In a recent above-elbow fitting, prosthetists at Allied OP and Open Bionics worked together to deliver a hybrid prosthetic configuration centered on functional use and patient choice.
Complex upper-limb cases can often require cross-clinic collaboration and practical technology. Angelo Russello, a senior prosthetist at Allied OP, is often referred upper-limb cases across multiple offices because of his extensive experience. A recent case involved an adult above-elbow amputee who expressed interest in the Hero PRO myoelectric hand after learning about the technology online.
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“The idea was to give her flexibility. She can function with a hook day to day, but wanted to use a hand when it makes sense”
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Because she presented with reduced function in her sound arm, a bionic hand would help with daily tasks that required grip and precision. However, the clinical evaluation showed limited viable control sites on her upper arm, ruling out a fully powered myoelectric elbow as well.
A hybrid approach offered a practical solution.
“The idea was to give her flexibility,” Angelo explained. “She can function with a hook day to day, but wanted to use a hand when it makes sense.”
The final configuration paired a body-powered hook with a myoelectric hand using our standard quick-disconnect wrist adapter, allowing the patient to switch terminal devices depending on the task.
Angelo worked closely with Daniel Green, clinician at our Open Bionics clinic in New York City, to review compatibility, fabrication considerations, and system setup.
“This was a strong collaboration from the start,” Daniel said. “Our professional relationship began with a referral and has quickly turned into ongoing communication around advanced bionic technology, training, and fabrication.”
Angelo led the clinical decision-making throughout the process, Daniel explained. “Our role was to support that process by reviewing compatibility and making sure the components worked together the way Angelo needed them to.”
The hybrid configuration also addressed common insurance coverage and fabrication constraints.
“The ability to support a true hybrid configuration is important,” Daniel said. “It allows clinicians to incorporate a myoelectric hand alongside body-powered options within one system.”
Using a single socket for both devices reduces the need for additional fabrication, and has shown to support long-term adoption.
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“This approach makes it possible to support the patient with multiple options without requiring separate sockets”
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“At the end of the day, the goal is to give someone a prosthesis they’ll actually use,” Green said. “This approach makes it possible to support the patient with multiple options without requiring separate sockets.”
If you’re curious to know how our bionic technology could help you reach your goals, ask your certified prosthetist about the Hero PRO.
We work with clinicians to support the best possible outcome. Connect with our team for training on our advanced bionic technology to know what’s available for your patients.
A water-resistant bionic arm for HVAC work can make all difference. For nearly three decades, Mike has worked in some of the toughest environments in Texas, climbing ladders, crawling through cramped attics, repairing AC units in extreme heat, and managing heavy tools with one hand
He lost his left hand in 1999 after a flare gun malfunctioned and spent years trying to find a prosthetic arm that could keep up with his work. His early experience with prosthetics was discouraging. The first clinician he ever saw suggested cutting more of his arm off to make the fitting easier. He was handed a wooden body-powered device. “I’m like, wood, really? Is this the 1700s?” he joked. Later, his body-powered arm was so uncomfortable he only used it when riding his motorcycle.
His first myoelectric prosthesis was also problematic because it was heavy, unreliable, and easily disabled by heat and sweat. “You put your arm in different positions and it gets no contact,” he said. “When you are in a hot attic trying to wire something up, it just stops.”
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“This thing is great. I can wash dishes with it or whatever. If I am out and about and it starts raining, I can keep the hand on. Before, I had to grab a plastic bag and cover up the arm because if it got wet, it was done”
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Mike discovered Open Bionics on Facebook after seeing Hero Arm and Hero PRO videos featuring Tilly Lockey. When he connected with Travis Heins, certified prosthetist at our Austin, Texas, clinic the difference between his old device and the Hero PRO was immediate. “This one is a third of the weight,” he said. “Much, much lighter. It works much faster and stronger.” The Hero PRO’s multi grip bionic hand, with its individually articulating fingers, adjustable grip strength, and secure freeze mode, offered the stability he never had before. “You can hold a bag of groceries and it does not fall out of your hand,” he said.
One of the biggest improvements for Mike was Hero PRO’s water resistance. The hand, wrist, MyoPod sensors, and Hero Flex socket can get wet and continue working, which solves the heat and moisture issues that used to shut his prosthesis down. “This thing is great. I can wash dishes with it or whatever,” he said. “If I am out and about and it starts raining, I can keep the hand on. Before, I had to grab a plastic bag and cover up the arm because if it got wet, it was done.” The Hero Flex socket also addressed the swelling and discomfort he experienced every day. “This one is adjustable. I really like that feature. The other one made my arm swell up because it could not breathe.”.
