Artificial limb maker Touch Bionics sold for £27.5m

WEST Lothian artificial limb developer in '˜safe hands' after deal says founder David Gow.

Nine-year-old Josh Cathcart was the first person in the UK to be fitted with Touch Bionics' new bionic hand. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Artificial limb maker Touch Bionics has been sold to an Icelandic peer in a £27.5 million deal, it was confirmed ­yesterday.

The Livingston-based firm was sold by its shareholders – including Archangel Investors, Scottish Investment Bank and management – to Ossur, which provides “prosthetic, bracing and supports ­solutions”.

Touch Bionics was the first company to develop an electrically powered prosthetic hand with five independently powered fingers. The business employs more than 120 people across its operations in Scotland, Germany and the US.

Founder David Gow said: “My aspirations for Touch Bionics have been more than realised and I am extremely proud and delighted that Touch’s new home will be with Ossur.
“I am confident that this will mean that the i-limb 
and i-digits will be taken forward in safe hands, enabling even more wearers to benefit from this life enhancing technology.”