BioLiberty

BioLiberty is a medical technology company that develops robotic assistance devices for individuals with hand weakness resulting from conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis, or arthritis. The company was founded in 2020 by Rowan Armstrong, Ross O'Hanlon, Shéa Quinn, and Conan Bradley. The inspiration for the company came from O'Hanlon's personal experience watching a family member with multiple sclerosis struggle with the loss of hand mobility. The founding team, composed of engineers with backgrounds in electronics, mechanical engineering, and product design from the University of Edinburgh and Queen's University Belfast, united to create technology to restore independence.

BioLiberty's main product is the 'Lifeglov,' a soft, air-powered robotic glove that assists with opening and closing the hand. This wearable device is designed to be comfortable and pliable, using soft robotics which is a unique approach in the rehabilitation market. The glove is paired with a digital therapy platform called 'Lifehub Clinic,' which provides patients with gamified, tailored exercises to perform high-intensity, repetitive tasks that promote neuroplasticity and help rebuild natural hand strength. For therapists and clinicians, a browser-based analytics platform named 'Lifemind' offers insights into patient progress by tracking metrics like therapy frequency, duration, range of motion, and force. This data facilitates remote patient management and helps in creating evidence-based treatment plans.

The company targets both clinical and home-use settings, aiming to assist therapists in delivering more effective therapy and enabling patients to continue rehabilitation at home. BioLiberty's business model involves selling these FDA-registered systems to rehabilitation clinics. The company operates with headquarters in Edinburgh, Scotland, at the National Robotarium, and in Boston, USA, to facilitate collaboration and market entry. BioLiberty has secured significant funding, including a £2.2 million round led by Archangels in April 2023 and a £435,000 grant from Innovate UK in December 2023, to complete product development, obtain FDA approval, and drive its US market launch.

Keywords: soft robotics, hand rehabilitation, digital therapy platform, stroke recovery, neuro-rehabilitation, assistive technology, occupational therapy, medical wearables, physical therapy, mobility assistance, gamified therapy, remote patient monitoring, upper limb rehabilitation, neuroplasticity, medtech, exoskeleton glove, motor impairment, independent living, assistive robotics, clinical rehabilitation