That’s the hero he deserves.
Praveen Gowtham has mostly avoided using prosthetics throughout his life.
This Bronx physicist lost part of his arm shortly after birth due to a birth defect and found traditional prosthetics to be unwieldy and less functional than advertised.
However, last month marked a turning point when he became the first person globally to receive the Hero FLEX robotic arm, a groundbreaking 3D-printed device designed for above-elbow amputees.
Just an hour post-operation, the 43-year-old scientist was already performing tasks he could seldom manage with standard prosthetics—like holding a dog leash and independently opening a drink container for the first time.
“You can hold the bottle and torque it in the opposite direction,” Gowtham explained. “It makes a huge difference. I’m already noticing it.”
The new device even allows him to use a finger, a big improvement from his previous prosthetics, which he could only wear for about 30 minutes each day. Now, he wears this advanced arm nearly full-time.
Hero FLEX is the inaugural above-elbow socket developed by Open Bionics, a UK-based company that has pioneered clinically approved 3D-printed bionic prosthetics.
It integrates cutting-edge robotics and artificial intelligence, syncing with muscle signals to switch between various grip patterns for daily tasks.
Much like a high-tech Swiss Army knife, the arm can also adapt with specialized attachments for activities ranging from gardening to playing billiards, easily switched in and out.
“It’s very easy and intuitive to switch between them,” Gowtham shared, hailing its lightweight and breathable design. “That’s a big feature.”
This innovation illustrates how 3D technology is transforming healthcare, enabling personalized body part replacements. Examples include a custom knee implant made for a patient in the UK and a 3D-printed eyeball received by a British man in 2021.
For Gowtham, this arm filled a significant gap he felt since childhood.
Due to a birth defect that cut off blood circulation to his right arm, doctors amputated it below the elbow just eight days after his birth to prevent gangrene.
Growing up with one hand posed both psychological and physical hurdles.
He recalled a moment playing basketball when one of his shoelaces came undone. “What do I do?” he thought, realizing he’d need his friends’ help to tie his shoes while everyone watched.
Pursuing experimental physics added its own challenges, requiring precise tasks like soldering tiny components.
“I’ve designed, built, or repaired ultra-high vacuum equipment, which needs both dexterity and strength,” he noted.
Over the years, he improvised, practicing movements with rubber bands. Yet, he wished better prosthetics had been available to him when he was younger.
“There was a time when I didn’t use any prosthetics. I really wish I had a good prosthesis,” he admitted.
Gowtham’s frustrations stem from his experiences with cumbersome prosthetics that were too heavy and poorly designed. “Even if they had features, they weren’t really useful,” he remarked.
Eventually, he began following advancements in prosthetic technology and contacted Open Bionics when they were still refining their above-elbow devices.
After a year, he was fitted with this life-changing arm that feels incredibly comfortable.
Researchers noted the arm responds effortlessly to muscle movements, enabling levels of articulation previously unattainable.
The manufacturer explains that each Hero FLEX socket is 3D scanned and printed for an individualized fit, with wireless sensors placed for optimal muscle signal reception.
This setup allows for instant translation of muscle movements into finger actions through Bluetooth, with hardly any delay.
Weighing just 2 pounds, it’s considerably lighter than older models, which were about 9 pounds.
Interestingly, Gowtham uses his FLEX more for coding than lab work, but it has significantly improved his home tasks, from soldering to cutting in the kitchen without risk.
Also noteworthy are advances like Elon Musk’s Neuralink, various helper bots, and AI, which are making technology more integrated and potentially altering perceptions toward prosthetics and enhancements.
Open Bionics even offers themed arm covers inspired by “Star Wars” or other superheroes for those looking to blend in.
Gowtham observes that society hasn’t fully caught up to the potential of prosthetic limbs providing extensive enhancements rather than merely assistance, yet he can envision a future that embraces that idea.
“I think we are getting closer to a time when we might consider upgrading to a cyborg hand,” he reflected. “But are attitudes shifting towards that idea? Yes.”
