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UNO Researchers Looking for Study Participants to Test 3D Printed Prosthetic Arms

It’s necessary to perform studies on medical devices, 3D printed or otherwise, to make sure they’re working the way they’re supposed to be. Some examples we’ve heard about include: a Virginia Tech researcher used sensors to compile data about how well 3D printed amniotic band prosthetics were performing, researchers from TU Delft evaluated the level of functionality for a 3D printed hand prosthetic, and a team from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) investigated how a 3D printed partial finger prosthesis changed the patient’s quality of life. Now, UNO researchers have received funding to study how the brain adapts to using 3D printed prosthetic limbs, and they’re looking for research volunteers.

Rue Gillespie has a cap fitted to her head at the labs in the Biomechanics Research Building on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019, in Omaha, Nebraska. The cap was used to help read her brain’s activity as she performs tasks with her right arm and her 3D printed prosthetic arm.

The team was given a Research Project Grant (R01) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which will fund its investigation into changes in neural activity of children who have been regularly using a 3D printed prosthetic arm. The researchers need 40 children, between the ages of 3 and 17, with upper limb differences caused by Amniotic Band Syndrome or other congenital differences, to participate in the study, and e-NABLE is helping them get the word out.

Jorge M. Zuniga, PhD, takes photographs of Rue Gillespie’s arms during a visit to the labs at the Biomechanics Research Building.

Jorge Zuniga, PhD, a UNO associate professor of biomechanics, said, “Essentially what we’ll do with this research study is to try and look at their brain and see how the brain of young children adapt to the use of our prosthesis.”

Zuniga, who designed the Cyborg Beast prosthetic hand for e-NABLE, and Brian Knarr, PhD, another biomechanics associate professor at UNO, are the co-principal investigators for this study, which is building on Zuniga’s prior research to design and produce more affordable 3D printable prosthetic arms for children.

Most typical prosthetic limbs generally cost between $4,000-$20,000, but a children’s prosthesis can be 3D printed and constructed for much less – as little as $50. This lower cost is very helpful, as kids can quickly outgrow, or damage, their prostheses. 3D printing can ensure easy replacement, which in turn helps the children who need them feel more normal.

Jorge M. Zuniga, PhD, measures Rue Gillespie’s arm as her mother Holly holds her during a visit to the labs at the Biomechanics Research Building.

Zuniga explained, “What we do here is basically provide child-friendly prosthetic devices to children that are born without a limb or lose a limb due to an accident.”

Rue Gillespie participates in tests at the labs in the Biomechanics Research Building. To the right is certified hand therapist Jean M. Peck, left. The researchers were looking at the activity in Rue’s brain as she uses her prosthetic arm, which was 3D printed at the lab.

If you know of a child who might be interested and is able to participate in this UNO study, or if you just want more information about the research, email Zuniga at: jmzuniga@unomaha.edu.

So, how do you know if a child qualifies for this important study? First, they have to be between 3 and 17 years of age, with congenital upper limb reductions of the hand (partial hand) or arm (trans-radial). They must not have any musculoskeletal injuries in the upper limbs or skin abrasions, and participants with normal upper limb function have to be able to complete the tests. Finally, they need to be able to travel to the university from any domestic destination.

Rue Gillespie wears a cap fitted to her head at the labs in the Biomechanics Research Building, which was used to help read her brain’s activity as she performs tasks with her right arm and her 3D printed prosthetic arm.

Children who are chosen to be study participants will need to visit the laboratory in the Biomechanics Research Building at the university, accompanied by a parent, on two different occasions eight weeks apart. Zuniga and the research team will provide participants with a 3D printed prosthesis to keep, and between the visits, the child will have to perform several games using the prosthesis. During the visits, they will be asked to wear it and take part in different games, like moving toys or blocks around, while also wearing a cap with attached sensors so their brain activity can be measured. Additionally, multiple measurements of the child’s arms will be taken.

Jorge M. Zuniga, PhD, helps Rue Gillespie put on her prosthesis before she is run through a series of tests on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, in Omaha, Nebraska, at the Gillespie home.

Participants and their families will receive the 3D printed prosthesis at no cost, and will also be provided with a small stipend for participating. Their travel arrangements, transportation, and hotel accommodations – from any domestic destination – will also be covered.

What do you think about this study? Discuss this story and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.

