Florida: A Florida boy born without most of his right arm took home a new forearm and functioning hand. The arm was made by scientists using a 3-D printer — a method they hope will transform the way prosthetics are made, particularly for children.
The prosthetic made for Alex Pring, 6, is among at least 50 created by a band of international contributors who collaborate online and print them out on 3-D printers, said Jon Schull, a Rochester Institute of Techno-logy scientist who launched the online group last July.
Pring’s prosthetic, which cost $350 in materials, was the group’s first for a child without a wrist or elbow to operate it.
Growing children often don’t get artificial limbs in part because the cost — often up to $40,000 — isn’t covered by many insurance plans, the University of Central Florida, whose students helped create the prosthetic, said.
