Right Arm Deformity, 10-Year-Old Boy
Robot Company Attaches Biomechanical Robot Arm
A boy from the UK born with a deformity in his right arm received an ‘Iron Man Arm’ as a Christmas gift.
The boy shared a video of himself riding a bicycle with friends while wearing the bionic arm called the ‘Hero Arm’.
On the 19th (local time), Open Bionics, a UK-based company that manufactures bionic arms, announced that it gifted a prosthetic arm to 10-year-old Harry Jones from Lancashire through the National Health Service (NHS).
According to foreign media reports, Jones was born without his right arm below the elbow and had always wanted a prosthetic arm. His simple dream was to ride a bike and race go-karts with his friends like any other child. Jones had tried various prosthetics before but found it difficult to find one that fit perfectly.
Jones’s dream came true with the ‘Hero Arm,’ which resembles Iron Man’s arm and is produced by Open Bionics. The Hero Arm, made using 3D printing technology, is designed for people with limb disabilities below the elbow. It can replicate real hand movements such as gripping objects with fingers and rotating the wrist, and it can also perform functions like holding objects firmly in place.
A 10-year-old British boy, Harry Jones, wearing the Hero Arm prosthetic hand by Open Bionics. [Photo by Open Bionics, UK]
Previously, the Hero Arm was only provided to retired military personnel, but recent policy changes by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) have made it available to civilians with physical disabilities. Under the new policy, users who have worn the Hero Arm for 12 months qualify for an NHS technical assessment, and if they pass, they can keep the prosthetic arm for life.
Open Bionics stated in a press release, “We have worked for nearly 10 years to improve NHS policies,” adding, “It is a very historic moment that Harry has become the first civilian to wear the Hero Arm through the NHS.”
Jones underwent a one-month testing period and was finally approved to wear the prosthetic arm on the 13th.
Jones said, “I used to wear a prosthetic with a strap on my shoulder, but it was uncomfortable because I had to lean forward when riding a bike. With the Hero Arm, I can do so many things. I also like the design. It has a locking mode, so when I hold something, it doesn’t fall.” His grandmother, Susan Hyam, said, “Harry has been glowing since he started wearing the Hero Arm. He wanted to show it to everyone as soon as possible.”
Earlier, in Germany, an 80-year-old grandmother who had her arm amputated received a ‘bionic prosthetic arm.’ This was also the Hero Arm, a 340g bionic arm developed by Open Bionics. The grandmother reportedly adapted quickly, walking her dog and lifting a cup just one hour after wearing it.
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