(Source: e-NABLE)

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Enabling the Future: 3D Printed Frog Arm Prosthetic for Epilepsy Patients

While there is always the question of whether life imitates art, or vice versa, science and innovation today often imitate nature—and we humans seem to be getting better at it. A recent case and point involve a new e-NABLE prosthetic called the Frog Arm, developed by e-NABLE designer and volunteer, Peter Binkley.

Most of us take the ability to open our hands and flex our fingers completely for granted. For kids with severe epilepsy who have undergone difficult treatments, however, this can be impossible.

Upon discovering the enormous challenges kids with epilepsy face, Binkley began working with the Brain Recovery Project to create a functional limb replacement for children dealing with life after hemispherectomies—a surgery removing a portion of the brain’s hemisphere to help prevent dangerous seizures.

“In early 2016, I was approached by the Brain Recovery Project. They wanted me to pick up on Elizabeth Jackson’s amazing Airy Arm project. Elizabeth created a wearable arm that allowed a user to open his paralyzed fingers. They wanted something with a similar action. That is, a wearable device that opens the fingers via an extension of the elbow. The BRP wanted me to design a more low-profile, easy-to-wear solution. In September, I began sketching ideas for the Frog Arm,” states Binkley.

“Frog Hand (Frog Arm 0.1) would have been too difficult to manufacture. And I hadn’t even met a test pilot for the device yet, so I had a lot to learn.”

He met with his ‘test subject’ Cameron a few times, noting her exceptional social and academic skills despite the extreme medical treatments she had to endure. Soon after taking measurements and considering the level of functionality required in the prosthetic, Binkley created a 3D printed prototype accentuated with leather, screws, and a variety of cables:

“I was trying to make a device that could give users control of the wrist. With paralyzed tendons, flexing the wrist extends the fingers and extending the wrist flexes the fingers. I was trying to use that biomechanical fact to advantage. Large hair elastics hold the wrist in extension, so the normal position of the hand is closed. When the user extends the elbow, it pulls a cable that flexes the wrist, thereby opening the fingers.”

Numerous iterations were required for version 0.2, so Binkley moved on to the Frog Arm 0.3, using a 3D model and 3D printed forming blocks for better hinge design. He was forced to keep on editing his designs though, moving from 0.3 to 0.4 quickly also:

“The leap from version 0.3 to 0.4 was a big one. I had to attach directly to the fingers somehow. It seemed to me that Cameron’s only needed to be able to actively open her fingers, since they close on their own and remain closed at rest,” said Binkley.

Binkley used an elbow hinge for manipulating the cable, along with nylon tubing to serve as a braking system—allowing the fingers to move ‘relative to the carpals but not bound to the forearm.’ Leather cots made of distressed goat hide were placed around the fingers also. The forearm was not a good fit, however, and Binkley forged ahead to version 0.5.

While Cameron continued to have issues with finger extension due to such long-term paralysis, Binkley decided to discourage regular wear of the device for her due to fear of physical damage. He is continuing to work with another test pilot though, and his experimental open-source design has been released for the Frog Arm on Thingiverse.

e-NABLE has made a huge impact around the world in creating prosthetics for individuals of all ages in need of limb replacement. While these medical devices are meant to add to the quality of life for patients, many of the designs are spectacular—from those meant to help kids play violin to integrating complex features like parametrics, and even adding to veterinary medicine with bird prosthetics.

What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

[Source / Images: Enabling the Future]

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3D Printing in Africa: 3D Printing in Ghana

3D printed hydraulic robot

3D printing in Ghana can be considered to be in transition from the early to middle stage of development. This is in comparison with other active countries such as South Africa or Kenya. Despite the slow development, the West African country has brought quite unique and interesting innovations to the 3D printing ecosystem.

Klaks 3D printer

When one looks at Ghana’s 3D printing landscape, the most outstanding story is the university students who built a 3D printer from electronic waste. The students identified as Klaks 3D took two weeks to build a 3D printer using electronic waste for the bulk of the components. The innovation was intended to enhance teaching and learning basics in schools, particularly in 3D printing. From an African viewpoint, this is encouraging and motivating and even from an environmental worldview, this could be an inspiration. The students approach aligns very well with the principle of zero waste: make a printer from waste and print objects at zero waste.

