Fort Lauderdale Woman Receives Top Of The Line Bionic Hand

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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A Fort Lauderdale woman is one of the first to receive what's being called the most technologically advanced prosthetic hands on the market.

Lizbeth Uzcategui was born without a right arm below her elbow. Ever since she can remember she felt her prosthetic hand couldn't keep up with her.

"I would always get frustrated, like why not me? Why can't I? Why they don't have it for me," she told CBS4's Natalia Zea.

Now, what technology has for her, is changing her life.

Tuesday she had her final fitting for her new iLimb Quantum prosthesis. She's the first female amputee to get it.

"It's the first time, all this wonderful technology, they've been able to compress it into this small hand," she beamed while showing off the new black, streamlined prosthesis.

Matthew Klein of the Hanger Clinic in Tamarac said the hand is top of the line.

"This is the latest and greatest in upper extremity prosthetic hands. It's quicker, it's faster, it's lighter and smaller," said Klein.

What that means for Lizbeth is a world of new possibilities.

From eating, to driving, to reading, Lizbeth says this technology gives her a greater range of motion, through the use of Bluetooth connecting a programmable app and the sensors in her arm socket.

"If I want to point at something I just have to move my hand to the front," she explained.

It also has a full range of motion in the fingers.

"If I want to call you, I can do that too."

Lizbeth used to use a flesh-colored prosthesis but is so happy with her new hand, she plans to walk down the aisle to her fiancé, rocking her white wedding dress and her new black arm.

"I feel empowered. I walk into a room and I used to try to blend in, I don't need to blend in now. I want everybody to know what this is all about. I cannot wait to learn about all the other things I'm going to be capable of doing."

According to Klein, the iLimb Quantum technology, including the socket that controls it, is priced around $90,000 and many insurance companies do not cover it.