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Public Domain Prosthetic Hand

Posted by Soulskill on from the you-might-find-this-handy dept.

New submitter Zeussy writes "While looking around Thingiverse for something to 3D-print, I found this awesome public domain prosthetic hand designed for a 5-year-old child called Liam, who was born without any fingers on his right hand. The design is based on parts either 3D-printed or bought from your local hardware store. It's body powered via cables and bungees; see it in action in this video. They are currently running a Fundly Fundraiser."

6 of 31 comments (clear)

  1. This is fantastic by inquist · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I think this also helps answer the other article posted recently, "Are there any real inventors left?" Yes there are.

    1. Re:This is fantastic by Forty+Two+Tenfold · · Score: 2

      This is wrong. Giving stuff to the public domain should be forbidden. This way of life is communist!

      --
      Upward mobility is a slippery slope - the higher you climb the more you show your ass.
  2. Can you imagine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    You take your kid to the family doctor:

    Doc: Nice to see you both again. So, uh, where did you get that prosthetic hand for little Tommy?
    Dad: I downloaded some designs from the internet and built it myself.
    Doc: *gape*

    1. Re:Can you imagine? by WillAdams · · Score: 2

      Two sides to this:

      Ages ago, I remember reading in Readers Digest a story about a gentleman and his wife who adopted one of the Thalidomide babies and created a more manageable motorized device for the young man to control so as to have some mobility --- I've always wondered if any of those mechanisms were used in later devices.

      There are now devices for CNC milling dental crowns while one waits in a dentist's office:

      http://www.shapeoko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1196&p=9543&hilit=dentist#p9543

      --
      Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
  3. 3D fun by turkeydance · · Score: 5, Insightful

    3D printing has the potential to be the "next thing". just like computers, the internet,etc. practical/fun/dangerous/all that. this example is heart-warming. now, if we could just intercept or delay DRM and other censorship possibilites.

  4. Greatest moment by schneidafunk · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The greatest moment is when Rich and I were working together with Liam in South Africa. The moment Liam realized that his wrist motion powered the device, he exclaimed "It copies me!!". -Ivan Owen & Richard Van As

    source here

    --
    Some people die at 25 and aren't buried until 75. -Benjamin Franklin