Student flying 3D printed drone

Another interesting development from Ghana’s 3D printing landscape is the building of a drone by students from a private university. The students at Ashesi University constructed the drone using 3D printed parts and actually posted a video on their Facebook wall showing its flight. The drone is still more of a prototype but is more than good enough to further democratize drone technology. It is not known how long it took the students to build the drone but at least it’s a very positive start.

Little girl with 3D printed arm prosthesis.

A very recent development worth mentioning is the partnership between Tech Era (award winning tech non-profit based in Ghana) and Dextra (Canadian based social enterprise and engineering company) for the creation of an Assistive Technology Makerspace in Ashesi University. The purpose for this development is to create and develop teaching and learning materials for learners with disabilities. Using 3D printing, students working in the Ashesi D-lab will design and develop learning materials for assistive technologies for children with disability. This is a promising development for children with disabilities as they will be able to participate in STEM related programs and make use of the assistive technologies in the future. One can only imagine the joy and relief such an initiative will bring to both the parents and their children with disabilities. The thought of developing learning materials so that they are equipped to be able to participate in the economy is more than blessing if one would put that way. This initiative by Ghana should surely spread to the rest of the continent. I am positive it will make a massive impact not only in Ghana but the continent at large.

Ghana is still treading the journey in utilizing 3D printing technology and with the above mentioned developments they are getting there. The West African country is also on a positive growth phase and so a market based approach would work for Ghana considering the kind of development that it wishes to pursue with 3D printing technology. Delivery of products and services to underprivileged and undeserved markets is very important and required for economic growth and improving standard of living. Funding and resource mobilisation may be important for Ghana in its pursuit to applying 3D printing. The young generation has great interest and are enthusiastic with an eagerness to provide solutions. This is a very healthy condition for 3D printing and an innovative community will emerge as the technology develops.

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3D Printed Prosthetics, Surgical Planning, and Modeling at AMS 2019

The second annual Additive Manufacturing Strategies (AMS) summit, “The Future of 3D Printing in Medicine and Dentistry,” was co-hosted by 3DPrint.com and SmarTech Markets Publishing and held in Boston just two short weeks ago. In addition to two separate tracks for medical and dental 3D printing, keynote presentations on the democratization of medicine and 3D printed medical devices, two pre-conference workshops, and a startup showdown, there was also an exhibition floor at the event with about a dozen booths to visit.

“It’s great,” a representative at the Trimech booth told me when I stopped by to ask how the event was going on the first full day of the summit. “So far really exciting, good conversations happening.”

The table at Trimech’s booth had all sorts of prints sitting out, including a colorful, detailed human skull featuring brains and veins that I was told had been 3D printed on the Stratasys J750.

Ultimaker‘s booth was busy, and I was told that there had been plenty of “good quality” conversations at the booth. On the first day of the summit, the Ultimaker team had been 3D printing a uterus model in white material, with fibroids printed in red material; however, they ran out of white by the second day and so were instead 3D printing a bone model in red.

I stopped by the Trumpf booth, which had some examples of 3D printed dental solutions on display, to speak with the representatives there for a few minutes.

“Of course medical in additive is a big thing,” Trumpf’s Technical Sales Manager Dave Locke told me. “So we’re interested in participating in these activities.”

Graham at the SLM Solutions booth also confirmed that good conversations were being had in the exhibition hall at the summit, and showed me some of the dental applications that they had on display…I saw a lot of 3D printed teeth made out of cobalt chrome in Boston.

While the r.Pod desktop dental 3D printer at the Arfona booth had been busily 3D printing dentures on the previous day, it was just on display during the last day of the event due to a small thing that needed to be fixed.

“We have a few different materials that are all for dental applications, but kind of the core product is this nylon, which we use for partial dentures. So this is a long term dental nylon,” the Arfona rep told me, showing me some completed dentures that had been through post-processing. “Those are all using just procedures that are kind of typical for a dental lab technician.”

I learned that Arfona could 3D print a set of dentures in about two hours, and finish the necessary post-processing in about another 20-30 minutes.

“It’s pretty fast. I mean, that’s something that typically would be spread out over…I mean, using conventional processes, over 4 or 5 dental appointments. And now it can be done in two.”

Anything that reduces the amount of time one has to sit in the dentist’s chair is aces, in my humble opinion.

