Ambionics

Ambionics emerges from a deeply personal mission, evolving into a notable entity within the pediatric prosthetics sector. The company was founded in 2016 by Ben Ryan, a former psychology teacher with no initial background in engineering. The catalyst for Ambionics' creation was the birth of Ryan's son, Sol, who required an amputation of his left arm below the elbow just ten days after birth due to complications. Faced with the prospect of his son having to wait until age one for a non-functional cosmetic prosthetic and up to three years for a functional one from the NHS, Ryan was driven by a sense of urgency. His psychology background informed him that early adoption of a prosthetic is crucial for long-term acceptance and to prevent developmental issues like spinal curvature and strain on the dominant limb.

Embarking on a self-taught journey, Ryan utilized online resources like YouTube tutorials to learn 3D design software. The initial prototype for his son was fashioned from a simple kitchen sponge when Sol was just five weeks old. This led to the formation of Ambionics, a company dedicated to providing highly functional and affordable prosthetic arms for infants and toddlers. The core of Ambionics' business is the design and manufacture of custom, 3D-printed prosthetic solutions. A key differentiator is the use of a unique, body-powered hydraulic system, inspired by the way spiders use fluid pressure to move their legs. This system uses water-filled actuators placed at pressure points, allowing the wearer to control grip functions, such as opening and closing the thumb, without the need for heavy batteries, motors, or complex wiring.

The business model revolves around a 'Scan > Print > Deliver' process, making it an international online service. Parents can scan their child's limb at home, often while they are asleep, using a readily available device like an Xbox scanner, and then upload the file. Ambionics then models and 3D-prints a custom-fitted prosthetic and mails it back. This process dramatically reduces production time to under five days, compared to the 11 weeks it can take through traditional channels. This efficiency also results in significant cost savings, with reports of 76% cost reduction compared to traditional methods. The company serves families globally, with clinical trials involving children from the UK, Europe, Australia, Africa, and the Americas. Though it started as a pre-revenue venture and faced funding challenges, Ambionics has garnered support from partners like RS Components and Autodesk, who have provided materials and software expertise.

Keywords: pediatric prosthetics, 3D-printed prosthetics, hydraulic prosthetic arm, custom medical devices, infant prosthetics, body-powered prosthetics, Ben Ryan, early prosthetic intervention, limb difference, amputation, assistive technology, online prosthetics service, additive manufacturing, medical device startup, Stratasys PolyJet, Autodesk Fusion 360, healthcare innovation, accessible prosthetics, child amputee, Scan-to-Print