The Helping Hand Project has been offering specialized prosthetics to children ever since its founding in 2014, but with recent advancements in 3D printing and modeling technology, the nonprofit’s ambitions are growing, according to the President Griffin Drye. Its most recent conference communicated its goals and allowed experts in prosthesis to share their experiences developing life-changing technology.
“This event is the culmination of years of work on our part to grow our organization,” Drye said.
Before the event began, Anthony Kyu, Chief Technology Officer for the club, said he was excited for what’s in store.
“I can’t wait to see what the speakers have to say,” Kyu said. “They work in the fields that I am interested in, so I can’t wait to see how I can get involved.”
The conference began with Jeff Powell, Helping Hand’s founder, who said the nonprofit originated in hopes of becoming a global network of people creating 3D-printed prosthetics. He said he admired the selfless motivations of the creators of the first prosthetic hand.
“Instead of keeping this design file to themselves or trying to patent it and make a profit, they released it into the internet under open-source licensing so people could … improve on the design and bring the devices into the hands of the people who need them,” Powell said.
The second speaker, Dr. Laura Miller, was a prosthetist focused on research that directly impacts patient care. She showed an example of one of her patients, who had lost both of his arms but was rehabilitated thanks to targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR). Miller and her team were able to redirect the nerves that used to control the patient’s arm into his unused pectoral muscle. Now, when the patient thinks about closing his hand, for example, it moves his pec instead, and this movement signals the prosthetic hand to close.
Not only are these innovations more effective, but they are also becoming easier to access, according to Miller. Miller showed a side-by-side comparison between old methods of prosthesis signaling and TMR.
“You can see how much easier it is for him to move the blocks from one side to the other with TMR,” Miller said. “This technology is now commercially available for individuals who use a prosthesis.”
Brent Wright, a professional in 3D prosthetic design and the event’s final prosthetist to speak, showed the crowd of students and researchers a different perspective. His efforts were in Guatemala, where most people are unemployed or living on a few dollars a day.
“Our patients aren’t thinking about when they are getting their next prosthesis,” Wright said. “They are thinking about how to put shelter over their families and feed themselves.”
Wright said this environment also brought new challenges for him and his team of prosthetists and orthotists.
“Traditional components in the jungle of Guatemala literally vaporize within a matter of months,” Wright said.
Wright said despite the difficult environment and overwhelming demand, his team was able to treat dozens of people using innovations like long-lasting plastic components and precise molds used to individually fit each patient.
At the end of the conference, co-executive directors Rachel Bare and Sydney Garrell acknowledged the organization’s achievements and discussed goals for the future, including steps being taken to expand the organization’s reach across the state.
“We are working to get an official budget, audit and internal control policies for donors to be more comfortable with donating to us,” Bare said.