I attended a few other sessions during AMS 2019, including one on 3D printed prosthetics that was moderated by Asimov Ventures’ Tyler Benster. Matthew Griffin, the Director of Community for Ultimaker North America, and Maria Esquela, the founder of 501c3 non-profit Alliance for Project Based Learning Solutions (APBLS or e-NABLE Alliance), both spoke on the topic.

Griffin shared a short clip from a 2017 Ultimaker video for “Hands for Haiti” about setting up 3D printing workshops in developing countries so the community can benefit from high-tech, 3D printed prosthetics. He also discussed how e-NABLE is not an organization, but a movement, and then Esquela “picked up Matt’s story a bit,” noting that she and her daughter were actually volunteers #71 and #72 for the heartwarming prosthetics network, which now has over 11,000 volunteers that work to provide 3D printed prosthetics to the millions of people who don’t have access to this kind of care.

Benster moderated the question session, but also asked one of his own. He wanted to know if Griffin and Esquela had any tips or suggestions for attendees with a business background about how to harness this type of creativity without feeling threatened by it. Griffin noted that there are lots of opportunities in the healthcare industry for testing out ideas earlier, and that people are “leaning on things,” such as community-based projects, in order to solve a problem, which then incites a feeling of empathy, “which you can then build on” when working to tackle a problem together.

I stayed on the medical track to attend a panel on 3D printing being used in surgical planning and modeling, which was moderated by SmarTech’s Scott Dunham. Alyssa Glennon, a Principal Engineer for Business Development at Materialise, and Carolyn DeVasto, the Global Vice President of Communications at medtech company BIOMODEX, were the speakers on the panel.

Glennon presented a case where a surgical team used 3D printed guides and bone models to test out different surgical options for an adult. This helped the virtual plan translate better in the operating room, and as a result, the patient was able to bend his arm just ten days after the surgery, which he had not been able to do for seven years.

Glennon detailed some of the many benefits of using 3D printing in a medical setting, such as interdisciplinary collaboration and better surgical preparation, but also noted that the regulatory environment is a major challenge for the medical 3D printing industry.

Glennon asked, “So how is Materialise providing a safe environment in hospitals for medical 3D printing?”

The answer: a solid understanding of the regulatory environment. The company offers an FDA-approved certification program for 3D printer manufacturers to have their products tested and validated for use with Materialise’s FDA-cleared Mimics inPrint software, which converts medical images into 3D print-ready files.

DeVasto, who explained that BIOMODEX is focused on the neurovascular field, stated that there are many challenges when it comes to biomechanics, since human tissue is so complex. According to her presentation, 36% of operating room errors could be avoided with the help of planning, which is what drives the company.

She noted that surgeons rely on sight and touch. The company’s algorithm builds 3D printable composite materials  that are designed specifically to provide important tactile feedback. DeVasto explained that 3D printing is so important in healthcare planning because it can help enable better patient outcomes.

During the Q&A, Dunham asked if they saw any specific niches where a specific type of planning or rehearsal model could match with a specific method of 3D printing. Glennon said that this came down to two specific factors: cost and purpose.

“The guides and models I showed are sintered nylon orthopedic parts,” Glennon said, explaining that short-term, low value parts used in surgery need to be made out of material that can hold up in an autoclave, but also be cost-effective.

DeVasto said that the answer to Dunham’s question “comes down to materials,” noting that BIOMODEX is very specific in what its algorithm can print with.

Don’t forget, the third annual Additive Manufacturing Strategies summit will be held from January 29-30, 2020 and will include a metal 3D printing track. To keep up to date on registration information and everything else for AMS 2020, sign up for our newsletter here.

Discuss this news and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the comments below.

[Images: Sarah Saunders]

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Halifax e-NABLE Branch Recycling Plastic Weed Container Lids into 3D Printed Prosthetic Limbs

Jake Boudreau [Image: CBC News]

Last year, Halifax resident Jacob Boudreau, who works for a logistics company, watched a TED Talk by heartwarming 3D printed prosthetics volunteer organization e-NABLE, and was inspired to open his own non-profit e-NABLE chapter, called Kindness3D.

Boudreau said, “This project really resonated with me because it’s the perfect marriage between health and tech.”

Isabella, from Nosara, Costa Rica, received a 3D printed prosthetic hand from Kindness3D. [Image: Kindness3D]

Things started off normally enough, with Kindness3D using regular PLA material to fabricate prosthetics, including a 3D printed hand and arm for Brazilian athlete Kelly De Oliveira Malaquias and a hand for a young girl in Costa Rica.

