Touch Bionics, developer of the world’s first commercially available bionic hand, recently announced its incorporation in the United States as Touch Bionics Inc. Currently basing U.S. operations from Boston, the announcement follows the company’s opening of its new headquarters and development and manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom in January.
“Having a stronger U.S. presence enables Touch Bionics to better serve its growing network of partner clinics in America, the company’s biggest market,” said Stuart Mead, chief executive officer of Touch Bionics, in a company press release. “With more U.S. clinics offering the i-LIMB Hand, growing numbers of American amputees will have the option of being fitted with the most advanced prosthetic hand on the market. The fact that we are at the top end of our sales projections shows there is a ready market for our product.”
Since the launch of the i-LIMB Hand in July 2007, more than 70 patients worldwide have been fitted, and, as of press time, the company anticipated reaching 100 fitted patients by the end of February. To serve the worldwide prosthetics market, Touch Bionics has built relationships with a wide range of clinical companies, from the world’s largest to smaller, independent clinics, according to company officials.
In addition to the developments in the United States, Touch Bionics also has cemented European partnerships with clinics and distributors in Germany, Turkey, Hungary, Romania and the Benelux region, with additional global partners signing up in countries such as South Korea, Argentina and Brazil.
