A trine of biomedical engine room students at theWashington University in St. Louis(WUSTL ) managed to build a 13 - twelvemonth - old young woman a robotic prosthetic arm using a 3 - D printing machine . Incredibly , the robotic branch cost a meager $ 200 to make ; normally a prosthetic would jell you back a lower limit of $ 6,000 .

Kendall Gretsch , Henry Lather and Kranti Peddada produced the prosthetic arm for their applied science invention class alongside associate prof of strong-arm therapy Joseph Klaesner . At the petition of the recipient role , Sydney Kendall , the team acquire the prosthetic out of pink plastic , and it looks somewhat awesome .

Since the students had no anterior experience in prosthetics , they receive guidance from several medical practitioners including Charles A. Goldfarb and Lindley Wall , both orthopedic hand operating surgeon . “ They brought their technology expertise , and we share our virtual experience with prosthetics and the want of children , ” Goldfarb wrote in a blog .

Although Sydney was antecedently fitted with a prosthetic limb , she found she was very limited in what she could accomplish with it . By manipulating the machine with shoulder movements , she was able to do numerous tasks such as throwing a ball and moving a computer mouse . “ It really render us the great thing you’re able to accomplish when you bridge over medicament and technology , ” said Peddada in apress - dismission .

Unlike other late devices , this prosthetic don a motor and a working thumb . It ’s also barrage fire - powered and controlled with an accelerometer .

Fitting children with prosthetics is difficult because as they grow , the prosthetics need to be replaced with large devices to accommodate their soundbox changes . Since most prosthetics are very expensive , this is unaffordable for many . “ With the 3 - five hundred printer , a prosthetic can be made much less expensive . The possibility of what can be done to improve prosthetics using this technology is very exciting , ” said Sydney ’s mother , Beth Kendall in apress - release .

If you ’d like to check out a presentment of the first paradigm gimmick , watch this YouTube video recording below :