New Delhi, June 25 (ANI/Business Wire India): Touch Bionics, Scottish developer of the world’s first commercially available bionic hand, today announced its market entry into India.

The company’s Indian distributor, Innovative Prosthetics and Orthotics Pvt Ltd., officially launched the i-LIMB Hand, the world’s most advanced upper limb prosthetic device, in India today. Representatives from Scottish Development International and Spinal Injuries Hospital attended the event to witness the unveiling of this groundbreaking device.

Innovative Prosthetics and Orthotics, leader in the prosthetics and orthotic industry in India, has pioneered several innovative services to clinics and hospitals. The bionic hand is arguably the most revolutionary of the prosthetic products it has brought to India.

Announcing the launch, Touch Bionics Director of International Sales Gaurav Mishra said: “Our market entry into India demonstrates the rapid expansion of Touch Bionics globally. Within less then two years from launch the company has sold over 700 hands and is now shipping to over 30 countries.

Besides the i-LIMB Hand, we also see great potential in India for our LIVINGSKIN products, which are used for aesthetic restoration. Early market entry into India is a strong indicator of future plans as Touch Bionics addresses emerging markets like India. With the government’s efforts towards health reforms, we hope that advanced devices like the i-LIMB Hand will become easily available to all citizens in India.”

“We receive many patient enquires from India for Touch Bionics products and are extremely pleased to have successfully concluded a partnership arrangement with Innovative Prosthetics and Orthotics to represent us and promote our products in India,” he added.

“Innovative Prosthetics and Orthotics is delighted to have secured distribution rights to such an exciting product,” said Rakesh Srivastava, President and CEO of Innovative Prosthetics and Orthotics. “This agreement is a continuation of our efforts towards providing the very newest technologies to our patients in India.” We are a company in evolution and we will continue to find newer and better ways to deliver innovative services to all our patients and partnering clinics and hospitals.

Scottish Development International Country Manager for India Mark Hallan commented: “It is excellent to see a Scottish company leading the way in this field on the global stage. Scotland is a world leader in innovation in medical devices and this latest venture into the Indian market by Touch Bionics reinforces that reputation. I look forward to more collaboration that can bring further ground-breaking technology to India.”

Since its debut, the I-LIMB Hand’s cutting-edge technology has already been recognised with numerous awards and accolades, including the MacRobert Award by the UK Royal Academy of Engineering, DaVinci Award by the U.S. National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Best Prosthetic or Orthotic Product Innovation Award by the UK Limbless Association, and an inclusion in Time Magazine’s Top 50 Inventions of 2008. (ANI)