Amsterdam – Creighton University students Marc Petrykowski and Adam Carson connected with e-NABLE, a global network working to create and donate hand devices, to research and produce assistive hand devices for children born without fingers, hands, or limbs. The students use Ultimaker2 and Ultimaker2 Extended 3D printers to create and donate a variety of functional assistive hand and arm devices to children in their local Omaha area and across the nation.
Ultimaker donated Ultimaker2 and Ultimaker2 Extended printers to help Petrykowski and Carson with their research project. e-NABLE recommended Ultimaker because the organization believes that Ultimaker is the easiest and most reliable 3D printer.
Since beginning their research project with e-NABLE, Petrykowski and Carson have developed more complex assistive devices. The hand devices they develop allow users to make a fist and pick up different sized objects thanks to an adjustable spring joint in the thumb. The assistive hand devices allow for fine motor skills, such as holding a water bottle or picking up small objects. Now the students are developing new, innovative arm devices for below-the-shoulder amputees by utilizing the Ultimaker2 Extended. The larger printer allows larger hand and arm devices to be printed at one time instead of multiple prints.
“It’s exciting that Ultimaker is being used to create such innovative technology that can help so many people,” says Siert Wijnia, founder and CTO of Ultimaker. “We look forward to seeing what other medical advancements Petrykowski and Carson create in the future using Ultimaker 3D printers.”
Every hand device the students create is donated free of charge to children born with Amniotic Band Syndrome, a group of congenital birth defects caused by the entrapment of fibrous amniotic bands. The devices are specially designed for children’s specific needs and can be created in the color of their choice.
About Ultimaker
From the very beginning Ultimaker’s vision has been to make 3D printing accessible to all. It is why all their desktop printers are extremely quiet, fast, accurate, reliable and effortless to use. Such a commitment has seen them embraced both by professionals and novices alike. This has also helped them to become one of the most successful and reliable open source 3D printing companies in the world. Most recently, the company was awarded best in shootout 2015 in the established Make Magazine, the editors’ choice by Digital Trends and best Consumer Product at the 3D Printshow Global Awards 2014.
Source: Ultimaker