At nine years old, Elisa Ynafante Ferreira has the honorable difference of being the youngest user I have interviewed in my 11 years as a journalist.
Ferreira, who lives in Georgia with her family and loves pizza, drawing, hip-hop and jazz dancing, and is a Girl Scout, was born with a difference in one limb. She was born with only one hand and her mother, Nathalie, told me in a recent video conference interview that her daughter has adapted to the point that doing almost everything with one hand has become “second nature. “Still, his family circle examined various features to try and find something that would make things easier for him, such as writing, riding a bike, or holding his bow in an archery class.
“I’m the fastest runner in my class,” Elisa told me.
Nathalie explained that, despite everything, one day she discovered the solution while browsing social networks: Open Bionics. The company, which makes medical devices for people with elbow amputations, says its motto is to “turn disabilities into superpowers. “His flagship product is a device he calls the Hero Arm, an “advanced, lightweight, 3D-printed bionic arm with multi-grip capability and exhilarating aesthetics. “The prostheses are designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom and are available at more than 800 locations in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Europe and New Zealand. The company’s gadgets are suitable for adults and, fortunately for Nathalie and Elisa, for children from 8 years old.
Open Bionics was founded by Samantha Payne at the age of 23 after spending time developing various wearable technologies and 3D printing objects. Its purpose was to try to address social issues such as women suffering abuse, after running on generation integrated into a keychain that would allow a user to temporarily and discreetly touch one they enjoy in the event of an attack. Payne’s co-founder is a robotics engineer who worked on creating a bionic hand; When they met, Payne learned of a statistic that only 1% of people could simply use complex devices such as a bionic limb. The remaining 99% believe that such a device would replace their lives by offering them particularly greater mobility. determining factors, Payne decided to help others break down any of those barriers to live a better, richer life.
“[Open Bionics] is a company with a project to create assistive technologies for the human body,” Payne told me recently in an interview. “Any type of assistance generation that improves quality of life, independence and mobility. We try to make this generation an ordinary delight to use, own and embody.
One of Open Bionics’ “main goals” is to design a wearable generation to “empower,” Payne said. Because of the company motto, Payne added that the team needs other people to feel confident and encourages them to “develop their body confidence. ” Specifically, she emphasized that Open Bionics is committed to spreading better messages about what she characterized as “what it means to be other and how we can help each other celebrate our difference. ” This ideology is especially vital for young children, as Payne noted, the Hero Arm is the only prosthesis small enough to have compatibility with children. In most cases, she added, “there is literally no other option” because “it’s hard” to raise a generation small enough for them. What sets Open Bionics apart in the industry is the fact that Payne and her team have achieved the impossible; Payne said they were “proud” of how their engineering prowess led them to create something that is not only small but also lightweight. Weight, she says, is possibly the most important trait of all, as it is strongly related to comfort. The more comfortable a sonic limb is, the less awkward and difficult it will be for the user to use it. And 3D printing is contributing to affordability, with Payne touting that magnetic covers can be custom designed to suit the user’s personal, non-advertising tastes. This philosophy is well compatible with the way Apple, for example, offers a variety of Apple Watch bands. Payne said other people can get some fun blankets from Open Bionics and replace them at will, depending on their temperament or compatibility. This is exactly how Steve Jobs introduced the Smart Cover for iPad more than ten years ago.
“There are other people who have a huge closet full of those blankets,” Payne said. “They actually replace the appearance [of their arm]. They know how to express themselves through their member, which is wonderful to see.
For Elisa, her favorite Disney character is Princess Tiana from the 2009 film The Princess and the Frog. Elisa and her circle of family recently traveled to Orlando, Florida, for what was a normal vacation. Unbeknownst to her, Elisa was destined for a VIP stay. experience, as she became the first to receive a special Princess Tiana-themed bionic arm from the Open Bionics team. This was part of an exclusive Walt Disney Resort event, where Elisa had the opportunity to participate in the event. new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction ahead of its official opening.
