3D printing, the revolutionary technology has given little Emma Lavelle what nature wrongfully took away from her, a healthy hand that can move without anyone's assistance.
Two-year-old Emma was born with a rare disease called arthrogryposis that restricted mobility of her hands. Using a 3D printer, doctors from Delaware hospital along with 3D printing company Stratasys, designed a mobile plastic exoskeleton that lets Emma overcome her congenital disorder and use her arms for the first time without someone's help.
The Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton (WREX) uses a set of resistance bands, tiny 3D-printed parts, and metal bars, which are required to be attached to the body to provide artificial strength to disabled people whose arm muscles are underdeveloped.
Emma rightly calls the lightweight and flexible working prosthetic her "magic arms."
Till now, the 3D printing technology was only available as an attachment for wheelchairs. Later, the technology was used to create a lightweight version using a plastic backplate to let users have healthy legs to stand up and walk around.
Tariq Rahman and Whitney Sample of the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children had created a prototype of the WREX. Fifteen children have received the WREX and Emma is one of them. WREX is resizable and re-printable.
The smart and popular 3D printing is an additive technology in which objects are built up in layers. The 3D printing offers unique ability to deliver personalized solutions to tackle human challenges in society, science, and healthcare.
"Some of our world's greatest ideas are being 3D-printed," says Scott Crump, chairman and CEO of Stratasys. "Engineers want their technical work to connect to a greater good, and 3D printing is helping them bring their ideas to fruition to improve lives and the world around us. As more people become aware of the possibilities of 3D printing, its impact outside of traditional manufacturing and design realms will continue to grow."
Check out the video below to watch Emma's story:
