Car giant grants boy’s wish for bionic arm

Matthew James, who is from Berkshire, wrote to Mr Brawn asking him if the company would pay for a prosthetic limb for him. The hand Matthew had set his heart on normally costs over £25,000 and is not generally available from the NHS. Matthew even suggested he would wear Mercedes sponsorship on the new hand.

Matthew’s skill at writing persuasive letters, in addition to his confidence in approaching the F1 boss, paid off and now he is the proud owner of a customised i-LIMB Pulse bionic hand. The electronic limb can carry 90kg but weighs less than half a kilo. The hand will help Matthew with everyday fine motor tasks such as writing and brushing his hair.

Technology exchange

The technologies involved with creating prosthetic limbs have similarities with those of advanced motor engineering and the specifications for the limb seem like those of a particularly hi-tech piece of precision machinery.

In fact, part of the reason why Matthew was able to get his new hand was because the company which manufactured it was keen to work with Mercedes and share some of its technological knowledge.

Since the initial approach the two companies have established a positive relationship and, in exchange for access to technology services that have benefited its research and development team, Touch Bionics offered its clinical services for the fitting of Matthew’s new hand free of charge.

Despite the generosity of both companies, Matthew still needs to raise an extra £10,000 for the remaining cost of his hand.

“Best tool available”

Matthew’s father Rob says the new limb is a big improvement on the basic hand which Matthew formerly used and which prompted him to contact Ross Brawn: “The arm he has at the moment gives him basic functionality but what Matthew wants is to get that stage further.

“You have a limb which looks more natural but also works in a much more natural way so you can pick up an object with the individually motored fingers.”