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                 3D Printing Can Efficiently Create Prosthetics

   by Elizabeth Lee

   People who are missing a hand or an arm traditionally would have to pay
   thousands of dollars and wait for weeks for an artificial one, called a
   prosthesis. But 3D printing is providing a much cheaper and faster
   alternative. 3D printed hands are changing the lives of children around
   the world. One such child lives in a town just south of Los Angeles.
   A 3D printed hand like the one Faith Lennox is wearing has many names:
   "super hero hand" or "robot hand."

   It's pink, purple, and blue, and it's made of the same type of plastic
   as Lego bricks. Faith said her friends at school think it's really
   cool. "They want a robot hand, too," said Lennox.

   Faith will be eight years old this year. Her arm was amputated when she
   was nine-months-old, said her mother, Nicole Lennox.

   "When she was born, somehow the circulation to her left forearm got cut
   off causing something called compartment syndrome," she said.
   Free prosthetic hands

   Through an online support group, Nicole Lennox heard about an
   organization called e-NABLE that uses 3D printers to create free
   prosthetic hands for children around the world.
   She also met Mark Lengsfeld, the owner of Build It Workspace, which
   does engineering and design work. He also has a few 3D printers. Nicole
   Lennox asked if Lengsfeld could print her daughter a prosthetic hand.
   Lengsfeld said, "sure."

   "We just looked at it as 'Well, it's printing a part. Why not?" If it's
   a prosthetic hand or a bracket, it's a part," said Lengsfeld.

   With the help of designs and instructions from the e-NABLE website,
   Lengsfeld printed the device part-by-part and assembled it for Faith.

   "We hadn't seen anything like this before. Wow, let's try this and see
   what this is all about and also how we can help a little girl ride a
   bike ultimately," he said.
   Mark Suarkeo specializes in making traditional prosthetic limbs. "3D
   printing versus traditional can save a lot of time, a lot of hours, a
   lot of manpower," said Suarkeo.

   A traditional prosthesis can take one to two months to make and fit,
   and it costs thousands of dollars. On the other hand, a 3D printed hand
   takes as little as just a few days to print and assemble. e-NABLE says
   it can cost about $30.
   Helping children
   The organization makes and sends devices of different sizes to
   underdeveloped countries without 3D printers - so local doctors can
   distribute them.

   "With this type of technology, I believe that 3D printing will enable
   these people to receive prosthetic devices and also change the way they
   live their lives and also change the way that they can provide for
   their families," said Suarkeo.

   Suarkeo said 3D printed hands are great for children, who outgrow them
   so quickly. In a Skype interview, e-NABLE'S John Wong said there also
   are psychological benefits.

   "I myself was born missing fingers so I was teased and bullied when I
   was in school, so I know all too well what sort of issues children go
   through," said Wong.

   Nicole Lennox said she definitely has seen a change in her daughter
   with her robot hand. "It's opened so many doors for her and just built
   so much confidence - just really, really touching."

   "I can hold onto my bike handle and sit nice and tall," said Faith.

   And if Faith outgrows or breaks a piece of her robot hand, she just has
   to print a new part.


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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/three-dimensional-printing-can-effiec
   iently-create/2836725.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/three-dimensional-printing-can-effieciently-create/2836725.html