Posted on 08/05/2012 6:54:39 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
A heartwarming new video documents the story of a small child whose life has been radically changed for the better because of 3D printing technology.
Two-year-old Emma was born with a rare disease called arthrogryposis that makes it so she can’t raise her arms without assistance. Through the use of 3D printing, a Delaware hospital created a mobile plastic exoskeleton that now allows Emma to use her arms for many things.
3D printing ensures that a new exoskeleton can be created if Emma breaks or outgrows it. Emma is now on her second 3D-printed jacket and calls the device her “magic arms.”
The video was created by 3D printing business Stratasys, which recently merged with Objet in a $1.4 billion deal. A Stratasys 3D printer was used to create Emma’s jacket.
Even if some complain.
It looks like elastic bands are used to provide the tension on the exoskeleton joints. Can elastic bands of lower strength be used as the patient progresses? This has excellent rehab potential.
What a beautiful, precious child!
God Bless all who made this possible for her!
Thanks for the great post!
Some are working on printing human organs. I'm just blown away by what people outside of politics are able to accomplish.
I remember seeing early 3D printers at the Autofact conference in Detroit in maybe 1987. The basic principles are essentially identical, but the key here is the affordability. Nice to see this story.
Wait a minute—didn’t the government invent this? Doesn’t all virtuous innovation come out of Washington?
Affordability and the materials used in the printing process. For many years these printers used materials where the part just didn't have the strength to be anything but a non functional prototype. But these printers are working with materials that have enough strength to make the printed part a functional end part. Metal parts are about 30% the strength of cast parts, which is good enough for a lot of uses, and much research is being done. It will keep improving considerably.
My 22 yr old son has been talking about this technology for years. He’s fascinated by it!
I wonder how they got around the FDA required testing. Is it because this is a one-off piece or is there another loophole? I remember the standing wheelchair invented by Dean Kamen and how I wished an uncle of mine could have had access to one. But the FDA testing requirements pushed the cost of the chair out the range of most consumers.
Maybe ignore with extreme prejudice.
/johnny
Wonderful for the child and her family.
They didn’t build that!
Someone else made that happen /s
There are full units at about $1500-$2000 now. Makerbot sells kits for less than that. He can get one and experiment himself.
FUBO
A primer on 3D printing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aghzpO_UZE&feature=related
How to create a working tool—a wrench—on a #D printer.
Great story and just the type of advance that the Dims will block with government health care.
The University of Glasgow just published a paper detailing how to use specialized 3D printers to manufacture pharmaceuticals.
Regulate that if you can...lol
(I read so much strange stuff I have time for little else anymore :-)
I want an exoskeleton!
Beautiful little girl.
What a blessing for a sweet, beautiful little girl!
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