Ukrainian startup Dotyk Fingers creates 3D-printed mechanical prostheses for people who have lost parts of their fingers. As CEO of the startup, Oleksandr Ternovyi, told Vector, the idea for the company arose from volunteer work with Ukrainian veterans undergoing treatment and prosthetics in Germany.
"Faced with bureaucracy and refusals from insurance companies to provide finger prostheses, I noticed that even locals couldn't receive such assistance, although the German medical system is considered one of the best in the world. Regardless of age, physical condition, or even plans to stay in Germany, patients lacked access to functional solutions for their fingers," he explained.
According to the founders, product development began in June 2024, and in less than six months, they created their first finger prosthesis, which replaces the first phalanx.
To order finger prostheses from Dotyk Fingers, the process works as follows:
- The person sends a photo of their hand with a 10-hryvnia coin.
- Using artificial intelligence, precise measurements are determined, and the model automatically adjusts to these parameters.
- One or two prototypes are sent to the client for testing. If the size is incorrect, it is adjusted again.
- Once the client confirms everything is satisfactory, the final prosthesis is made from nylon and sent to the client.
The startup team explained that no permit from the Ministry of Health is required for distribution in Ukraine. However, to allow someone to receive prostheses at the state's expense, Dotyk Fingers must include their products in the medical device register with the relevant documentation, which the team plans to do in the coming months.
The primary users of the product are veterans and workers, such as carpenters and metalworkers, who have lost fingers on the job.
"The main problem is that modern functional finger prostheses cost from 3,000 euros per finger, and in cases of complex amputations, up to 17,000 euros. At the same time, governments and insurance companies rarely cover such expenses, leaving people with only cosmetic solutions, which are often also expensive and not always functional. We aim to make prostheses affordable by localizing production, automating the manufacturing process, and using AI to transmit measurements directly to patients, which significantly reduces the cost," Oleksandr Ternovyi explains.
