A woman has been fitted with ‘the world’s most life-like’ bionic hand

A woman born without a right hand has been able to ride a bike for the first time after being fitted with an incredible bionic hand – described as “the world’s most life-like”.

Nicky Ashwell says since she was fitted with the anatomically accurate prosthetic she is most surprised by the little things she can do, like holding her boyfriend’s hand while carrying her purse.

The 29-year-old from London used to use a cosmetic prosthetic, which didn’t move, but has now been fitted with a “bionic breakthrough” that uses Formula 1 technology to deliver “unrivalled level of precision and natural movements” by prosthetic experts Steeper.

The hand weighs about the same of a bar of chocolate and has small proportions as it has been designed with women and teenagers in mind. It has an accurate skeletal structure designed to provide the most true-to-life movements.

Ashwell said: “When I first tried the bebionic small hand it was an exciting and strange feeling – it immediately opened up so many more possibilities for me.

“I realised that I had been making life challenging for myself when I didn’t need to.

“The movements now come easily and look natural – I keep finding myself being surprised by the little things, like being able to carry my purse while holding my boyfriend’s hand.
“I’ve also been able to do things never before possible like riding a bike and lifting weights.”

The product manager at an online fashion forecasting and trend service was fitted with the hand at the private London Prosthetics Centre.

Ted Varley, technical director at Steeper, said: “Looking to the future, there’s a trend of technology getting more intricate. Steeper has embraced this and created a smaller hand with advanced technology that is suitable for women and teenagers.

“An accurate skeletal structure was firstly developed, with the complex technology then specifically developed to fit within this in order to maintain anatomical accuracy. In other myoelectric hands the technology is developed first, at the expense of the life-likeness.”