A local startup that's creating a more affordable bionic hand that lets wearers "feel" what they're touching has officially made its product available to the public.
Psyonic, developed out of the University of Illinois by founder Aadeel Akhtar, is a high-tech prothesis that provides sensory feedback to its users. The device uses sensors that are embedded in the fingertips of the hand, so when a user touches an object, the skin is stimulated electrically, giving off a tingling or vibration sensation.
The device has been in development since 2015 and this week officially became available to users and clinicians across the country. And by using raw materials that are less expansive than similar bionic limbs on the market, Psyonic says its device is more affordable and is covered by Medicare and most insurance companies.
The startup says it's the first bionic hand with multi-touch feedback available today. It's also lightweight, water-resistant and tough, with each finger able to withstand blunt force impact without breaking.
Psyonic's device, which Chicago Inno has identified as a potential "moonshot" startup, could be able to help a wider range of people who are dealing with limb loss.
Akhtar's genesis for Psyonic came after he met an amputee in his parents’ native town in Pakistan when he was just 7 years old.
“It struck me that the quality of life that someone with limb differences lives is largely dependent on the resources available to them," he said in a statement. "For that reason, my mission is to develop advanced prostheses that are affordable and available to everyone worldwide."
The startup, which won the University of Illinois’ Cozad New Venture Challenge in 2015, also participated in the University of Chicago Polsky Center's Small Business Growth Program. It has received $1.4 million in Small Business Innovation Research grants from the National Science Foundation.
The company is also in the early stages of developing a bionic leg.
