Hanger, Inc. announced on 2 November 2026 that it is acquiring Bionic Power, a Canadian company developing smart orthotic technology, including the Agilik microprocessor-controlled knee-ankle-foot orthosis (MPKAFO). The deal is expected to close by the end of the year, according to Hanger’s announcement from Austin, Texas.
Hanger says children and adults in 10 countries with gait impairments from conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida and stroke are now using the Agilik to stand more upright, walk more easily and for longer, gain muscle strength and build confidence. Bionic Power was also recently named to the 2026 Forbes Accessibility 200 list, the announcement says.
What Hanger and Bionic Power have said about the deal
The announcement points to a long-term mobility problem that Bionic Power says it is working to reverse: approximately 50 percent of adolescents with cerebral palsy who can walk will lose that ability in early or middle adulthood. Adoption of the Agilik is described as continuing to grow.
Hanger CEO Pete Stoy said: “Combining Hanger’s clinical research and technical expertise with Bionic Power’s innovative product offering has already proven to be a tremendous success.” He added that bringing the Bionic Power team into the Hanger ecosystem “will only enhance our ability to help more children and adults walk confidently and stay active longer.”
Bionic Power CEO Gualtiero Guadagni will continue to lead the company, which will become part of Hanger’s Products & Services organisation. Guadagni said that becoming part of the Hanger family of brands is “a powerful validation of the real-world outcomes we’re delivering to patients.” The announcement did not state the deal value or terms.
What is the Agilik?
Bionic Power describes the Agilik as a lightweight, powered orthosis that enhances walking ability through real-time biomechanical assistance. It says the device was developed with the NIH Medical Center through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). The announcement does not give clinical outcome data, so the benefits above are the companies’ own description of what users report.
Why the Hanger structure matters
Hanger describes itself as an ecosystem of companies in two segments: Patient Care, with approximately 925 Hanger Clinic locations, and Products & Services, which designs and distributes branded and private-label O&P devices, components and consulting services to the wider O&P community. Placing Bionic Power in Products & Services suggests a role beyond Hanger’s own clinics, although the announcement does not say how the Agilik will be distributed.
IMEA CPO Perspective
The points below are IMEA CPO’s own reading and are separate from the claims in Hanger’s announcement.
- Market structure. The deal adds to the consolidation of O&P clinical services, component supply and technology that IMEA CPO has been tracking, including the planned Hanger and Numotion merger and the wider shift among four global groups.
- Opportunity for CPOs. Cerebral palsy, spina bifida and stroke are common reasons for gait impairment, and the region’s neuro-orthotic needs are significant. Smart orthoses could become a new area of practice for orthotists with the training and workshop capacity to fit them.
- What is not yet known. The announcement does not list the 10 countries, and it does not say whether the Agilik is available, supported or priced for IMEA markets. CPOs should confirm availability, training and aftercare with the manufacturer before planning around it.
- Access and cost. Advanced devices rarely reach low-resource settings quickly. Whether the acquisition widens international distribution is a question to watch after the deal closes.
Suggested hyperlinks / sources
- Hanger, Inc. (announcement of the Bionic Power acquisition, 2 November 2026)
- Bionic Power
- Agilik microprocessor-controlled KAFO
- Forbes Accessibility 200 list
- Hanger Ventures Invests in Prosthetic Fit 360 (IMEA CPO)
- O&P Business News (IMEA CPO)