Feb. 10, 2015 | By Alec
That 3D printing technology is perfect for making cheap and functional prosthetics, is hardly a secret. You’ll have doubtlessly heard of the wonderful work of the E-NABLE community. However, virtually all 3D printed prosthetics are have a limited focus on hands and arms, rather than legs, and that’s no coincidence. This is due to a number of complicating factors that leg prosthetics bring to the table, like the need for exact balance, strength and practical functionality. And yet there is a huge need for it – in the U.S. alone, there are approximately 1.8 million people living without a leg. And just about all of them are confined to using wheelchairs or high expensive conventional prosthetics (usually in the +$20,000 range).
That is exactly why are very impressed with a new product developed by the California-based start-up Standard Cyborg: the 3D printed waterproof duplicate leg prosthetic. While its waterproof properties are already very impressive, the prosthesis’s price is even more so: it can be custom made for you for just $499. Now to be completely honest, this prosthesis isn’t a perfect replacement for your typical leg prosthesis, that can be used for easy walking and running. Instead, it's been designed to make life easier and more practical, especially around the house and when taking a shower, going to the pool or to the beach.
While most prosthetics do not cope well with water, this cheap alternative can easily be worn in any type of water. As stated on it’s website: "For amputees, taking a shower can be a dangerous, time consuming, annoying, and even unsanitary task. Many amputees have slipped in the shower, and most fear that they will every time they turn the faucet on. If you travel, you are used to sitting in the bottom of tubs and showers. Shower stools can be cumbersome, embarrassing, and not much safer."
And that’s exactly where the leg comes in: "Our Water Leg allows you to safely stand again while showering. It is 100% waterproof, dries quickly, and has a Vibram non-slip sole. It is a safer, cleaner, and more humane way to shower." It can even easily be used in the sandy and salty conditions of the beach; simply rinse it off and you’re good to go. It’s also easy to put on and take off, so it’s even perfect for going to the toilet at night.
This clever 3D printing application has been developed by a young entrepreneur and industrial engineer Jeff Huber, who has had his own reasons to work on this project. Huber himself was born with fibular hemimelia, a condition that leaves suffers with a short, deformed limb that often needs to be amputated. His own left leg has been amputated below the knee, and he wears a $23,000 prosthetic.
And yet, as he explained to 3ders.org, he started his company with more than just his own fortunes in mind. "As a life-long amputee, I knew that the process of creating a prosthetic leg was very long, difficult to get right, and that the end product was very expensive," Huber said. "That being said - being able to walk is hugely important and hugely valuable!"
"So while it is totally worth the cost often for your walking leg - it means that other legs are more or less price inaccessible. Growing up I wanted to have a running leg, a swimming leg, a climbing leg - I didn't want my lack of devices to hold me back - but I wasn't incredibly wealthy and so that wasn't an option," he explained. "I knew that 3D printing could help significantly lower the costs and hopefully help more people live the fullest life possible."
Fortunately, with his background industrial engineering (he studied at NC state), introduced him to the full potential of 3D printing. "In 2009 took a class on Additive Manufacturing. At the time, my senior thesis was going to be tying together a CT scan, haptic feedback device, and (expensive) 3d printer," he explained to us. "I really wanted to put all this stuff on a semi and drive around rehabilitating war torn populations. I laid it aside to start a startup [an ultimately ill-fated online education project] and then in the spring of last year decided I really wanted to work on it again. So I put together my own 3d printed (a heavily modified kit) and started printing!"
Originally, Huber started a little printing business in San Francisco, but has been provided a Y Combinator grant, which aims to help small start-ups (mostly software-based) get on their feet. As part of the deal, these start-ups move to Silicon Valley for a few months, where they get access to all the facilities they need to get going.
Since starting out, Huber tried to combine as much info, data and achievements into a new product that could really help people, before stumbling on a very inventive way to produce custom-made prostheses: 3D scanning. As he isn’t trying to replace people’s normal and functional prosthetics, but simply trying to give them an easy alternative for wet locations, Huber simply makes a detailed 3D scan of a customer’s current prosthesis. He then 3D prints a low-cost copy that is then wrapped in carbon fiber.
This very clever solution has so far proven to be perfect for producing low-cost leg-prosthetics that are strong enough to support the wearer’s weight, while also being form-fitting. But as this whole project is still very young, Huber, didn’t yet want to divulge any information about the materials and 3D printer he uses – "needless to say, it was not a Makerbot" – stating only that it takes him about 20 hours to 3D print an entire leg.
It also means that Huber is still trying to figure things out, as far as design and production are concerned. "We also use carbon fiber to reinforce the 3d printed part which is very technical, and very artisanal’ and therefore complicating. But so far, he has found that the biggest challenge of all is the business side of the equation: how do you reach your customers and convince them about your product? ‘I might be able to make these things - but how could I get them in the hands of users? I'm still figuring that out," he said. But when seeing the quality and functionality of these very affordable prosthetics, we are absolutely confident he has a hit on his hands.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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This looks fantastic! My husband just lost his lower leg and is very interested in this for showers. How do we get one?
Edward Friend wrote at 2/21/2017 3:15:31 AM:
This looks great... I live at the beach have had to stay away since losing my leg. How do I get one ? Ekfriend1969@gmail.com
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