MarketResearch.com published a new blog last month, 3D Printers Provide New Way to Lend Children a Helping Hand. This blog looked into the emerging market of producing prosthetic hands for children using 3D printers.
For the past few years, the scientific community has praised the endless possibilities that 3D printers present. Now, we are seeing a new opportunity for children who are missing hands or fingers.
It is estimated that one out of every 1,000 babies is born with missing fingers, while many other children lose fingers and hands because of accidents or illness. State-of-the-art prosthetics are very expensive and can be even more costly due to the need of replacements as children grow.
3D printing is changing all of that. Ivan Owen, a once special effects artist, designed a puppet hand that has changed the lives of children all over the world. His design has been modified to fit individual children and help meet their specific needs. Using a 3D printer, with materials costing as little as $20-$50, organizations are donating their time to present children with new hands and fingers.
The prosthetic fingers and hands are not like traditional prosthetics that are designed to look like real hands. Instead, these printed prosthetics are brightly colored and designed to resemble parts one would see in Transformers or even Iron Man. The use of a 3D printer allows children to choose from a variety of fluorescent colors, or even choose their new hands to glow in the dark.
As this technology grows in use, it is expected that more groups will take interest in the potential uses of 3D printing for larger prosthetics. 3D printing for the healthcare industry is expected to develop and expand greatly in the next few years, and not just for prosthetics.
www.marketresearch.com