Payne said the Disney-themed covers are an “obvious” fit for Open Bionics because the logo is filled with beloved characters that resonate with kids and their families. Alluding to the company’s mission, he said the company believed that with Disney it would simply “put the young user in the place of the superhero,” adding that “we’re looking to replace the narrative [by telling young people] ‘you are your own hero. ‘” ‘” and the concept that the difference in a user’s limbs is “their own uniqueness [and] this extra superpower. ” These are all sentiments that Payne told me are in line with the message of the Disney logo. On the business and design side, Payne said Open Bionics was implemented and decided on Disney’s Accelerator program. The program works with 10 startups a year, with Disney connecting Payne and his team with Lucasfilm president. Kathy Kennedy, who advised them on Marvel artists, helped Payne and his team “imagine all those other designs,” which are used through Open Bionics royalty-free in licensing terms. the Disney campus in Los Angeles, as well as in Arizona, Florida and other countries around the world.
“We’re fortunate to race with them,” he said.
On Disney’s side, Open Bionics, which it has partnered with since 2016, is just one of the organizations it works with. In addition to Payne’s team, Disney is also working with SmartEar on branded covers for hearing aids, as well as with Izzy Wheels on branded covers for wheelchair wheels.
“Disney Consumer Products has a long history of working with corporations that help us reach our audiences in new and different ways, like Open Bionics,” said Carmen J. Smith, Disney’s senior vice president of artistic development for inclusive content, products and strategies. . That was provided to me. We continually push the boundaries of creativity and innovation to deliver products that bring the magic of Disney storytelling into the everyday lives of countless families and enthusiasts around the world. We believe that this magic deserves to be available to everyone.
From a clinical perspective, Emily Shannon, resident prosthetist at Orlando-based Open Bionics, explained that her role is to work with patients on the medical side of prosthetics. It ensures that people can have mobility with their synthetic limb, which includes the right. compatibility and diversity of movement. Despite the conventional wisdom that everyone else, regardless of their limbs, wears a prosthesis, the truth is that not everyone does – or, at least, not every time. every single day. According to Shannon, each and every one of them has the right to “make that choice for themselves” as to whether or not they wear a prosthesis. Many other people, she said, have not received the resources to be more informed about what it is possible to have and what a member can potentially do. From a medical standpoint, Shannon said it’s imperative that patients have “muscle control and smart feeling in the arm so they can control the opening and closing of the hands. . . not everyone has that. ” “
“Every user and every way is unique,” he said.
Shannon said her care technique varies depending on the patient’s feelings; Many people feel worried when they first stop at the workplace for an exam. For young people like Elisa, she marveled at how “so smart” they are to acclimate to the device and understand how it works. “It’s amazing that a child born with a limb difference, who has never had a hand, can put the sensors on their arm and connect them to a control hand, and be able to open and close it in 30 minutes,” Shannon said. “I think it’s extraordinary. “
When asked for their opinion, Elisa and her mother effusively praised Open Bionics. Nathalie said the circle of family has made many close friends with other Open Bionics families and that she would introduce the company’s paintings to “anyone” who is looking for a prosthetic. He noted that Disney’s collaboration was welcome, as Elisa and her family circle are great enthusiasts and Elisa “went straight to” the covers that caught her eye.
Looking ahead, Payne told me that the industry is in the midst of a gold rush of “new technologies, new inventions and inventions. ” He called Open Bionic’s studies and progression team “outstanding,” adding that the company is operating at a speed that keeps pace with the speed of industry growth. Additionally, Payne said that he is making plans to co-paint with Disney on even more designs, as Wolverine and Deadpool are two “highly requested” characters that will be appearing soon. Disney’s requests “never end,” Payne said.
Shannon echoed Payne’s comments about Open Bionics’ forward-thinking spirit and told me that she saw herself “continuing” with them for the long term because of how the company “takes advantage of new technologies and virtual global and integrates them into the patient experience. ” »
As for Elisa, she had two words to say to me at the end of our interview.
“THANK YOU!”
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