But Boudreau’s work to provide 3D printed prosthetics is now dovetailing with another passion – recycling plastic waste from what he refers to as the “excessive cannabis packaging conundrum” of the NSLC (Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation), the province’s legal cannabis distributor.

Boudreau said, “There’s no real plan in place for how much waste is being put through the NSLC.”

Recently, Canada became the first major world economy to legalize recreational marijuana. But many customers in Nova Scotia are criticizing the NSLC for using excessive packaging for the product. Cannabis guidelines for Health Canada say that the packaging must be tamper-proof, child-resistant, and prevent contamination.

Easy Cheesy cannabis, purchased at the NSLC in Halifax. [Image: CBC News]

While the white plastic containers that Canada’s pot comes in do meet these guidelines, some consumers say they are environmentally unfriendly and not able to be recycled. Boudreau says that all of the lids will eventually end up in landfills…so he’s taking action.

Just like the Million Waves Project uses recycled ocean plastic to make 3D printed prosthetic limbs, Boudreau and Kindness3D want to use these plastic pot container lids to make 3D printed prosthetics for kids.

“We just noticed that there was an obscene amount of waste. To me it seemed incredibly wasteful. It was actually frustrating for me as a consumer,” Boudreau said.

He first got the idea to recycle the plastic cannabis lids into plastic for 3D printed prosthetic limbs when customers asked him if he could help with the waste problem.

“We jumped on board, noticing that there wasn’t really a plan in place to deal with this kind of waste. It’s something we’re really excited about,” Boudreau said. “We’re doing our part to kind of help out and as well repurpose this packaging and create some artificial limbs from it.”

Lizzy Brown of Kindness3D holds up an empty cannabis package at the recent workshop in Halifax. The group is asking Haligonians to drop off the used caps from cannabis packaging at various spots around the city for them to be shredded and turned into 3D printed prosthetics. [Image: Fadila Chater, Star Metro]

First, Kindness3D modified a paper shredder so it could be used to break down the plastic pot container lids, so the shredded plastic could be used in the organization’s 3D printer. Then, it began to ask other local businesses to collect the used lids. Now, Kindness3D asks Nova Scotians to bring the empty cannabis containers, lids and all, to Boudreau’s Dalhousie University Sexton Campus operation, and various other drop-off points, for recycling and reprocessing into prosthetic limbs.

Boudreau hopes to use the lids of cannabis containers to make prosthetic limbs. [Image: CBC, Kindness3D]

Since beginning the cannabis lid recycling project, Boudreau is already working to complete a 3D printed prosthetic arm for a four-year-old girl in California. Additionally, he started a petition in hopes of convincing the NSLC to collect and donate all of its used cannabis packaging to Kindness3D.

But, according to NSLC spokesperson Beverley Ware, the corporation has not been contacted by Kindness3D yet…maybe it’s waiting to get a certain number of signatures first?

Ware is also requesting that customers continue to follow the recycling programs already set up in their communities.

Ware explained, “We do not recycle bottle or cans and don’t have the room in our stores to provide such a drop-off service or the infrastructure to deliver products for recycling.”

I hope this recycling initiative by Kindess3D doesn’t turn into some kind of legal battle. I understand that there are rules for a reason, and maybe the infrastructure doesn’t allow for this sort of program just yet. But the non-profit is trying to do a very noble thing in both recycling large amounts of wasteful plastic and providing 3D printed prosthetics to the people who need them most, so I hope that everything will work out in the end.

[Image: Kindness3D]

What do you think about this? Discuss this story and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the comments below. 

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Project Nitrous Uses 3D Printing to Help People with Disabilities In Egypt

In 2016, Mohamed El-Hossary and Ahmed Mohsen were running a 3D printing service and marketplace called Etba3ly. When they decided to attend a Maker Faire, things changed for them. At the faire, El-Hossary met Jon Schull, CEO of e-NABLE, which famously makes 3D printed prosthetic hands for those in need around the world. The meeting made El-Hossary and Mohsen realize that there were thousands of people in Egypt who needed prosthetics and were unable to access them. Mohsen’s own father, in fact, owned a wood factory where workers sometimes sustained serious injuries to their hands and arms.

