We’ve been covering 3D printers here for a while now and each new innovation just gets a little more amazing. We’ve also seen a few uses that make us question the technology such as when a hobbyist printed the lower part of a gun. 3D printing is going to run into all sorts of conundrums as it matures, but sometimes we just have to appreciate the little miracles that the technology affords.
Meet Emma, she’s a two-year-old who was born with arthrogryposis. It’s a terrible condition that limits how much she can move her arms. In fact, she can’t move her arms at all. There are available tools and treatments that could help her move again, but she’s much too young for the currently available technologies. That’s where the 3D printer comes in.
The doctors and technicians at the Delaware hospital in which Emma visits used a 3D printer to create “a durable exoskeleton with the tiny, lightweight parts she needed.” It’s kind of amazing really. It’s hard to put into words so just watch the video below:
As Emma grows, she’ll be able to switch to a metal exoskeleton that’s better able to match her size. Until then, a 3D printer is giving her the ability to play and interact with the world just like everybody else. That’s a big deal for anybody, but imagine how happy it must make her.