{"id":40201,"date":"2020-03-13T15:26:05","date_gmt":"2020-03-13T19:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/?p=40201"},"modified":"2022-08-22T18:07:37","modified_gmt":"2022-08-22T22:07:37","slug":"expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing","title":{"rendered":"Expanding the Reach of Prosthetics Through 3D Printing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the relatively new stages of 3D printing technology<\/a>, we are already seeing a massive amount of innovation and progress across many different fields. This includes the creation of cost-effective and customizable prosthetics<\/a>, bringing a new wave of possibility to limb different individuals. Free designs for prosthetic hands are even available online for people to edit and utilize for their own needs or the needs of someone close to them. A few companies and organizations have made major steps towards making prosthetics more accessible to people who cannot afford a traditionally made prosthesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open Bionics\u2019 \u201cHero Arm\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Open Bionics, a company out of Bristol in the UK, created the Hero Arm, the first medically certified 3D printed<\/a> myoelectric bionic hand. Open Bionics can scan the arm of any individual over the age of 8 to create a bespoke prosthesis that fits comfortably, is drastically more affordable than typical prosthetics and is also customizable. The wearer can choose from a number of different covers to get the colors and look that fits their personality. The company also partnered with Disney to create superhero themed hands for kids. These bionic arms have a multi-grip hand with 3 or 4 motors controlling its individual fingers and thumb. The prosthesis weighs 1kg and is able to lift up to 8kg\/17.64lbs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

E-Nable\u2019s Volunteer Network for Prosthetic Hands<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

E-Nable is a volunteer-based organization that pairs people with access to 3D printers with people who need prosthetic hands. Anyone can download one of the available designs to make one\u2019s own device or be matched with a volunteer nearby who will print and assemble for someone else. People can also be directed to 3D printers nearby if they wish to print and build their own. Any of the designs can also be printed through Shapeways<\/a> and shipped anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

E-Nable began when\nIvan Owen, a professional artist, created a metal hand with moving fingers for\na steampunk convention. He then started working on designing prosthetic hands\nand working on a new hand for a young boy who was born without fingers. After\nrealizing it would become very expensive to keep creating new hands as Liam\ngrew, he turned to 3D printing. After a prototype was refined, the design for\nthe hand was uploaded to the internet as an open-source file so that anyone in\nneed could download it. More and more people became interested in helping to\nprint these hands and a worldwide network of volunteers quickly grew. Now there\nare volunteers all over the world creating hands based on these designs. In\n2018, the Million Waves Project teamed up with E-Nable to collect recycled\nplastic waste found on beaches and in the ocean to turn into filament for the\ncreation of more prosthetic hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the field of 3D printed prosthetics is still developing, it is already allowing for more people in need to have access to prosthetics. The affordability of 3D printing, especially with E-Nable\u2019s community of volunteers means that children growing at a fast rate are able to change out their prosthetic hand when they need to. 3D printing also facilitates the participation of more people, the introduction of new designs and ideas and to make customized, special pieces that enhance people\u2019s bodies and lives. If you would like to design and print your own prosthetic limb for someone in need, you can do so through Shapeways now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the relatively new stages of 3D printing technology, we are already seeing a massive amount of innovation and progress…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":151,"featured_media":40203,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[510],"tags":[1062,2508,1153,2515,2186],"class_list":["post-40201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-3d-printing-industry","tag-3d-printed-prosthesis","tag-3d-printing-medical-applications","tag-medical-3d-printing","tag-medical-industry","tag-prosthetics"],"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/031020_Medical_8.jpg","yoast_head":"\nExpanding the Reach of Prosthetics Through 3D Printing - Shapeways Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In the relatively new stages of 3D printing technology, we are already seeing a massive amount of innovation and progress across many different fields.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Madeline Manning\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Madeline Manning\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#\/schema\/person\/7e71a3edfb8e438ef190e00327ec2507\"},\"headline\":\"Expanding the Reach of Prosthetics Through 3D Printing\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-03-13T19:26:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-08-22T22:07:37+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing\"},\"wordCount\":571,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/031020_Medical_8.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"3D Printed Prosthesis\",\"3D printing medical applications\",\"Medical 3D Printing\",\"medical industry\",\"Prosthetics\"],\"articleSection\":[\"3D Printing Industry\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing\",\"name\":\"Expanding the Reach of Prosthetics Through 3D Printing - Shapeways Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/031020_Medical_8.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-03-13T19:26:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-08-22T22:07:37+00:00\",\"description\":\"In the relatively new stages of 3D printing technology, we are already seeing a massive amount of innovation and progress across many different fields.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/031020_Medical_8.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/031020_Medical_8.jpg\",\"width\":1120,\"height\":500},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Expanding the Reach of Prosthetics Through 3D Printing\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/\",\"name\":\"Shapeways Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Shapeways Blog\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shapeways-blog.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shapeways-blog.png\",\"width\":943,\"height\":121,\"caption\":\"Shapeways Blog\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/facebook.com\/shapeways\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/shapeways\",\"http:\/\/instagram.com\/shapeways\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#\/schema\/person\/7e71a3edfb8e438ef190e00327ec2507\",\"name\":\"Madeline Manning\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/154b3a8352205bb0a6c090ad7c4193e8eb6c24440519b25f22ae007429eb7d77?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/154b3a8352205bb0a6c090ad7c4193e8eb6c24440519b25f22ae007429eb7d77?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Madeline Manning\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/author\/madeline-manning\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Expanding the Reach of Prosthetics Through 3D Printing - Shapeways Blog","description":"In the relatively new stages of 3D printing technology, we are already seeing a massive amount of innovation and progress across many different fields.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Madeline Manning","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing"},"author":{"name":"Madeline Manning","@id":"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#\/schema\/person\/7e71a3edfb8e438ef190e00327ec2507"},"headline":"Expanding the Reach of Prosthetics Through 3D Printing","datePublished":"2020-03-13T19:26:05+00:00","dateModified":"2022-08-22T22:07:37+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing"},"wordCount":571,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/031020_Medical_8.jpg","keywords":["3D Printed Prosthesis","3D printing medical applications","Medical 3D Printing","medical industry","Prosthetics"],"articleSection":["3D Printing Industry"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing","url":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing","name":"Expanding the Reach of Prosthetics Through 3D Printing - Shapeways Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/031020_Medical_8.jpg","datePublished":"2020-03-13T19:26:05+00:00","dateModified":"2022-08-22T22:07:37+00:00","description":"In the relatively new stages of 3D printing technology, we are already seeing a massive amount of innovation and progress across many different fields.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/031020_Medical_8.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/031020_Medical_8.jpg","width":1120,"height":500},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/expanding-the-reach-of-prosthetics-through-3d-printing#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Expanding the Reach of Prosthetics Through 3D Printing"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/","name":"Shapeways Blog","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#organization","name":"Shapeways Blog","url":"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shapeways-blog.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/shapeways-blog.png","width":943,"height":121,"caption":"Shapeways Blog"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/facebook.com\/shapeways","https:\/\/x.com\/shapeways","http:\/\/instagram.com\/shapeways"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#\/schema\/person\/7e71a3edfb8e438ef190e00327ec2507","name":"Madeline Manning","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/prodshapeblog.wpenginepowered.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/154b3a8352205bb0a6c090ad7c4193e8eb6c24440519b25f22ae007429eb7d77?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/154b3a8352205bb0a6c090ad7c4193e8eb6c24440519b25f22ae007429eb7d77?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Madeline Manning"},"url":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/author\/madeline-manning"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/151"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40201"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40201\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}