Headquarters Orlando, Florida, U.S. | ||
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Formation 2014; 3 years ago (2014) Type 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Purpose Develop open source 3D printed bionic solutions for children that are functional, affordable, and easy to manufacture. Website www.limbitless-solutions.org | ||
Limbitless Solutions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in the United States that uses additive manufacturing (3D printing) to advance affordable personalized bionics and prosthetic partial arms for children with disabilities. The organization claims their limbitless’ bionic arms are manufactured for under $400, 1% of traditional prostheses. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, the organization was founded by a team of University of Central Florida engineering students, led by executive director Albert Manero.
Contents
History
As University of Central Florida engineering students, the Limbitless Solutions team began the first project at the university campus manufacturing lab in 2014. The organization used a donated Stratasys Dimension 3D Printer and other supplies to create an affordable prosthetic, to minimize cost and time of traditional manufacturing processes like CNC milling. Built in the student's free time, their first arm used a 3D printer running with off-the-shelf servos and batteries that were activated by the electromyography muscle energy on a child’s limb. Most prosthetic arms are mechanical, which presents a challenge for children without elbows. With mechanical arms, the child opens and closes their hand by bending their elbow. The students came up with the idea for an electronic arm with a muscle sensor that allows the child to open and close their hand by flexing their biceps.
Production
When producing a prosthesis, the child is measured (size of residual limb, length of limb, etc.) and the model of the arm is then appropriately scaled and adjusted before being printed, assembled, and fitted. Electromyography (EMG) sensors are calibrated before the arm is ready for use. The time to fabricate one bionic arm ranges depending on several factors, the most influential being the type of amputation. The time to build a helper hand is 4–6 weeks, and a bionic arm without an elbow is 8–12 weeks. In addition to partial arms, Limbitless has said it has plans to make full arms with elbows as well as legs.
Recipients
Children who have been given prosthetics from Limbitless Solutions include a 7-year-old boy who received a 3D printed Iron Man themed arm, presented by actor Robert Downey Jr., (facilitated by Microsoft’s The Collective Project) a Nine-year-old from Omaha, Nebraska who was given Star Wars themed arm prosthesis presented by Darth Vader, and a twelve-year-old from Vero Beach, Florida who was the recipient of a bionic arm presented by the Blue Man Group at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.