A London woman has become the first in the UK to be fitted with what has been described as the world’s most life-like bionic hand.
Nicky Ashwell, 29, who was born without a right hand, has been given the advanced prosthetic which claims to give true-to-life movements thanks to its 337 mechanical parts.
The hand is built around a skeletal structure with miniaturised components designed to mimic exactly the functions of a real hand, through 14 different precision grips which allow her to use cutlery and even open her purse.
The so-called “bebionic small hand” also uses sensors triggered by muscle movements that connect to individual motors in each finger and to powerful microprocessors.
It weighs about the same as a bar of chocolate and is said to use Formula 1 and military technology to deliver an “unrivalled level of precision and natural movements”.
It is strong enough to handle up to 45kg — around the same as 25 bricks. Ms Ashwell, a product manager at an online fashion trend service, said using the hand for the first time was “exciting and strange”.
She added: “It immediately opened up so many more possibilities for me. The movements now come easily and look natural. I keep finding myself being surprised by the little things, like being able to carry my purse while holding my boyfriend’s hand.
“I’ve also been able to do things never before possible, like riding a bike and lifting weights.”
Steeper, the company behind the hand, claim that it will improve the lives of thousands of amputees across the world.
Technical director Ted Varley said that it took seven years of research and manufacturing to develop.
Ms Ashwell was fitted with the hand at the private London Prosthetics Centre.
