3D Printer Lets a Disabled Girl Play Aug 07, 2012 08:55 by Mike Derges

We seem to be constantly raving about how much potential these devices have, yet they still manage to surprise us. Statasys, a manufacturer of 3D printers production systems used for rapid prototyping, has provided the most powerful demonstration yet of just what 3D printing can achieve.

Emma is two years old, and due to a condition called arthrogryposis she is unable to move the weight of her arms. By using a 3D printer doctors have been able to produce a cheap, lightweight frame to support her and allow movement.

Not only that but the ease with which replacement parts are made has meant that challenges stemming from wear and tear and the child’s growth are easily overcome!

The huge positive impact that this new technology has had on this girl (and her families) life is profound. From being a prisoner in her own body the lightweight frame has allowed her to play and experience life on a new level.

At the end of the clip her doctor explains that when they took her “magic arms” to make adjustments she uttered her first full sentence… “I want those.”