(from left) Seniors Kranti Peddada, Kendall Gretsch and Henry Lather designed and built a robotic
prosthetic arm for 13-year-old Sydney Kendall. Sydney requested that her new arm be pink.
The child: Sydney, a 13-year-old who lost her arm in a boating accident when she was 6 years old.
The project: To develop a robotic prosthetic arm. Pink preferably.
The challenge: To keep costs low. Children need new prosthetics as their bodies grow. That can pose a big financial burden on families.
The result: Students Kendall Gretsch, Henry Lather, Kranti Peddada — all seniors studying biomedical engineering — used a 3-D printer to create a robotic prosthetic arm that Sydney can control through moving her shoulder. And, as Sydney requested, it was neon pink. Total cost: $200.
The change: Sydney says she loves her new arm. For the first time, she can use a mouse or throw a ball. The experience has changed the students’ lives as well. “It really showed us the great things you can accomplish when you bridge medicine and technology,” Peddada said.
Related Stories
2014 Class Acts: Achieving Excellence
2014 Class Acts: Making Memories
2014 Class Acts: Serving the Community
2014 Class Acts: Shaping the Future
2014 Class Acts: Sparking Innovation