Coapt Systems

About Coapt Systems

Coapt is a human-machine interface company that operates in the medical technology sector, specifically focusing on advanced prosthetic control systems for individuals with upper-limb differences. Founded in 2012 by Blair Lock, Levi Hargrove, Jon Sensinger, and Todd Kuiken, the company emerged from research conducted at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. The founders identified an opportunity to commercialize myoelectric pattern recognition technology, an idea that traces its conceptual roots back to the 1960s at the University of New Brunswick's Institute of Biomedical Engineering but was not viable until technology advanced sufficiently.

The company's core business revolves around developing and manufacturing control systems that act as the "brain" for prosthetic arms, rather than producing the prosthetic hands or limbs themselves. Its primary clients are clinicians and prosthetists who integrate Coapt's technology into various prosthetic solutions to meet patient needs. The business model centers on the sale of these sophisticated controller kits and providing comprehensive support to ensure optimal use. Coapt has also secured federal contracts to supply its technology to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD). In February 2025, Hanger, Inc., a major provider of orthotic and prosthetic patient care services, announced an agreement to acquire Coapt, aiming to broaden the technology's use and improve patient outcomes.

Coapt's flagship product is the COMPLETE CONTROL® system, now in its second generation (Gen2). This system utilizes pattern recognition and machine learning algorithms to decode the unique myoelectric signals generated by a user's residual muscles. When a person intends to move their missing limb, their brain sends signals to the remaining muscles, creating distinct electrical patterns. The Coapt controller, an add-on kit inside the prosthesis, reads these patterns in real-time via eight pairs of electrodes and translates them into intuitive, natural control of the prosthetic hand, wrist, or elbow. A key benefit is that it does not require strong or isolated muscle signals, making it accessible to a wider range of users. The system is compatible with over 400 prosthetic component configurations from various manufacturers. Users can perform a quick calibration process and fine-tune settings via the Control Companion™ mobile app, which allows the system to adapt and learn continuously.