Mike’s Hero PRO is a lightweight, durable, and water-resistant bionic arm designed for precision tasks and daily use.
Reliable control is essential when working in attics that routinely exceed 120 degrees, but fortunately our wireless and waterproof MyoPod sensors can read muscle signals even through sweat. “I still work every day, so I am hoping I can take this up in the attic with me,” he said. “The other one would break all the time. This one, if it breaks, they can print me a new piece and I am good to go.”
He also started using the Sidekick app to personalize grip settings and track usage. “The app is a lot better,” he said. “I am not very tech savvy, but it looks pretty easy.”
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“Just try Open Bionics. It is so much lighter. It is more versatile. It does more things”
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For Mike, the change is simple. After 26 years of adapting and compensating, he now has a prosthetic arm built for the way he actually lives and works. The Hero PRO is light, fast, water resistant, dependable, and easy to repair. It keeps up with him in the attic, on his motorcycle, and at home. When asked what he would tell other amputees, Mike said, “Just try Open Bionics. It is so much lighter. It is more versatile. It does more things.”
Whether you’re exploring a prosthesis for the first time or considering an upgrade, a free consultation with a certified prosthetist can help you understand your options. Schedule your consultation to see what’s possible.
After more than 20 years of using one-handed workarounds for daily life, Leonard found that his right shoulder had deteriorated to the point where he needed help with simple tasks like drinking water.
“Leonard desperately needed a prosthesis,” said Isabel Gonzalez, certified prosthetist at Open Bionics’ Charlotte, North Carolina, clinic. “His right shoulder is so worn out from compensating movements that he can’t lift a glass of water to his mouth anymore. To take a drink, Leonard had to grip the glass with his right hand, then use a prosthesis on his left arm to raise his right arm to his mouth.”
Leonard lost his left hand and forearm in a car tire explosion in 2005. He adapted quickly and remained independent, learning how to manage life with one hand. Now retired, he stays active, spending his days doing yard work, maintaining his home, and enjoying hobbies such as golf and competitive pool.
As nearly every bimanual task shifted to his right side, cooking, carrying groceries, dressing, and stabilizing objects all depended on his one sound arm. To make those tasks possible, Leonard twisted his torso, relied on his neck and back for leverage, and repeatedly overloaded the same joints and muscle groups. These compensatory movements became routine.
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“You don’t really notice it at first. You just keep adjusting how you move until one day you realize everything hurts.” -Leonard
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“You don’t really notice it at first,” Leonard said. “You just keep adjusting how you move until one day you realize everything hurts.”
Over time, those adjustments began to take a toll. Leonard developed chronic pain in his right shoulder, neck, and back and required physical therapy to manage the added strain. His right shoulder continued to deteriorate, eventually losing significant range of motion and strength. What began as discomfort progressed into a condition that limited his ability to lift, reach, or generate force.
“It wasn’t one big injury,” Leonard said. “It was years of doing things the wrong way because I didn’t have another option. I just wanted to be able to give my right shoulder a break,” he added. “And I was afraid to get the surgery I needed because I don’t have a left hand to rely on.”
The progression of his overuse injuries removed what had long been his primary source of independence. Leonard’s body-powered prosthesis relied on a harness and cable system operated by the sound-side shoulder. As that shoulder worsened, operating the device became physically impossible and increasingly painful. The harnessing system had caused discomfort even before his shoulder declined, and continuing to use it placed additional strain on an already damaged joint.
“If something hurts to wear, you stop wearing it,” Leonard said. “That’s just reality.”
Without a functional prosthesis, Leonard relied more heavily on compensatory movements, reinforcing the same patterns that contributed to his shoulder deterioration. Daily activities became increasingly difficult. Carrying groceries required planning and rest. Preparing meals felt unsafe. Eating in public became something Leonard avoided.
“I don’t want to ask for help cutting my food in public,” he said. “That part really gets to you.”
Without a prosthetic solution that reduced compensation, Leonard’s body was locked into a cycle of overuse. Continuing that cycle increased the risk of further injury to his shoulder, neck, back, and remaining upper extremity, especially as he approached the need for shoulder replacement surgery.
Leonard learned about Open Bionics through his son in Nashville and followed the technology for several years. When his shoulder reached a critical point, he scheduled an evaluation at the Open Bionics Charlotte clinic.
