Her dominant hand, essential for daily tasks like eating, sweeping, writing, cooking, and spiritual activities, is now lost. Though not formally employed, she ran a small business making garlands for the Kovil, which has also come to a halt.

Emotional struggles due to her right-hand amputation. Finds it difficult to be in public, often covering her hand in social settings to avoid attention. The loss of her independence is another mental challenge, as everyday tasks now require constant assistance, leaving her feeling reliant on others.

Right now she relies on her sister who takes care of most of her tasks. She has lost her independence in most of the day to day tasks like eating, cooking,  even sanitary needs. She needs to regain this independence in a variety of day to day activities

Though we spoke different languages, 

"A 3D-printed prosthetic that restores independence by enabling daily and specialized tasks while providing a real, cosmetic appearance for confidence in public"

"I am Dhananjani, and I lost my dominant hand below the wrist. I just want to do things on my own again. A functional orthosis and a cosmetic assistive device would restore my confidence and help me manage daily tasks."

Problem: Limited access to affordable, functional, and cosmetic prosthetics for individuals with above-wrist amputations.
Population: 30–50 million people worldwide with above-wrist amputations.
Outcome: Greater independence, functionality, and confidence with a cost-effective 3D-printed prosthetic.

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The initial idea we were brainstorming was to make a brace that fits the amputated arm. This brace comes with some type of mechanism that different functional units can be attached. 

The need analysis revealed us that the need knower had the crucial need that she needs her hand to look  like a realistic hand for a cosmetic appearance. In the second phase of the ideation we thought of combining the two ideas and adding the functionality to a realistic looking hand 

Here we were fully committed to satisfy our need owner so we took the approach of 3D scanning the stump(amputated arm) to make a brace that would exactly fit that. Here we did without using any high-end 3D scanners but just with an Iphone and an app.

3D scanning usually involves very expensive tools , scanners. But don't worry, there's a way that doesn't cost you anything but only you need someone with an Iphone. 

App to download: Polycam
scanning

The 3D scanning only generates a mesh that cannot be printed. So there's a somewhat of a complex procedure to covert this to a 3D printable STL file.As the procedure is too complex to type We will upload a video tutorial. This is the approach we took and there could be multiple better ways.

We took precise measurements of the need-knower’s arm to design a perfectly fitting brace. Using measuring tapes and vernier calipers, we recorded:

• Circumference at multiple points (tape)
• Forearm width at several points (calipers)
• Length from elbow (tape)
  
  Also these measurements should be noted down

Another we way we used to get the arbitrary shape (Elongated) of the hand was to use clay.

In the initial stage we prototyped two main devices 

• The 3D printed arm with the cosmetic appearance
• The arm brace where the wrist is connected 

This real looking 3D printed hand does not provide any functionality to the hand but serves just as a prosthetic to cover up the the amputation. 

In the second prototyping phase we gave more attention to giving the functionality still while maintaining a life like appearance.

The life like cosmetic appearance was retained while adding a functional thumb that the user could manipulate using simple movements to do multiple tasks. 

With the mechanical attachment the device provides the need-knower with multiple wrist positions that the user could adjust into to suit the the position she likes the most

Purchasing the Required components

3D printer
Filament - PLA/ABS (white preferred)

Take the following measurements

1.Width of the of the Stump(use caliper)
2.Width of the Forearm(use caliper)

Before the print You should scale this print to match your hands measurements. For that you can use the measurements you took and then the Functionalities of the 3D printing slicer software for to scale it up or down to fit your arm. We have embedded a video tutorial explaining the process

To give 3D prints the maximum strength and durability the slicing settings are very important. We have embedded a video about slicing and 45 degree slicing that you should use to slice the hand.
We will update the documentation with our own tutorial on how to slice these STLs if time permits

Next you should assemble the above printed files using the components you bought for assembling. Gather up the Zip ties, Nut and Bolts and Follow our Video Tutorial

Next step is to make  hand stocking using the a clean hand stocking cloth brought from a pharmacy.

Watch the video Tutorial of making the Velcro belt
https://youtu.be/ehfKcma2jzY

To increase the usability, gripping and giving a life like grip to the finer tips, the finger tips(only the tip) can be covered by silicon molded parts. This step is optional

This is the realistic looking hand part - should scale this up if you need(watch tutorial)

On the end of the second day of the make-A-Thon we were able to finalize and test our concept practically with Dhanajani. It was a heart touching moment where she wrote her first letters with the new hand and then onwards to doing various other tasks.
She even painted her nails on her own! video

One the activities the need knower used to do is flower garland making. Our design is well suited for this as well as this involves the  pinching position of the hand. To do this we have to design a pedal mechanism that is connected to the assistive device to do this task only.

We are planning to add an array of assistive add-ons to be connected with the 3D printed hand unit