Last spring, 8th Grade Science teacher Jourdan Marino and now-retired Technology Teacher, Kevin Kille worked on a 3D printing project to create a prosthetic hand for 8 year-old Medford resident, Frankie. This project was highlighted on Fox News Boston in June.
Kevin Kille, Jourdan Marino, and Frankie showing off last June’s blue prototype prosthetic.
Frankie has grown quite a bit since receiving the initial prosthetic, so Mr. Jourdan had him come in on September 25th to try a new prototype, codenamed: “Red 125″. The new prototype will have five fingers rather than three and allow for more complex articulation, giving the prosthetic the ability to perform more complex movements. Frankie’s movement with the blue prothetic from the spring comes naturally and easy to him now, though the prothetic itself is starting to grow tight around his arm. Mr. Jourdan and Mrs. Shea, a 6th grade Science Teacher, casted a new mould, measured his arm growth, and had Frankie try on “Red 125″ for an initial fitting.
Mr. Marino measures Frankie’s arm growth since the spring.
Frankie, Mr. Jourdan, and Mrs. Shea mix the casting mould.
Though some of the new prototype’s components need to be tweaked and adjusted before Frankie can start using it regularly, yesterday’s fitting gave Mr. Jourdan and Mrs. Shea a better idea of how the new prototype can be improved for Frankie’s next fitting. The demonstration also provided students with a fascinating example of how new technologies, in this case 3D printing, can be used to improve lives.
Frankie casts a new mould to give Mr. Jourdan and Mrs. Shea a better idea of how his arm has grown since the spring.
Mr. Marino has Frankie try on Red 125 to determine how it needs to be adjusted to accommodate his growth.
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