Occupational Therapy Students Work with 3D Printed Hand

Millions of people across the globe are in need of access to affordable prosthetics to improve their quality of life. Today, doctors are hopeful that an answer is on the horizon thanks to the technological development of 3D printing. With the help of several Husson faculty and staff, six occupational therapy students are working with designs from the nonprofit volunteer group Enabling the Future to develop a 3D-printed prosthetic hand for a local individual. 

“This is truly the integration of many disciplines into a meaningful solution that improves not only education and understanding of the career paths students are entering, but the life of a local individual,” said Assistant Professor of Integrated Technology Laura Gurney, one of the project’s lead organizers.

Gurney was joined by IT Systems Administrator Frank Barton and Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy Kim Davis to offer students the opportunity to be a part of the process of resizing the designs to fit a specific person, editing the print files and assembling the printed parts. Each student helped fit together parts of the hand, discussed anatomical and functional aspects of the design and to strung the ‘muscles and tendons’ of the hand so that it would open and close as needed. 

The experience allowed for students to experience the rapid prototyping available through 3D printing and the benefits of printing modular parts in case of broken fingers, gauntlets and more. They also have a better understanding of the cost savings for those who cannot afford a traditional prosthetic. Over the semester, the students plan to consider further adaptive attachments that could enhance quality of life and the hand design.