PhysioNetics Gets National Institutes of Health Grant

PhysioNetics has received a $750,000 phase II grant from National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue its development work on an new ‘gripper’ for upper-extremity prostheses. The fund is intended to conduct clinical research with upper-extremity amputees to demonstrate that the company’s Vari-Pinch Prehensor (V2P) reduces cumulative injury and overuse syndrome among users.

The company has said, V2P’s patented design allows users to easily adjust the gripper’s pinch force to match the requirements of specific activities and reduce muscle fatigue and lower the risk of repetitive stress injuries.

In addition to the V2P, PhysioNetics has also developed International Transradial Adjustable Limb (I-TAL), which it claims is an affordable, comfortable and resilient upper-extremity prosthesis intended to benefit millions of amputees worldwide.

The company has added that the evaluations of the V2P and I-TAL in Jamaica and Colorado proved that the units are able to survive strenuous activities like those associated with farming and other occupations that require physical strength and dexterity. The grant also will be used to modify the V2P for commercial production.