“Limbitless” – 6 Year Old Gets $350 3D Printed Myoelectric Arm.

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“My mother taught us that we’re supposed to help change the world…We’re supposed to help make it better. That’s why we did it.”
Albert Manero, UCF Aerospace Engineer – on why he created a 3D printed robotic prosthetic device for 6 year old Alex Pring. 

When you are 6 years old and you  have finally come to that moment where you  just found yourself  slowly shuffling your feet down the hall toward your first day of kindergarten…backpack heavy with school supplies and snacks …trying to figure out if you are holding too tight to mom’s hand or if she is holding too tight to yours…and then you stand in the door to peer around and see the faces of the children you will spend the next 10 months with..you usually expect to get asked who your favorite super hero is, which video games you play or how many teeth you have lost already.

For Alex Pring, who was born missing his right arm from just above the elbow – those were the last questions he was faced with. His least favorite part of starting school, was repeatedly having to answer the question, “What happened to your arm?”

Alex prides himself on the fact that he accepts himself for who he is, the way he was made and that he can do a whole lot of things that kids with two arms can do… but admits that now that he is getting older and growing – some things are becoming harder to do.

Now, thanks to Albert Manero, a University of Central Florida Aerospace Engineering Doctoral student and his team – Alex has the first 3D printed e-NABLE Myoelectric arm that runs off of servos and batteries that are actuated by the electromyography muscle energy on Alex’s bicep!

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While Alex can do quite a few things he hasn’t ever been able to do up until this point now that he has a robotic arm … the first thing he wanted to do when he learned how to use his new limb – was to give his mom a hug with two full arms for the first time in his life.

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Manero and his team, manufactured the arm for less than $350 and they will be uploading their design and instructions on how to build the child-sized arm and hand to the internet so that anyone with access to a 3D printer can get the files and give another child the same opportunity that Alex has.

Albert is one of e-NABLE’s hidden gems. He introduced himself back in July of 2013 and shared that he was planning to take the original 3d printable snap together prototype design and improve upon it … and then… a year later he is a part of our new myoelectric group – sharing with them his incredible knowledge and letting them know that he has taken various design ideas from the e-NABLE community and the Flexy hand design by Steve Wood of Gyrobot (also a member of e-NABLE!)  and turned them into the first myo-design for Alex!

In the fall, when Alex walks down the hall toward his classroom for the first day of 1st grade – he will not be timidly shuffling his feet across the carpet…he will not be worrying about the awkward stares of his new classmates or their curiosity about the absence of his right arm…he will be ready to answer that “Who is your favorite super hero?” question with a very proud – “ME.”

For the full story about Albert, Alex and the $350 3D printed myoelectric arm design – please visit the University of Central Florida’s blog HERE.

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All images by the very talented KT Crabb Photography!

22 thoughts on ““Limbitless” – 6 Year Old Gets $350 3D Printed Myoelectric Arm.

  1. Kendall Shive Reply

    Just saw your story on ABC news. I thought this was a 1 time deal until I found your web page. I’m a Texas A&M ME here in Austin,TX, who would like to say how proud of you guys. Y’all are incredible! I will never forget that boy’s face.

  2. gotwong415 Reply

    Reblogged this on Got Wong? and commented:
    e-NABLE has produced our very first Myoelectric arm for a boy named Alex! The look on his face says it all! Congrats to him & my fellow e-NABLERs who helped make this happen!

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  9. Susi Reply

    My 5 year old daughter was born missing her left hand and forearm. We live in omaha Nebraska is this something available for her?

    • Warm Fuzzy Revolutionist Reply

      Hello Susi!

      We have a wonderful matcher team in place that can help you get started finding someone near you to create parts for a hand or sometimes even a completed device – if you can email them at enablematcher@gmail.com – they can get you started on finding a volunteer or mentor to help get a hand for your daughter. 🙂

    • Dane Foster Reply

      Susi,

      I am the manager of a recently opened 3D printing, scanning and engineering company in Omaha. Please send me an email or contact us through our website! We are going to try to find the plans for this and see if there is something that we might be able to do to help you. We would absolutely love a project that may be able to change somebody’s life.

      • Dane Foster

        Moderator, we have not heard anything from Susi and were wondering if you may be able to get us her email address or forward ours to her. I know many people don’t know to check the box to have follow up comments sent to their email. Please let me know. Thank you.

      • Warm Fuzzy Revolutionist

        Will do Dane – I’m going to send you both to the enable matcher team so that you can connect and we can help make sure Susi gets the correct forms to send you for measurements etc. 🙂

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