Investments and the Scottish Co-investment Fund.

The company was initially called Touch EMAS, EMAS standing for Edinburgh Modular Arm System. In 2005 it was re-branded Touch Bionics to communicate the dynamism of the company’s products and the future focus of its technology.

Touch Bionics is launching two key products, the i-LIMB Hand and ProDigits. The hand is the world’s first commercially available multi-articulating bionic hand. It has five independently powered digits that open and close around objects. It supports amputees in going about their everyday lives. In medicine, bionics means the replacement or enhancement of organs or other body parts by mechanical means.

ProDigits, short for Prosthetic Digits, are the self-contained fingers that are individually powered and controlled to provide new fingers for partial hand patients. The i-LIMB Hand is effectively a chassis for five ProDigits. Individual ProDigits are used for patients who have lost part of their hand or a whole finger or fingers.

Stuart Mead, Chief Executive of Touch Bionics, said, “It has been a long journey for our technology and I’m very glad to say that we have successfully transitioned from a research-and-development company to one that is now shipping and supporting product globally. Our two launch products have been extremely well received by both patients and health professionals. Our success shows that it is possible to successfully transfer IP from the NHS whilst ensuring that its commercial interest is retained.”

SHIL Chairman Peter Shakeshaft said, “We are delighted that this world-breaking technology which emanated from NHS Scotland has reached this important milestone of commercial acceptance. Touch Bionics was our first spin-out company and it is pleasing to have been able to support the technology phase and for NHS Scotland and David Gow, the inventor, to benefit from such an important global invention. Such support is the very essence of SHIL’s existence and this early success confirms the rationale behind the decision to create SHIL.”

Archangels CEO John Waddell said, “We are very pleased to provide backing to Touch Bionics. The company has made significant progress in developing its products through engagement with its potential markets, particularly in the U.S.”