{"id":2325,"date":"2015-12-31T14:53:00","date_gmt":"2015-12-31T14:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/developmenttwo.marymount.edu\/blog\/professor-3d-prints-prosthetic-hand\/"},"modified":"2015-12-31T14:53:00","modified_gmt":"2015-12-31T14:53:00","slug":"professor-3d-prints-prosthetic-hand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/blog\/professor-3d-prints-prosthetic-hand\/","title":{"rendered":"Professor 3D Prints Prosthetic Hand"},"content":{"rendered":"

As an astronomer, Dr. Eric Bubar<\/a> studies stars and teaches Marymount University students about the cosmos. He loves his work, but was looking for a project that was a little more down to earth.<\/p>\n

\u0093I wanted to do something that would help people,\u0094 the assistant professor of physical sciences said.<\/p>\n

That\u0092s when he discovered Enabling the Future, a global network of volunteers that uses 3D printers to create free prosthetic hands and arms for those in need. Getting involved with the group fit perfectly with Marymount\u0092s commitment to service.<\/p>\n

The most recent beneficiary was Rebekah \u0093Beka\u0094 Jensen, a 13-year-old seventh grader from South Riding, who received a hand at Bubar\u0092s Marymount lab on Dec. 22 \u0096 just in time for Christmas.<\/p>\n

\u0093I love astronomy, but this has a big impact,\u0094 said Bubar, whose doctorate is in applied physics. \u0093It\u0092s nice to know that at Marymount I\u0092m encouraged to do this and am being provided the resources to really make a difference.\u0094<\/p>\n

That difference was immediate for Beka, who was quickly picking up things with the hand, the fingers of which close when she bends her wrist, allowing her to grip things.<\/p>\n

\u0093It\u0092s pretty cool and actually pretty easy to use,\u0094 said Beka, who was born with only a partial right hand. \u0093I want to try so many things.\u0094<\/p>\n

Before receiving the hand, the Loudon County resident, who plays the guitar and has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, still had trouble doing certain things, such as getting the tin foil off a yogurt container, cutting her own food, or holding and stirring a pot on the stove.<\/p>\n

Now she can pick up utensils, cut her own food, and pick up her iPod Touch.<\/p>\n

\u0093It was thrilling to see her grab something with her right hand for the first time,\u0094 said her mother, Kathy Jensen, who said that after the presentation the family went to Red Lobster and Beka was eating with a spoon in her right hand and experimenting to see what she could pick up with it.<\/p>\n

\u0093We\u0092re excited about her increased ability, especially when it comes to doing things in the kitchen,\u0094 Kathy said.<\/p>\n

Originally they looked at getting an electric prosthetic hand, but insurance wouldn\u0092t cover the $10,000 price tag.<\/p>\n

None of this would have happened without Jessica To-Alemanji, a Marymount alumnae who had learned about Beka\u0092s situation and made it her mission to see that she received a hand before Christmas.<\/p>\n

\u0093She made it happen fast, in just a couple of weeks,\u0094 Kathy Jensen said.<\/p>\n

To-Alemanji, who received her master\u0092s and doctorate of physical therapy from Marymount, contacted one of her former professors, Dr. Julie Ries, who put her in touch with Bubar.<\/p>\n

\u0093As a physical therapist, I am familiar with prosthetics, and I thought helping a child get such a device would be a great way to teach my children about giving from the heart,\u0094 To-Alemanji said.<\/p>\n

Her daughters, Emma and Eva Alemanji, ages 6 and 4, presented Beka with the hand. They even helped Bubar put it together.<\/p>\n

The professor has been printing the prosthetic hands for the past year with an open source design shared by Enabling the Future. Bubar and his students printed about 20 hands during the fall semester.<\/p>\n

Printing time for Beka\u0092s prosthetic, which consisted of about 35 pieces, was around 20 hours, split over two days. Bubar was aided by Max Hogan, a Marymount sophomore from London, England. The printer they used cost $600, Bubar said, adding that the materials used in the hand \u0096screws, plastic, fishing line and dental rubber bands \u0096 cost between $30 and $40.<\/p>\n

Early in the semester, his Marymount students began printing hands as a class project.<\/p>\n

\u0093Once they started reading about Enabling the Future, they started printing extra hands to help more people,\u0094 Bubar said. \u0093They also told their friends.\u0094<\/p>\n

Now Bubar has students he doesn\u0092t even know approaching him, asking if they can get involved. He\u0092s happy to oblige.<\/p>\n

\u0093Anybody can make a hand,\u0094 he said. \u0093It takes about 15 minutes for me to show them how. We need to get the word out that we can do this at Marymount.\u0094<\/p>\n

Bubar has helped Gunston Middle School set up a 3D printer and plans to visit other schools to explain the technology. He\u0092s also willing to give tours of his lab and help area residents buy printers so they can get involved. He can be reached by email<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For more information on the organization he works with on the process, go to enablingthefuture.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\nPhoto captions:<\/strong>
\nPhoto 1
\nRebekah \u0093Beka\u0094 Jensen, a 13-year-old from Loudon County, fists bumps Marymount University professor Dr. Eric Bubar with her new prosthetic hand, which was made with a 3D printer at Marymount.<\/p>\n

Photo 2
\nDr. Eric Bubar of Marymount University shows off a 3D-printed hand. He and his students have printed and assembled 20 of the hands, which they give away for free.<\/p>\n

Photo 3
\nThe pieces of the 3D-printed prosthetic hand that was given to a 13-year-old from Loudon County.<\/p>\n

Photo 4
\nThe 3D printer that Marymount University\u0092s Dr. Eric Bubar used to print the prosthetic hand.<\/p>\n

Photo 5
\nBeka Jensen receiving the box with her new prosthetic hand while her mother, Kathy Jensen looks on. Also pictured are Jessica To-Alemanji, Nkeng Alemanji, and Emma and Eva Alemanji.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As an astronomer, Dr. Eric Bubar studies stars and teaches Marymount University students about the cosmos. He loves his work, but was looking for a project that was a little more down to earth. \u0093I wanted to do something that would help people,\u0094 the assistant professor of physical sciences said. That\u0092s when he discovered Enabling […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nProfessor 3D Prints Prosthetic Hand - Marymount University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As an astronomer, Dr. Eric Bubar studies stars and teaches Marymount University students about the cosmos. He loves his work, but was looking for a . 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