Google grants £1m to prosthetic limb venture

ProPortion, a Netherlands-based social enterprise, has received the funding for its LegBank venture that provides limbs to amputees on low incomes.

The limbs use Majicast, a hands-free device used for manufacturing lower limb prosthetic sockets that has been developed by researchers in Strathclyde’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and engineers with design company Reggs.

The Google.org funding will enable production by LegBank, and its distribution to developing countries, to be expanded. It is initially focusing on Colombia, which has one of the highest number of landmine victims worldwide. The venture could be adapted for use in other countries alongside its pilot programme in Colombia.

Dr Arjan Buis, a Senior Research Fellow in Strathclyde’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, said: “We are delighted that proportion has received this funding from Google.org. It will make a significant contribution to Legbank’s work in delivering high quality prostheses to people who need them – but often have great difficulty getting access to them.