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“This is the first time it feels like both sides of my body can actually work together” -Leonard
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During the evaluation, Leonard was assessed for the Hero PRO, a multi-grip myoelectric bionic arm designed to restore bimanual function without relying on harnessing or sound-side shoulder movement. Trial testing showed that Leonard could produce strong, consistent muscle signals in his residual limb and independently control opening and closing movements of the hand.
Multi-grip myoelectric technology allows users to select different grip patterns and adjust grip strength using muscle contractions. These systems support tasks that require both strength and fine motor control, such as stabilizing food while cutting, pulling a golf cart, or holding a pool cue. Redistributing functional workload to the affected side reduces the compensatory strategies that led to Leonard’s overuse injuries.
“This is the first time it feels like both sides of my body can actually work together,” Leonard said after the delivery of his bionic arm.
Despite the clear clinical need, Leonard’s insurance initially denied coverage for the prosthesis. His clinician appealed the decision and was ultimately able to secure approval.
Without a functional left prosthesis, recovery from shoulder replacement surgery would likely require inpatient rehabilitation. Basic self-care tasks would be unsafe or impossible to perform independently, increasing both physical risk and cost of care. Leonard’s Hero PRO allows him to rely on his left side during recovery, reducing the need to overload his injured shoulder as it heals.
Leonard’s Hero PRO is a lightweight, durable, and water-resistant bionic arm designed to restore bimanual function without harnesses.
“He can finally have surgery on his ‘good side’ now that he has this prosthesis to rely on during his recovery,” Isabel said. “He intends for the Hero PRO to be his new ‘good side’ for now.”
Leonard’s Hero PRO includes a waterproof Hero Flex socket and a universal wrist connector that allows him to swap his bionic hand for activity attachments used for tasks such as golfing or playing pool. A Boa-style dial on the socket allows him to adjust the fit throughout the day as limb volume fluctuates. Consistent suspension supports comfort, control, and skin health, all of which influence daily wear time. Wear time plays a direct role in reducing compensatory movement, helping prevent a return to damaging overuse patterns.
“He’s also very good at playing pool with his prosthesis,” Isabel said.
Leonard’s goal is to protect his remaining shoulder, recover from surgery, and maintain independence as he ages.
“I’m not trying to do anything extraordinary,” Leonard said. “I just want to keep living my life without breaking something else.”
With his Hero PRO, Leonard no longer has to rely on one shoulder to carry the full weight of daily life.
If overuse injuries or a poorly fitting prosthesis are limiting your independence, a free consultation with a certified prosthetist can help determine whether a myoelectric bionic arm is the right next step. Schedule your consult to explore what’s possible.
Jackson is a 17-year-old high school athlete from California. He was born with a congenital right below-elbow limb difference and grew up learning how to adapt in a world designed for two hands. What stands out most when you meet him is not his limb difference, but how easily he connects with people. Jackson is funny, outgoing, and quick to make people laugh. He has a way of making people feel comfortable almost instantly.
“I’m cursed, ” Jackson joked, when asked about his limb difference. “People always want a fist bump.”
Over the years, he tried several prosthetic options, including body-powered devices with harness hooks, which he said felt restrictive and uncomfortable, and it did not give him the fine motor control he wanted for everyday tasks. “I was just like, ‘Why am I wearing this?’ I didn’t really have a reason to,” he said.
Jackson can do anything he sets his mind to. For a long time, that meant finding workarounds for everyday tasks most people don’t think twice about.
As he started thinking seriously about college and independent living, that limitation became harder to ignore. School can require two-handed tasks throughout the day, like carrying books through crowded hallways, handling lab equipment, or taking notes. At home, he used similar adaptations to cook, open containers, or fold laundry.
“I wanted to be able to hold my backpack or a book in my right hand so I can open doors or use my phone with my left,” Jackson said.
His path to Open Bionics began when a friend sent him a video. “It was a video of a guy showing off his Open Bionics arm,” he said. “I thought, ‘This is really cool.’ So I looked online and signed up to learn more.”
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“People are always curious, and I don’t mind talking about it. It just makes everything feel easier. I don’t have to plan around it as much.”
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Jackson scheduled a free consultation with our certified clinician in California, where he was able to ask questions, and learn more about the fitting process. His bionic arm was approved by health insurance, and when his custom bionic arm arrived, he did exactly what most 17-year-olds would do. “We picked it up and I got to show off all the goods to my friends,” he said. “People are always curious, and I don’t mind talking about it. It just makes everything feel easier,” he added. “I don’t have to plan around it as much.”
