So if you haven't already caught the news that Ambionics has merged with glaze prosthetics then here it is!

The private company (Ambionics International Limited) is closing down and all of the IP and design rights are being transferred to Glaze. HOWEVER the equipment, website and domain and this channel will be transferred to the (currently dormant) non-profit company that I originally set up to help Sol - Ambionics Limited. This channel will now be run as part of a non profit network including Ambionics Ecuador and our Academic partners here in the UK.

The soon-to-launch Design Engineering Focus Group will provide access to 3D files (with the blessing of Glaze Prosthetics) at the All Star tier (3). This enables Ambionics to process a single $25 payment from subscribers who can then remain at tier 3 or move to a different tier. Members will continue to have access to the focus group as long as their subscription continues. The $25 is simply to cover the cost of admin which will be done in the first week of each month. (Proof of identity, address and agreement to Ambionics' terms and conditions is required).

A new scanning video will be produced this month too using the kinect and structure sensors (with iPad and PC). I will aim for the last day of the month but it is going to be a very busy month! Apologies in advance if this is a few days late. The announcement on the glaze Facebook page went of REALLY well. Masses of interest and tonnes of inquiries.

Kate and I are flying out to Poland in May with the boys to meet the team and attend a special event they are planning with the winning contestants. Of course the whole thing will be shared with our subscribers here as a fly on the wall episode. This will be a GREAT few months!

Having the stability and guaranteed income from the merger with Glaze is hugely beneficial to this channel. We have a great agreement with them - they fully support what we are doing here together. Things are looking better than they have ever done before :)

Best Wishes

Ben

https://youtu.be/XJlW0Xw20Dc

"I am a Chinese mom. My son is at the age of one and two months who was born with a missing left forearm. I got the news when I was six months pregnant. I felt my world crumble at that moment. After the baby was born, I began to search the Internet for all kinds of information about prosthetics, but almost all of prosthetics are suitable for adults, at least 8 years old.

Luckily, I read the news that Ben Ryan made a prosthetic for his son by himself , and set up Ambionics. After the successful contact, I learned more about what Ben had done. Ben is currently helping me design my son's prosthetic arm, which is a big step forward for me. I am also trying to learn the knowledge of 3D modeling and printing. Ben patiently instructed me how to debug the printer and carefully carried out 1:1 courses teaching me how to design a socket. Although I was just beginning to learn 3D printing and my English was not well, he gave me patience and encouragement so that I could see my progress.

Ben's help to me is not only to make artificial limbs for my child, but also to build my confidence and let me see more possibilities of artificial limbs for children in the future. Ben is doing something great, and I'd love to join him. I know the process of building up Ambionics must be fraught with difficulties for Ben, but I believe he will succeed. I cannot express my gratitude to Ben. I wish Ambionics better and better. I also wish Ben and his family health and happiness".

Zi Li NingXia Province, China Ambionics Subscriber

BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW One to One support sessions available for Ambionics Associates (Tier 4) Limited availability (5 seats remaining for the rest of March) #BeTheChange

So proud of my boy. Proof of concept has been established for an Ambionics collaboration with Newcastle University. Can't wait to see where this leads. Massive thanks to Dr Matthew Dyson for coming all the way down from Newcastle to test this experimental new platform.
Ladies and Gents you have just witnessed the future of pediatric prosthetics. Today we moved a step closer to changing the world. You saw it here first

Stay tuned for more updates!

Ben & Sol

Game assist update 2 The 3D printed upper arm strap is looking good. Might make it thicker. The nGen flex bellow contacts the trigger easily under pneumatic pressure from the actuator and the whole B button assembly just clips on and off the Wii remote. Now Harry Potter can cast spells :)

Due to the extraordinary way that Sol has engaged with my prosthetics he was accepted on to a training programme under the NHS much earlier than usual. Sol is now working with a very good occupational therapist at the Wrexham Limb Centre in the UK

It is my pleasure to announce that he is kicking out a strong, reliable signal from the elbow and the prosthetist is making a socket with an integrated EMG sensor for a voluntary open / involuntary close Ottobock hand. I am thrilled for him. It has taken a lot of patience and dedication to get to this point.

Meanwhile I have been having lots of interesting conversations with Microsoft, Unilever and two UK Universities. I'm trying to pull something very special together that will benefit thousands and thousands of kids and adults around the world. Its very cool. Trust me.

Today's appointment was pivotal because it was the acid test to see if the above was something Ambionics was going to commit to. (Selfishly I am working towards the needs of my boy first and foremost). If it hadnt worked then I would have focused more on the body powered solutions like Game Assist. Whilst I had done EMG tests with Sol last year it was great to have everything confirmed by a clinician.

Many infants like Sol are unable to generate an EMG signal that is strong enough because of muscle atrophy. Kids who wear prosthetics like Sol and Lea (on this channel) develop stronger, arms with better muscle tone so this directly primes them for success with myo-electric devices. I cant wait to share more with you soon. Stay tuned.

Ben

https://youtu.be/qWzvDa3qRWU

Sol has been ill lately with a tummy bug. He has been off school and not eating very much all week. Consequently his socket began coming loose. A rubber sleeve helped (I will do a quick tips on this soon) but the arm was still loose. This morning I printed a smaller test socket but it was still too large! I now have the right size but I was shocked to see that the new one is 3.2% smaller than the arm I made for him in December. Thank the maker for digital scaling and parametric modelling. Full socket now printing ready for the weekend 😁

Ambionics is proudly supported by Microsoft https://youtu.be/kcG2bJg2my0

Young Master Sol, Electronica, Munich, Nov 2018 #Engineering #Technology #STEM #AmbionicBoy

The Modular Torsion Hand is still being developed. I think I've found a comfortable way to make a harness to operate it. A few more tweaks and I think Sol should be able to start testing it in the field... and on the beach.. and in the mountains... and climbing up trees!