Kids outfitted with new hands made on 3
Johns Hopkins trauma surgeon Albert Chi gave a talk last year to families about advanced prosthetics that would someday benepatagonia guide jacket names1fit their children who were missing hands.
But when a parent asked what was easy, available and affordable now, Chi was at a loss. After focusing on the latest apatagonia down sweater full ziprtificial limb technology, he began to hunt for more basic options.
Like many researchers, entrepreneurs and even artists in recent years, he turned to the 3 D printer. With one his wife bought him for Father s Day, sheets of colored plastic, and free designs and advice found online, he made a hand for about $20.
One of the first kids we fitted was a 2 year old, Chi said. We thought the child was too young, but we weren t even able to finish strapping it on, and the kid was picking an object up.
The need for such prosthetics has spawned a network of volunteer designers, medical workers, engineers, parents and 3 D print enthusiasts who have been outfitting children with prosthetics some with lower end machines that cost less than $1,000.
That network is hoping to give hands free of charge to any interested child. It includes the nonprofit e NABLE, the largest and perhaps only organization matching kids with printers.
The organization has provided more than 400 kids with printed prosthetics over the past year. In addition, with designs that are free on e NABLE s website, families may be printing their own.
The 3 D printed prosthetics are particularly useful for children. They often grow out of prosthetics and can t afford replacements every few months or years. The 3 D versions also can be lighter and easier to wield and come in their favorite color.
Insurance also doesn t always cover pediatric prosthetics, which cost up to $40,000, said Chi. And children can have trouble adjusting to them. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports thpatagonia downtown loft parka reviewsat four in 10,000 patagonia fleece reviewschildren are born with some congenital hanpatagonia lake state park camping reviewsd loss, or about 1,500 a year. That doesn t inclpatagonia r4 for saleude those suffering trauma.
Griffin Matuszek, who was born without part of his left hand, found his traditional prosthetic mostly usebuy patagonia shoes onlineless and a bit scary, said his mother, Quinn Cassidy. So she began researching alternatives.
When someone sent the family a link to Chi s work on 3 D hands, Cassidy s father called the doctor. Griffin s family came from North Bethesda to Baltimore less than tpatagonia guide jacket names2hree weeks ago to get his first printed hand. The 5 year old requested one that glowed in the dark.
Cassidy said Griffin was drawn to his new hand because he could put it on himself and easily manipulate it with his palm muscles. The traditional prosthetic was tight and covered his forearm.
He put it on and immediately gave Dr. Chi a hpatagonia guide jacket names0igh five and then gave everyone in the room a high five, Cassidy said. He was ablpatagonia better sweater vest salee to pick up a small ball and throw it with his left hand right away.
Cassidy said the hand made Griffin happy and more confident, and didn t break her bank. The oldpatagonia guide jacket names3 prosthetic was covered by insurance, but her co pay was $1,000. She was so grateful to Chi that she pledged to cover the cost of a 3 D printed hand for another child every time Griffin got a new one.
That day came Sunday. Dr. Chi made Griffin an Iron Man themed hand, which is red and yellow, and presented it at a symposium that he organized to bring the disparate 3 D hand community together for workshops on technique and policy.
Griffin is very proud of it, said Cassidy at Sunday s symposium that was held in the Turner Auditorium at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Now, he can hold a drink, a cell phone, and even throw a ball.
Griffin, a kindergarten student, was beaming as he gave onlookers waves and high fives.
As he grows older, Griffin s prosthetic device will have to be replaced abopatagonia everlong review zooskut every two years, said his father, Steve Matuszek, who lives in Catonsville.
Another recipient was Mike Waldron, 22, a senior political science major at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
It gives me many options. I can go kayaking and work on my cars now, said Waldron, who said an electronic prosthetic device could cost as much as $40,000, while the one he received at Hopkins wapatagonia guide jacket nfls ipatagonia guide jacket namesn the $45 range. It s all plastic and the only metal is the screws. The string is 40 pound test fishing line.
John Fielding, a 7 year old from Arlington, Va., was looking forward to being able to play the guitar one day and ride a bike.
Now, I can fight my sister, he said, laughing.
The printers work like glue guns, as plastic sheets are fed into the machines and melted. The plastic comes out in layers that eventually look like Lego pieces, fitted together with bolts.
Hand parts take up to 10 hours to print and another couple of hours to assemble with elastic cords to keep the hands open. Kids make them grasp by flexing their palms or wrists. Extra cords can be used to strap them on kids with more extensive limb loss.
