Ian Davis utilized the skills he acquired in his day job to create a bionic hand after his medical insurance company refused to cover the cost. Despite prosthetics being more common than 20 years ago, they remain expensive, and most people cannot afford them. In countries like the US, health insurance often does not cover even basic prosthetics.

Davis faced this harsh reality after four of his five fingers were amputated in 2018. As a mechanical engineer, he was able to design and build his own prosthetic hand, which resembles something from The Terminator. His journey began due to Multiple Myeloma, a form of cancer that weakens bones. Following a shopping accident that resulted in broken bones, doctors had to amputate four fingers on his left hand.

Initially, Davis believed his insurance would cover the prosthetic, but the company denied his claim, stating that since his palm was still functional, the fingers were not ‘medically necessary.’ Undeterred, Davis began sketching designs for the bionic hand from his hospital bed.

Over the past six years, Davis has refined his bionic hand through numerous iterations, a process he has documented on his YouTube channel. The current version, machined from aluminum, allows him full use of his hand. When Davis moves his wrist or hand, a series of linkages transmits the movement to the fingers. Chains on the fingers cause them to curl closed, and they spring back open when tension is released.

This impressive feat of engineering highlights both Davis’s ingenuity and the challenges many face in accessing necessary medical devices.

Ian Davis, a mechanical engineer, faced a daunting challenge after losing four fingers in a shopping accident. His insurance company, citing a functional palm, refused to cover a prosthetic hand, deeming it “not medically necessary.”

Undeterred, Davis channeled his engineering skills into an incredible feat. Confined to his hospital bed, he began sketching designs for a bionic hand. Over the next six years, documented on his YouTube channel, he tirelessly refined his creation.

The result? A fully functional, machined-aluminum bionic hand that mimics his hand and wrist movements. A series of linkages transmits these movements, allowing the fingers to curl closed with chains and spring back open when tension is released.

This story highlights the determination of individuals like Davis and the high cost of prosthetics, which can be a barrier for many.