GrabCad Modular Prosthetic Challenge
This year GrabCAD teams up the with Enable Community Foundation to challenge GrabCAD’s large and diverse population of talented engineers in designing a modular, low cost, 3D-Printable terminal device and we hope to continue to break down barriers for those with limb differences. This of course is with the help of the participants who have to design the terminal device that is compatible with the international Committee for the Red Cross’s (ICRC) tranradial prosthetics manufacturing guidelines.
Why this is so important
The number of those living with limb differences globally is countless. And nearly 2 million people in the US alone live with limb differences. To add on to that, it is estimated that approximately 1 in 2000 live births each year involves upper-limb
Example hook terminal devices with standard threaded interfaces.
reduction that is according to World Health Organization. The 70 and 80s design has given very little diversity in aesthetics or functionality due to the limited and low cost of manufacturing and distribution process of prosthetics. In addition, there has been a decline of the voluntary opening (VO) terminal device mechanical efficiency since 1987 and that is according to a 2012 VA study and it is our hope that the Enable Community Foundation-GrabCAD challenge to the engineers will not only improve on aesthetics alone but will also tackle the ergonomics as well which may help in improving the mechanical efficiency.
How to participate:
Visit GrabCAD.com, a community hosting more than 1,6million designers and engineers and also open to the public.
Challenge beigns on April 18, 2016 and deadline for entries is on May 16,2016.
Finalists will be announced on June 2016 and with $3400 in total prizes to be won, winners will be announced on June 20, 2016.
