Man Makes 3D Printed Prosthetic Hand For Son For Only $10

[Playinghardball]

Twelve-year-old Leon McCarthy has been missing fingers on his left hand since birth due to lack of blood flow during his development. within the womb. Traditional prosthetic units to help people like Leon can run tens of thousands of dollars. In search of a cost-effective alternative, Leon’s father discovered a YouTube video by inventor Ivan Owen. Owen and Richard Von As from Johannesberg, South Africa began to collaborate on a high quality, low cost 3D printed prosthetic (which has already been covered by IFLScience). Because Owen and Van As do not hold a patent or charge to download the plans for the hand, the cost of materials is all that is required.

Despite the materials being inexpensive, 3D printers still carry a hefty price tag. Fortunately, Leon’s school owns a 3D printer and made it available. With only $10 in material and about 20 minutes with the printer, Leon now has a new “cyborg” hand with fingers able to close, which he sees as “special, not different.” The fingers are controlled by flexing the wrist, which pulls on cable “tendons” to close around the desired object.

Leon is now able to grasp his backpack handle, hand a snack to a friend, and even grip the handlebars on his bike just like any other kid with two hands. As Leon grows up, Paul will merely have to print another device to accommodate the larger wrist. Because the hands are so inexpensive to build, the two have been able to tweak different designs in order to find something to better suit Leon’s needs.

http://www.iflscience.com/technology/man-makes-3d-printed-prosthetic-hand-son-only-10

[djean111]

1. This seems so simple and wonderful a solution, with enormous implications.

They have cut out the profit factor.
Will this sort of thing hamper inventiveness? Or spur it on.
I was just thinking was it expensive to create something like this from scratch - tools and dies and molds, etc., and then making little tweaks and changes, starting over or whatever - and now - just print out another one.

[roguevalley]

6. when they do prosthetic legs, I am on board. An accident cost my

sister hers from the knee down. 40K for each new leg. You want to fight an insurance company hard? Lose a limb.

[Live and Learn]

14. What is really cool about this technology is

that people who use the devices will be able to create and perfect their own and share plans and ideas with others.

[Scootaloo]

2. Efforts to shut down the technology in 3... 2... 1...

I'm sure the medical community is genuinely thrilled with something like this. You don't practice medicine simply because you like the paycheck, after all.

However, the companies that supply equipment and medicine are... distressingly less magnanimous.

[CFLDem]

16. I agree. Good thing this is one technology

that is too revolutionary to monopolize.

[Hekate]

3. That is a stunningly wonderful use of technology.

[Voice for Peace]

8. AND of the internet itself! to be able to find solutions in our vast world.. a few clicks, likes,

and shares away.

[meow2u3]

4. Being able to function like a normal kid: priceless

WTG, Dad! You did great for your son!

[xfundy]

5. Not too many years ago, people would never address topics like this in public.

I know that sounds impossible, but it's true. People with unformed/differently formed parts, different bodies, etc., were to be kept out of public view, shunned, shamed. Any devices/prosthetics were "flesh" colored, which matched no one's actual skin tone, and were to be camouflaged and never spoken of.

I am so happy this kid chose bright green and has no shame, because no one should ever have shame over being different in any way. Fantastic! Times have changed so much even in recent years.

[FailureToCommunicate]

17. Well, maybe, but over fifty million Americans are hard to hide...

(And it's a club that's not hard to join)


http://waronterrornews.typepad.com/.a/6a00e551d9d3fd88330147e2959b9e970b-320wi

[eridani]

7. What about the electronic parts?

That should be included in the total cost. Still, the plastic part looks to be very well done.

[passiveporcupine]

9. there are no electronic parts

it is all mechanical

[eridani]

11. And all plastic? Thought I saw som metal in there. n/t

[passiveporcupine]

12. there may be some metal pins or screws

I don't see any metal parts formed by a 3D printer. The hardware was probably pretty cheap.

[spanone]

10. wonderful! and much better than making 3D guns.

[Live and Learn]

13. Very cool. nt

[blackspade]

15. A great use for 3-d printers.

Much better than weaponry.