Schull pointed out how easy it was to create prosthetics using the equipment that El-Hossary and Mohsen already had at Etba3ly. Excited, they decided to open an Egyptian branch of e-NABLE, testing their first prosthetic hand on an engineer who volunteered to act as a trial subject. The device was a success, and the two Etba3ly founders began making more prosthetics.

Once word got out about what El-Hossary and Mohsen were doing, organizations such as NGOs, charities and student organizations began reaching out to help support the project. In late 2017, Giza Systems recognized the project, and a few months later, Project Nitrous was born, an organization to support and boost the work being done for people with disabilities (PwDs).

The key to Project Nitrous is that it empowers people with disabilities by making them part of the development process for their own assistive devices.

“Of course, not everyone wants to learn these skills and are interested in the digital fabrication steps, but we still serve them just the same,” said Project Nitrous engineer Islam Mohamed. “Helping the people is only one of our two objectives.”

The project is not without its challenges. Paperwork, legality and imports had to be dealt with – the 3D printers and supplies used for the project often get stuck in customs for months. There are also class issues that make it harder for the founders to reach those in need.

“It’s sufficient to say that it’s already hard for the PwDs to cross the highway road to reach our premises, so we have to hop in our cars to get them, let alone the other residence and logistical issues that arise as well,” said El-Hossary. “Ahmed Said, one of our engineers, had to meet with one of the PwD at a local cafe because transportation was too expensive for the PwD.”

Sometimes the people that the organization work with are full of doubt that Project Nitrous can be any help to them.

“They [PwDS] have been promised countless times by senior engineering students that their graduation projects will change their lives, and in the end, the PwD is extremely disappointed, and long forgotten,” said Esraa Mahmoud, the Community Outreach specialist. “Most people we reach out to are skeptical that we can help them. They too often tell us ‘you are like the senior Engineering Students who claim they can help us but forget about us once they are done with their graduation projects,’ so we understand where their doubt is coming from.”

Sometimes there are further communication issues when a spokesperson is designated to relay the needs of a person with disabilities.

“In order to design a suitable tool for the PwD, we have to talk to the person himself/herself, and listen to their needs first-hand,” Mahmoud continued. “We can’t find a solution if the person-in-contact won’t allow us to speak the PwD we are designing the tool for.”

Despite the difficulties, however, the people of Project Nitrous consider what they’re doing to be more than worth it.

“One of the people we were working with mentioned that he was facing difficulty tying the buttons of his shirt right before he left our lab after hours of working with him, so without much thinking, we gave him a kit that we had already designed for that specific function,” said Mahmoud.

The next day, the man called to thank Project Nitrous and to express his joy.

“We changed his life by helping him tie the buttons of his shirt,” said Mohamed.

Project Nitrous is extending its work into four main tracks:

  • Creating assistive devices
  • Giving people with disabilities the technical knowledge to design their own tools
  • Creating a startup extension of the project run by people with disabilities
  • Providing a blueprint for others who want to start similar businesses and creating an open-source community where designs and tools are accessible to all

Project Nitrous was officially born in February 2018, and has helped 23 people so far, with 18 additional projects currently in progress. The stories are varied, but all result in people being able to do things they weren’t able to do before, from buttoning the buttons on a shirt to returning to school to continue education.

Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below. 

[Source: Egyptian Streets/Images: Project Nitrous]

 

 

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Researchers 3D print objects that can communicate without electronics

Scientists at the University of Washington (UW), have developed self-tracking 3D printed devices that can provide analytics without using batteries or electronics. Jennifer Mankoff, Engineering Professor at the UW and part of the engineering team, said, “We’re interested in making accessible assistive technology with 3-D printing, but we have no easy way to know how […]
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3D Universe Introduces Skin Tone Filaments for 3D Printed Prosthetics

[Image: e-NABLE]

e-NABLE has done wonderful things for people with missing limbs, particularly children, allowing them free access to prosthetic hands and arms that can even make them look like superheroes or princesses. 3D printing can be used to easily create prosthetics in bright, flashy colors, which kids tend to love. But what if you’re an adult – or a child – who would rather have a more subtle prosthetic hand, one that matches your skin tone as closely as possible? There isn’t a whole lot of flesh-toned filament readily available, but that’s changing now thanks to 3D Universe, a retailer and founding member of the e-NABLE community.

3D Universe tuned in to the thousands of people who wanted to blend in with the crowd, rather than stand out, and used the feedback to create four new skin tone colors of PETG filament.

