Cyborg beast: a low-cost 3d-printed prosthetic hand for children with upper-limb differences

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Pediatric Prosthetics

Background:

• Increasing prevalence of pediatric upper-limb differences necessitates affordable prosthetic solutions.
• High costs of traditional prosthetics limit accessibility for low-income and developing populations.
• Advancements in 3D printing offer potential for low-cost, customizable prosthetic devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel, low-cost, three-dimensional (3D)-printed prosthetic hand for children.
• To propose a remote methodology for fitting prosthetic hands to pediatric patients.
• To address the unmet needs of children with upper-limb reductions.

Main Methods:

• Development of a low-cost 3D-printed prosthetic hand.
• Validation of remote measurement techniques using photographs for anthropometric and range of motion data.
• Comparison of measurements taken directly from subjects versus those from photographs.

Main Results:

• No significant mean differences were found between direct measurements and photograph-derived measurements.
• Bland and Altman analysis indicated minimal bias and acceptable agreement for length and width measurements.
• Small bias and wider limits of agreement were observed for range of motion measurements.
• The prosthetic device shows potential for positive impact on quality of life and daily activities.

Conclusions:

• A low-cost 3D-printed prosthetic hand and a distance-fitting procedure have been developed.
• This prosthetic offers a potentially accessible alternative for children in developing countries and underserved populations.
• Further research is needed to evaluate the functionality, durability, and long-term benefits of this 3D-printed prosthetic.