Ann Arbor, MI – Oct. 25, 2026 – Blue Arbor Technologies, Inc., a company developing novel neuromuscular interfaces and next-generation prosthetic control solutions for people with limb loss, today announced the close of its $10.5 million Series A financing round. The Series A was led by Blue Arbor’s strategic partner Ottobock, the global leader in prosthetics, neuro-orthotics, and wearable human bionics.
Blue Arbor Technologies Raises $10.5 Million Series A Led by Ottobock
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#prostheticsBlue Arbor TechnologiesOtobockneuro orthoticswearable human bionicsRESTORE ESURESTORE ISU
The financing will be used to fuel progress on the RESTORE™ Neuromuscular Interface System, a first-of-its kind platform that has the potential to fundamentally transform how people with limb loss control their prosthetic devices. Proceeds will be used to complete feasibility studies and to pursue FDA Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) to support clinical studies in the U.S. for the RESTORE™ ESU. In tandem, Blue Arbor will also begin development of the RESTORE™ ISU.
“Blue Arbor’s technology has the potential to set a new standard in prosthetic
control,” said Oliver Jakobi, Chief Executive Officer of Ottobock. “This
investment reflects our approach to deploying capital in areas that complement
our core business and offer significant long-term growth potential. Together,
we aim to translate pioneering research into scalable solutions that deliver
meaningful value for people with limb loss.”
The RESTORE™ System is designed to enable independent and simultaneous control of the fingers, wrist, and elbow, unlocking levels of dexterity, speed, and
reliability that approach natural limb movement and provide unparalleled
control of today’s most advanced prostheses. Blue Arbor is developing two
versions: an external sensing unit (ESU) interface and a fully implantable,
next-generation internal sensing unit (ISU) interface that seamlessly
integrates into the RESTORE™ System platform.
"This funding is a testament to the team, the science, and the patients driving this work,” said Tod Borton, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Arbor Technologies.
“With two successful human implantations thus far, we are looking forward to
helping more patients through our collaboration with Ottobock. This is a
pivotal moment for Blue Arbor and for the field of prosthetic control — we are closing the gap between where the technology is today and where it needs to be for the millions of people living with limb loss."
Feasibility studies continue to advance, highlighted by a successful second-in-human procedure using the RESTORE™ ESU at the Medical University of Vienna, one of Europe's foremost centers for reconstructive and prosthetic surgery.
“We have been extremely impressed with the results of these initial surgeries,
particularly how quickly and naturally patients have adapted to the technology," said Prof. Oskar Aszmann, Director of the Center for Bionic
Extremity Reconstruction, Medical University of Vienna. “As doctors, it is our
onus to provide solutions to improve our patients’ lives and with the RESTORE
System we have been able to bring intuitive hand movement back to those who
never thought they’d experience it again.”
Blue Arbor's RESTORE™ System technology was recently selected to support a clinical study led by the University of Michigan, funded by a UG3 grant from the
National Institutes of Health. The study will compare the effectiveness of
surface electrodes against implanted electrodes for prosthetic control. The
RESTORE™ System received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation and has
been accepted into the FDA’s Total Product Life Cycle (TPLC) Advisory Program (TAP) Pilot.
For more information about the RESTORE™ System and Blue Arbor Technologies, please visit https://bluearbortech.com.
About Blue Arbor Technologies
Blue Arbor Technologies is a medical device company devoted to the development of next-generation robotic control systems for people with limb loss so they can intuitively, accurately, and reliably control a prosthetic device with unparalleled degrees of freedom. The RESTORE™ System is a neuromuscular interface system that provides a direct connection between the patient’s peripheral nervous system and their robotic prosthetic limb. Blue Arbor Technologies is a privately held company located in Grass Lake, Michigan. For more information, please visit https://bluearbortech.com and
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Parinaz Farzin, Senior Associate
310-600-6746 | parinaz@mplushealth.com
Author
TH
TJ Halvorson
The De Angelis Group | Orthopedics This Week | MSK Innovations
Why This Matters
Two Perspectives
MBA Lens: Economic and industry impact
Blue Arbor Technologies secured $10.5 million in Series A funding, led by strategic partner Ottobock, a global leader in prosthetics. This investment will accelerate U.S. clinical studies and product development for the RESTORE Neuromuscular Interface System, targeting enhanced prosthetic control. The collaboration with Ottobock signals strong market validation and a clear path for commercialization, aiming to set new standards in a high-growth segment.
- Ottobock's strategic investment underscores confidence in Blue Arbor's technology, potentially accelerating market adoption and competitive positioning.
- Funds are earmarked for FDA IDE and U.S. clinical studies for RESTORE ESU, indicating a focused regulatory and market entry strategy.
PhD Lens: Clinical and outcomes impact
Blue Arbor Technologies is developing the RESTORE Neuromuscular Interface System, a platform designed to provide intuitive, accurate control of prosthetic devices by creating a direct connection between the patient's peripheral nervous system and the limb. This system aims to enable independent and simultaneous control of fingers, wrist, and elbow, approaching natural limb movement. Both external (ESU) and implantable (ISU) versions are under development.
- The RESTORE System's mechanism focuses on enhancing dexterity, speed, and reliability through novel neuromuscular interfaces for advanced prosthetic control.
- Clinical feasibility is supported by successful human implantations and an NIH-funded study comparing surface versus implanted electrodes for prosthetic control.
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Discussion
This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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