Armenian startup produces prosthetic hands from scratch (video)
YEREVAN, April 29, /ARKA/. They design, model, print, and assemble prosthetic arms using 3D printers. Young members of the startup ArmBionics create prosthetic hands from scratch, the press service of Acba Bank reported.
Startup director and co-founder Marina Davtyan is a medical student who started a research project with friends in 2017. But after the 2020 war (in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone), they started working with a new fervor to help boys with disabilities.
The startup is developing three types of prostheses - myoelectric, partial and mechanical, which will work on the fingers, wrist and elbow.
ArmBionics is one of the recipients of the Stepan Gishyan Charitable Foundation's 2021 grant program. The startup used the funds of the foundation to buy computer equipment, materials and equipment necessary to improve the prototypes.
Thanks to the support, the team grew and new jobs were created. The startup brought together Diaspora Armenian volunteers from different corners of the world.
"The project brought together young people from Armenia and the Diaspora of different professions, whose goal is to assemble prosthetic hands from scratch in accordance with international standards, to implement it all in Armenia. The startup gives newcomers and students the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge which they will be able to put into practice. I am pleased to note that our foundation is the first organization in Armenia to contribute to this important project" said Stepan Gishyan Charitable Foundation Director Anna Gishyan.
For her part, Marina Davtyan, co-founder of the startup ArmBionics, noted that the beneficiaries are people with upper limb disabilities who have had amputations at different levels.
"Our products come in several types: we focus on the development and production of prostheses below the elbow. We are very encouraged by the fact that, thanks to the support of the foundation, we have been able to replenish the team and attract new employees. We also managed to bring one of our volunteers from Diaspora to Armenia, which is very important," Davtyan said.
The first beneficiaries will receive mechanical prostheses. One beneficiary has already received an elbow prosthesis, a second beneficiary has received a partial prosthesis, and a third beneficiary's prosthesis is in the process of being created.
The Stepan Gishyan Charitable Foundation was founded by ACBA Bank, French Credit Agricole, the National Federation of Credit Agricole, and the Gishyan family. The programs of the Foundation are aimed at strengthening the Armenian-French relations, improvement and enhancement of social-economic, scientific-educational, cultural and medical systems of Armenia.
Details in the video. -0-
