There’s nothing better than a feel-good story which is why the piece on Stratasys printing technology being used to create a fully-functioning 3D printed hydraulic prosthetic for son of the founder of Ambionics, was a huge hit in the MPN office.
Ben Ryan developed a prosthetic for infants to wear, enabling a more natural acceptance of prosthetic arms for young children. The customised design and production of the 3D printed hydraulic prosthetic has delivered cost savings of up to 76%, as well as time savings in design and production of 90%, compared with traditional methods of manufacture. This crucially permits prosthetics to be used at an earlier developmental stage.
Ryan’s son Sol was born with complications which resulted in the amputation of his lower left arm. Ryan designed and created his 3D printed hydraulic prosthetic arm on the Stratasys Connex 3D printer. First practicing with prototypes of his design, he 3D-printed flexible actuators and a power-splitting unit for the prosthetic. He says that the DAHB unit enables the wearer to open and close the thumb in manual mode or with assistive power (using compressed air or a hydraulic pump and reservoir), but the grip continues to operate manually in the event of power interruption.
“We were fortunate enough to have access to this technology, which enabled us to 3D-print a prototype arm so quickly and cost-effectively. In founding Ambionics, it’s now my goal to ensure that other limb deficient children like my son are not faced with the current constraints and delays of traditional prosthetic manufacture.”