UCF-based Limbitless Solutions announced late last week a new multi-year partnership with Stratasys, a company globally recognized for its broad range of 3D printing solutions and services specifically designed to help customers achieve new levels of speed, innovation, performance and customization across design and development.
Since Limbitless launched in 2014, 3D-printing technology has been at the center of the nonprofit’s mission — creating personalized bionic arms for children in the limb difference community. The technology has been a key component in developing a new line of prosthetics in the United States.
The Limbitless Solutions team focuses on empowering others, and with Stratasys’ support, it can amplify its impact. With the support of this new partnership, Limbitless will be able to create prosthetics of the highest quality.
“Our team is really excited to have Stratasys as a partner and believe it will better enable us to design and deliver the best possible bionic arms for children in the United States and around the globe,” says Albert Manero ’12 ’14MS ’16PhD, CEO and co-founder of Limbitless Solutions. “Additive manufacturing helps us custom craft each child’s design and cut the time of prototyping and manufacturing. The ability to personalize each design while minimizing the weight and production time was critical.”
“Our team is really excited to have Stratasys as a partner and believe it will better enable us to design and deliver the best possible bionic arms for children in the United States and around the globe.” — Albert Manero ’12 ’14MS ’16PhD, CEO and co-founder of Limbitless Solutions
3D printing is expected to have a direct and often immediate impact on societal well-being — with innovation having the power to dramatically shape lives and communities for the better.
“3D printing is a major catalyst for innovation across the healthcare industry, driving improved personalized patient care and solving complex medical problems with simpler solutions. This is most prevalent in the unique creation of prosthetics – improving the accessibility of devices, accelerating quality-of-life and delivering true change,” says Rich Garrity, president of Stratasys Americas. “We’re honored to be chosen as the Limbitless partner-of-choice for this important initiative, and together, we are truly making an impact.”
As part of the new agreement, Technical Training Aids Inc. will be supporting the partnership by assisting with both the training and the regular maintenance of the manufacturing equipment.
Each semester, Limbitless works with UCF undergraduate students from a variety of different majors. Through cross-collaboration and meaningful project-based learning, Limbitless hopes to provide its students with an opportunity to expand their professional development, with 3D-printing at its core.
Stratasys is committed to supporting the professional development of these students. The resources that Stratasys is providing to Limbitless allow future STEAM innovators to have hands-on experience with some of the best equipment in the industry, furthering Limbitless’ goal of creating a more inclusive STEAM future.
In May of 2018, Limbitless Solutions announced its first clinical trial with Oregon Health & Science University. These clinical trials, which are underway, mark the first ever 3D-printed prosthetics trial for children in the United States. The trial will be instrumental to support future applications to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for market clearance.
