Student organisation developing affordable 3D printed prosthetics

A student organisation at the University of Cincinnati is using 3D printed prosthetics in a patient-specific and affordable way.

EnableUC is a College of Engineering and Applied Science biomedical engineering student organisation. The group is collaborating with e-Nable, a global network of volunteers who create free 3D printed hands and arms.

EnableUC was founded by Jacob Knorr, a biomedical engineering student at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Engineering and Applied Science. Knorr’s experience at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre in the Division of Plastic Surgery taught him how to use additive manufacturing and utilise 3D printing.

The organisation’s collaboration with e-Nable allowed it access to an extensive set of database and design files for mechanical hand devices. EnableUC uses these design files, then scales them to the size of a patient’s hand. The organisation then 3D prints the prosthetics in a couple of hours, for a small cost of around $20. Comparatively, traditional prosthetics can often cost thousands.

The company has already helped a number of patients including a 13-year old boy named Brody. Brody was the first patient to receive an Enable UC hand. The 3D hand allows Brody to grasp medium sized objects and even throw and catch a ball.  

Looking to the future EnableUC is aiming to improve its design so wearers can control individual fingers and pick up smaller objects.

The company is already collaborating with occupation and physical therapy students at Touro University to develop device for patients with severe arthritis. Touro University received 20 patient-specific prototypes to be used by patients. The device aim to help people with severe arthritis perform daily tasks.  

Director of the CEAS Skeletal Tissue Evaluation and Engineering Laboratory professor James Lin said: “I have been very honoured to serve as faculty advisor for EnableUC and have helped them connect the medical communities to explore the needs of children and families who are financially incapable of acquiring conventional prosthetics which start at $30,000.”