Coapt signs exclusive license with Purdue to revolutionize bionic limb control

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.; CHICAGO – Coapt, the first and only provider of intuitive control systems for advanced prosthetic arms, on Tuesday (March 8) announced it has licensed implantable technology from Purdue Research Foundation that marks a significant milestone in bionic limb technology.

Coapt already helps some of the more than 100,000 upper-limb amputees in the United States participate in work and daily routines with ease. Its plug-and-play hardware seamlessly integrates with every major powered prosthetic arm component, making it easy for an array of amputees, from soldiers to farmers to lawyers, to regain their independence with minimal training time.

Coapt’s Complete Control system decodes the electrical signals that an amputee’s remaining muscles make as the brain sends information to the missing limb, enabling the user to move the prosthesis intuitively. Currently, this technology is a small device that reads the body’s muscle impulses through sensors placed on the user’s skin inside the prosthetic arm. This gives the user limb control far beyond what is possible with existing prostheses that usually feel unnatural and uncomfortable; however, it has remained limited from its full potential because the sensors on the skin do not receive all of the amputee’s information.

Purdue University researchers developed implantable electrodes to read these electrical signals more clearly from underneath the skin. With the license of this technology, Coapt can advance limb control for amputees even further.

“Our revolutionary control technologies allow amputees to regain their independence with a system that controls their prostheses better than ever before,” said Blair Lock, co-founder and CEO of Coapt. “Our exclusive licensing of Purdue’s implantable technology is a game-changer in prosthetics and orthotics. With this next generation tool in our portfolio, Coapt expands its position as the industry leader in the field of intuitive control.”

“The group at Coapt has developed significant talent and resources, so they are the ideal partner to make this implantable technology available to those who need it,” said Chad Pittman, Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization vice president. “With this license and their innovative expertise, they truly can change the lives of amputees.”

About Coapt

Founded in 2012, Coapt is the first and only company to provide amputees with access to revolutionary and intuitive control technology for advanced prosthetic arms. Started by four leading researchers in the bionics field, Coapt is based on years of research and clinical care at the nation’s leading hospital for comprehensive physical medicine and rehabilitation, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Coapt is an award winning company that strives to improve the quality of life for prosthesis users by applying clinically-dedicated engineering to its portfolio of transformative technologies. For more information, visit www.coaptengineering.com.

About Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization

The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2014 Incubator Network of the Year from the National Business Incubation Association for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at innovation@prf.org.           

Purdue Research Foundation contact: Hillary Henry, 765-588-3586, hkhenry@prf.org

Sources: Molly Summa 312-541-9300 x107, molly.reynolds@sikich.com

Kara Hamstra, 312-541-9300 x106,  khamstra@sikich.com