“We did a lot of research on skin tones throughout the world,” Jeremy Simon of 3D Universe told e-NABLE. We, humans, come in so many beautiful colors, but we had to pick four since that’s what our initial budget allowed for. We wanted to pick those that would match the broadest possible range of skin tones. We reviewed work like this and this. We also purchased the Pantone Skin Tone Guide.

“We asked the e-NABLE community to vote on which colors they would prefer. Based on that voting and our own research and inquiries, we ended up selecting four skin tones ranging from a caucasian skin tone to a dark brown color. The names for these colors are Rose Tan, Light Brown, Medium Brown, and Dark Brown. Additional colors may be added in the future, depending on how these are received by the e-NABLE community.”

3D Universe went with PETG instead of PLA because, like PLA, it is easy to print, but has higher temperature resistance and strength than PLA. PLA doesn’t hold up too well in hot, humid climates, Simon pointed out. PETG is also capable of thermoforming.

“3D Universe has supported ETF (Enabling the Future) for years because it aligns perfectly with our company’s mission to put digital fabrication technologies into the hands of as many people as possible,” Simon continued. “e-NABLE represents everything that got us excited about 3D printing in the first place – the potential to disrupt old manufacturing paradigms and to bring product design and production capabilities to ordinary people with small budgets. We want to support that and be a part of that progress in any way possible. 3D Universe maintains an affiliate program with ETF, with a portion of all e-NABLE related sales being used to help support ETF each month.”

With the new colors available from 3D Universe, people with missing limbs – especially in cultures where blending in is valued more than standing out – can feel more comfortable with their less noticeable prosthetic devices. The flesh-toned filaments are available now and can be purchased here. Each 750g spool is $34.99.

Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below. 

 

 

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Jen Owen of Enablingthefuture.org Needs Your Stories and Support

The E-nable project has been incredibly inspiring over these past years. The open source prosthetics project has harnessed thousands of volunteers worldwide to 3D print thousands of prosthetic hands. At the center of it all sits Jen Owen who has been organizing E-Nable since the very beginning and founded the community. She matches those who need prosthetic hands with those that 3D print them. She, almost by herself, is Enablingthefuture.org’s customer service department answering any and all questions about 3D printing hands. She also is in charge of all the web content and social media. She’s worked tirelessly on this effort, without pay for six years. If you’d care to support her amazing work you can give to her Patreon here.

Jen’s latest effort in support of the Enablingthefuture.org community is to begin to make a book. Jen wants to collect as many inspiring E-Nable stories in one place. The proceeds of book sales will go to support Enablingthefuture.org. You can check out more information here.

Jen says that, “When I started this website, our e-NABLE community had barely 100 volunteers and about 10 recipients of 3D printed hands created by the makers who were eager to use their 3D printers for something other than printing another Yoda head flower pot or a set of colorful plastic coasters to set their beer glasses on.“

“They were excited to find that they could use their machines to make a difference in the lives of others. We were discovering that not only were the recipient’s lives being changed in a positive way through the work and passion shared by our volunteers, but we were starting to hear stories from our makers about how their experiences were not only changing their lives through the inspirational stories they were becoming a part of – but they were literally changing their own life paths because of e-NABLE.”

“As this website grew and media coverage spread the word about the joy that was being brought to the children who were receiving the devices, our volunteer numbers grew from 100 to 1000 and then to 3000 and 10,000.”

“all we know, is that there have been at least 5000 devices created in about 100 countries around the world.”

To celebrate Enablingthefuture.org and the enable volunteers:

“I am also hoping to get enough story submissions to compile them into a beautiful book that will not only share the history of e-NABLE, but the personal, moving and inspirational stories from volunteers and makers who have had their lives changed along with the recipient families who have been gifted these 3D printed hands!” 

Jen is looking for submissions from people all over the world detailing how E-Nable has positively impacted lives. If you’re an E-NABLE volunteer or recipient please do reach out and let her know your story. I truly believe that E-Nable is the single most inspiring thing happening in 3D printing today. By using 3D printing as a force for good we are showing the world what we as a 3D printing community are capable of. Moreover this is not some pie in the sky thing. These hands work and are cost effective showcasing that 3D printing is not only an inspirational technology but also an affordable and practical one. Please support hardworking Jen and E-Nable if you can.