Attendees at the May 21 meeting at Valencia Lakes were able to see a 3D printer in action. Photo courtesy of Mickey Saperstone.
An April 29, 2015 article in The Observer News publications told the story of a group of people in Valencia Lakes who had gathered together to solve a little-known but significant problem using high technology.
The group named themselves Handling the Future, and they committed themselves to using 3D printers to build prosthetics — artificial hands and fingers mostly — for children.
Up to one in 2,500 children suffer from a syndrome from which they could lose their hands. Other children lose hands through accidents. It is a rarely discussed but pressing need, particularly for children. Prosthetics are expensive, and insurance companies hesitate or refuse to pay for new devices as a child grows — with replacements needed up to four times per year.
But studies have shown that children adapt to prosthetic devices far better than adults. It is important to provide them early to children in need, thus creating a Catch-22 between need and affordability.
Dr. Richard Brown with a 3D-printed prosthetic hand. According to e-NABLE, the colorful prosthetics are popular with children in need. Mitch Traphagen photo.
Enter Handling the Future, a locally focused organization that is working with a group named e-NABLE, which has the same mission on a global basis. The club was founded by Dr. Richard Brown, a resident of Valencia Lakes, and with a handful of members he began using a 3D printer available at the John F. Germany Public Library in Tampa. Using the printers, a prosthetic can be made for $20 to $50. They are provided free of charge to children in need. Although 3D printing technology is advancing, each device can take up to 20 hours to print. The library allows four hours of use for the printer, but those hours are per member, thus allowing the group to complete a prosthetic hand. The library staff has committed themselves to this project.
“With the current membership Handling the Future has, which is certain to grow, we are happily able to offer them much more than four hours of print time,” said Principal Librarian Megan Danak. “Our staff has also helped to troubleshoot the printing process for some of the pieces, which did not print successfully on first pass. We are pleased to report that we were able to complete all the pieces for a hand as of [late April].”
On May 21, the group held a meeting to introduce the club to those interested in helping, and to include experts in the medical and technological aspects of their mission.
Attendees at the May 21 meeting included Alan Berkov, Frank Cavalier, Keith Schneider, Gary Spieler, Dr. Michael Celestin, Wes Frusher, Chris Brackett, Corey Gnibus, Sydney Grogan, Dr. Rich Brown, Megan Danak, Richard Zaifert, Peter Zachmann and Bob Corin.
Photo courtesy of Mickey Saperstone.
Since word has gotten out about Handling the Future, the meeting, with nearly 100 people in attendance, nearly filled the large social hall at Valencia Lakes. It included Ms. Danak and technical assistants from the John F. Germany Library as well as Sydney Grogan, a technical assistant from the SouthShore Regional Library. The meeting also included Dr. Michael Celestin, senior research engineer, and Wes Frusher, senior research technologist, from the University of South Florida School of Engineering.
“The evening was excellent,” Dr. Brown later said.
The presentation of 3D printing technology by Dr. Celestin and how it is advancing was of particular interest, according to Dr. Brown.
“His technology talk provoked so much interest by the residents that there was an extended Q & A period that followed,” he said.
Beginning only in mid-February, Handling the Future has grown to more than 30 members, and will likely only continue to grow. The group eventually plans to purchase its own 3D printer but given the tremendous support offered by the Hillsborough County Public Libraries and given the rapidly advancing technology of 3D printing, they plan to conduct a thorough study as to when and what may be best to purchase.
Since the first article about the organization appeared in The Observer News, the group has received gifts from area residents to start a fund toward the purchase of supplies and a future 3D printer.
For now, the group’s focus is on reaching out to those in need right here in the Tampa Bay area. Based on the success of the meeting, there is reason for optimism.
“My main observation would be of the remarkable amount of interest this subject of 3D printing has raised,” said attendee Brian Pawley. “The larger-than-expected turnout was instrumental in making this an electric-charged meeting with much buzzing by a fascinated audience.”
Pawley went on to recognize how diverse groups working together can achieve remarkable results.
“Libraries have changed so much, that so much more than just lending books is available,” he continued. “From a Handling the Future perspective, there is no doubt that 3D printing is becoming a major factor in our lives, and I have to take my hat off to Rich Brown for his vision and persistent research on the particular value of e-NABLE and provision of low-cost working hands for children, through volunteers like ourselves.”
Using 3D printers to create prosthetics is extremely new, both from a medical and an engineering standpoint, but the impact is already being felt around the world. It is making life better for children in need — children who would otherwise be without fingers or hands. That is an impact that simply cannot be measured. But still, the needs persist.
Last month, Google announced a $600,000 grant to the global group e-NABLE to further their global mission. And Handling the Future, while growing in numbers and successfully creating prosthetics, is still in need of support, from funds to volunteers.
With this technology available to change the life of a child, the cost — $20 to $50 per device — simply cannot be measured against the enormous impact it has on the life and future of a child. But it does require commitment. It requires work, funding and volunteers to make it all happen.
Right here in South Hillsborough, Handling the Future has that commitment. Today, at this moment, they are changing and improving lives.
For information on how you can help, email Dr. Richard Brown at handlingthefuture@gmail.com. Handling the Future is an all-volunteer, community-based organization.
For information about e-NABLE, visit www.enablingthefuture.org
