Library Used Its 3D Printer To Make Prosthetic Hand For Girl

To design the prosthetic Ferrell and a group of volunteers took measurements of Katelyn's arms, and used a design provided on the internet from the e-NABLE community, a global network of volunteers. Ferrell told The Huffington Post that the designs for Katelyn's prosthetic are publicly available, already tested and have been adopted by many users around the world. It is not a FDA-approved device, but the material used for 3D printing is a well-known, non-toxic plastic called polylactic acid. "[The prosthetic we built] is generally recognized as a beneficial alternative to more expensive professional prosthetics," Ferrell told HuffPost. The hand device that Ferrell and his team made is pink and purple, Katelyn's favorite colors, and includes fingers and a thumb that allow Katelyn to grasp objects. It is attached to Katelyn's arm by Velcro straps and is controlled by her elbow.