Jackson does not define himself by his limb difference and is naturally competitive. “I do things like everyone else. I did track and cross country,” he said. “I was a para ambulatory runner at the California championships. I came in third place for my event,” he added casually, almost as an afterthought.
When he talks about life with his new bionic arm, he starts with the simplest wins. “I love grabbing stuff,” he said. “I’ll grab my water bottle, just anything. I can finally carry things with two arms. I’m definitely using it more than I thought I would.”
Jackson’s bionic arm is fully wireless, and he likes to show that feature off. “Because it has Bluetooth, you can make it crawl,” he said.
“He does that in class and he hasn’t gotten in trouble yet,” his mom, Linda, said.
Hero PRO is a lightweight, durable, and water-resistant bionic arm.
He shared another moment from school that still makes him laugh. “I did a grip test in my bio class with the hand,” he said. “Everyone’s like, ‘You’re cheating.’ I’m like, ‘I’m the only one who’s getting a positive curve on this thing.’”
Jackson’s honesty and humor is exactly what made him such a natural presence at the Amputee Coalition National Conference in Las Vegas, the largest annual gathering of the limb loss and limb difference community. ACNC brings together individuals, families, clinicians, and innovators to share experiences and learn from one another.
“Having Jackson at the conference was an incredible experience,” said Greg Zschaschel, Jackson’s certified prosthetist from the Los Angeles, California clinic. “Watching him share his story, engaging with others, and answering questions was truly inspiring. He wasn’t just attending the conference, he was shaping it.”
Jackson talked with people about school, sports, and what life is like with a bionic arm. He answered questions honestly, shared what has changed for him, and laughed about what he is still figuring out. “I haven’t figured out how to twist a door knob yet,” he admitted. “That’s the next goal. I’m still figuring it out, but it’s already made a difference.”
If you were at ACNC, there’s a good chance you saw Jackson. If you’d like to learn more about the technology behind his signature fist bumps, schedule a free virtual consultation with our certified prosthetists to learn more about bionic arm options for you or your child.
Lucky fins on opposite sides of the world have had once-in-a-lifetime events happening this month sending ripples of affirmations around the world – regardless of your difference, every kid should dream big.
From leading the walkout at the Rugby World Cup, to landing a juicy role in the latest Hunger Games movie, we’ve been cheering from the sidelines as two Hero Arm users put limb difference on the global stage.
We met Jacob three years ago when he was fitted with his first Hero Arm. Back then he wanted a bionic arm to do delicate activities that require a pinch grip and day-to-day two-handed tasks. Jacob had a chance to visit our HQ in the UK where he got to see how his Hero Arm was 3D printed.
Around the same time Jacob received his Hero Arm, he was literally throwing himself into his passion, rugby “I just love tackling! Not something you get the chance to do in football’ commented Jacob in a recent interview for Land Rover’s Rugby Trailblazers shortlist.
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They didn’t know I was listening or that I was his mum, but I heard them say that kid is really good. They sounded shocked. Like they weren’t expecting him to be as good as he was. I thought that was funny
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In the same interview, Jacob’s mum commented about the stigma that still surrounds children with limb differences (or as we like to call them Lucky Fins) “Jacob’s mother recalled overhearing parents at a game discussing her son ‘They didn’t know I was listening or that I was his mum, but I heard them say that kid is really good. They sounded shocked. Like they weren’t expecting him to be as good as he was. I thought that was funny’.”
Fast-forward 4 years, and Jacob’s passion has brought him to the global stage. Not only has he been chosen as the main Trailblazer to watch in Rugby (you may have seen him on bus stop posters and billboards to promote the World Cup), but he also led the walkout at the New Zealand vs South Africa World Cup Final watched by millions of people around the world.
Spin the globe now to Australia, where Knox Gibson is no stranger to delighting international TV audiences.
Knox was fitted with a Hero Arm early 2022, and has been documenting his journey on instagram @captain_knoxie.
In 2022, Knox made his TV debut with Forgive Us Our Trespasses on Netflix, and just hot off the press, Knox has landed a role in the latest Hunger Games prequel movie coming out in November as Bobbin, a male tribute from District 8.
Here at Open Bionics we know limb differences make no difference, and it’s awesome to see Hero Arm users reaching for the stars and making their dreams come true through awesome talent and skills.
Wanna try out the Hero Arm? Register to book a free trial.
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