Limbitless Solutions
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Limbitless Solutions is a
501(c)(3) A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 50 ...
non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
founded in the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
that uses additive manufacturing (
3D printing 3D printing or additive manufacturing is the Manufacturing, construction of a three-dimensional object from a computer-aided design, CAD model or a digital 3D modeling, 3D model. It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is ...
) to create accessible, yet affordable personalized bionics and
prosthetic In medicine, a prosthesis (plural: prostheses; from grc, πρόσθεσις, prósthesis, addition, application, attachment), or a prosthetic implant, is an artificial device that replaces a missing body part, which may be lost through trau ...
partial arms for children with limb deltas The organization says their bionic arms are manufactured for under $400, 1% of the standard production cost. Headquartered on the University of Central Florida campus in 
Orlando, Florida Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County, Florida, Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Greater Orlando, Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, acco ...
, the organization was founded by a team of engineering students, led by CEO and Executive Director Albert Manero.


History

The idea of Limbitless Solutions came to life in 2014 after a team of engineering students at the
University of Central Florida The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public research university whose main campus is in unincorporated Orange County, Florida. UCF also has nine smaller regional campuses throughout central Florida. It is part of the State University ...
led an initiative to provide bionic 3D printed limbs to children. In their free time, the students took advantage of a donated
Stratasys Stratasys, Ltd. is an American-Israeli manufacturer of 3D printers, software, and materials for polymer additive manufacturing as well as 3D-printed parts on-demand. The company is incorporated in Israel. Engineers use Stratasys systems to model c ...
Dimension 3D printer in the engineering manufacturing lab on campus to create an affordable prosthetic that displayed their ideas of art and engineering all into one. Their method was the first of its kind and minimized the cost and time of traditional prosthetic manufacturing processes like
CNC milling Numerical control (also computer numerical control, and commonly called CNC) is the automated control of machining tools (such as drills, lathes, mills, grinders, routers and 3D printers) by means of a computer. A CNC machine processes a piec ...
. The first 3D printed arm the students created was run with off-the-shelf
servos In control engineering a servomechanism, usually shortened to servo, is an automatic device that uses error-sensing negative feedback to correct the action of a mechanism. On displacement-controlled applications, it usually includes a built-in ...
and batteries which are activated by the
electromyography Electromyography (EMG) is a technique for evaluating and recording the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles. EMG is performed using an instrument called an electromyograph to produce a record called an electromyogram. An electromyog ...
muscle energy on the child's limb. Most prosthetic arms are
mechanical Mechanical may refer to: Machine * Machine (mechanical), a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of output forces and movement * Mechanical calculator, a device used to perform the basic operations of ...
, which presents a challenge for children without elbows because they have to open and close their mechanical prosthetic by bending their elbow. That led the Limbitless team to come up with the idea for an electronic arm with a muscle sensor that allows the child to open and close their prosthetic hand by flexing their
biceps The biceps or biceps brachii ( la, musculus biceps brachii, "two-headed muscle of the arm") is a large muscle that lies on the front of the upper arm between the shoulder and the elbow. Both heads of the muscle arise on the scapula and join ...
.


Production

Before creating the bionic arm, the child is measured carefully to ensure that the length, width, and size of their new 3D prosthetic is as similar to their residual arm as possible. The model of the arm is then appropriately scaled and adjusted using Fusion 360 before being printed, assembled, and fitted.
Electromyography Electromyography (EMG) is a technique for evaluating and recording the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles. EMG is performed using an instrument called an electromyograph to produce a record called an electromyogram. An electromyog ...
(EMG) sensors are then calibrated before the arm is ready for use. The time to create one bionic arm varies depending on several factors, the most significant being the type of limb difference the child has.


Recipients

Children who have been given bionics from Limbitless Solutions include a 7-year-old boy who received a 3D printed
Iron Man Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. The charact ...
themed arm, presented by actor
Robert Downey Jr. Robert John Downey Jr. (born April 4, 1965) is an American actor and producer. His career has been characterized by critical and popular success in his youth, followed by a period of substance abuse and legal troubles, before a resurgence of ...
(facilitated by
Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washing ...
's The Collective Project),LA Times, la et mg Robert downey jr iron man robotic arm boy
LA Times, la et mg Robert downey jr iron man robotic arm boy a 12-year-old from
Vero Beach, Florida Vero Beach is a city in and the seat of Indian River County, Florida, United States. Vero Beach is the second most populous city in Indian River County. Abundant in beaches and wildlife, Vero Beach is located on Florida's Treasure Coast. It is thi ...
, who was the recipient of a bionic arm presented by the
Blue Man Group Blue Man Group is an American performance art company formed in 1987. It was purchased in July 2017 by the Canadian company Cirque du Soleil. Blue Man Group is known for its stage productions, which incorporate many kinds of music and art, bot ...
at
Universal Studios Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...
in
Orlando, Florida Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County, Florida, Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Greater Orlando, Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, acco ...
, an 11-year-old girl originally from California who was presented a floral themed arm at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, an 8-year-old boy from Seattle, Washington, who received his arm as part of the 12 Arms of Christmas delivery, a 10-year-old girl from Texas who was the recipient of a UCF themed arm, presented by the UCF Cheerleading team and Knightro, the UCF mascot, and a 22-year old model from Hawaii who wore the arm she received on the runway.


Other Limbitless projects


Project Xavier

Project Xavier is the name for the production of a wheelchair that is controlled by the same EMG sensors as the 3-D printed arms. These EMG sensors are placed on the temporalis muscles, allowing for those with limited or no hand dexterity the ability to control the wheelchair by clenching their jaw in different ways. This wheelchair reduces the need for the user to be pushed around by someone, making tasks easier and less time-consuming for them. This increased independence enhances their quality of life immediately.


''The Bionic Kid'' comic book series

In December 2018, Limbitless Solutions released a comic book entitled ''The Bionic Kid''. The comic book was written by Zachary, one of the Limbitless Solutions bionic kids, his brother Christo, and their dad Niko. The visuals were created by student artists at the University of Central Florida with assistance from professors at UCF School of Visual Arts and Design, ''The Bionic Kid'' is being sold in order to support those with limb difference. This comic tells the story of Zachary, one of the bionic kids. They attend the 8-Bit-World Finals where Zachary ends up playing the accessible video game ''Bash Bro'' against a bully named Norman. After both are electrocuted in an accident, the each receive special powers. In the comic, Zachary is referred to as The Bionic Kid, Norman is called Aquarius, and Limbitless Solutions Executive Director Albert Manero is a character as well.


Accessible games

Limbitless Solutions also created custom video game controllers that have been created to utilize the same EMG input that is used to operate the prosthetic arms. Typically, traditional controllers have not fully considered disabled user-experience, but Limbitless is creating new accessibility tools for not only their Bionic Kids, but many others in the same situation. Inclusive gaming not only trains Bionic Kids, but empowers through creativity.


References


External links

* {{official Organizations based in Orlando, Florida Non-profit technology Research organizations in the United States Health charities in the United States Children's health-related organizations Organizations established in 2014 Bionics 3D printer companies University of Central Florida Charities based in Florida Medical and health organizations based in Florida