ExpHand Prosthetics

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ExpHand Prosthetics provides life changing upper limb prosthetics that give children their independence back. Our novel 3D printed prosthetics cost 90% less than current competitor products, are provided direct to consumers and can be adjusted to grow with a child. ExpHand Prosthetics fills a gap in the market by designing with children in mind and making use of novel manufacturing methods to produce a prosthetic unlike any other on the market that can give children independence at a critical developmental stage.95% of people don't have access to prosthetics due to high costs, limited usability and limited availability of trained professionals. This is particularly evident in children, who grow out of prosthetics in as little as 12 months and low--middle income (LMI) countries where prosthetics are prohibitively expensive, costing 8 months' salary at a living wage in Nigeria.Current prosthetics are not sustainable as they are custom fit and can't be reused. Repairs are made by overseas manufacturers which requires expensive shipping and months without a prosthetic meaning them unattainable for many users.The user is at the heart of the ExpHands design as an adjustable, lightweight and customisable prosthetic for children, encouraging them to use their prostheses, increasing self-confidence and independence. Our child friendly prosthesis reduces the worry of breaking an expensive item and the ability to quickly and easily repair or adjust the prosthesis minimises down time and ensures children have continual use of their prosthesis. The adjustability of the ExpHand means that it is able to grow with a child, reducing routine downtime and relearning every 6 -- 12 months when a prosthetic would typically become too small and need to be replaced.The main goals for this project are to bring the product to market, test assumptions and trial expansion which will be done by making visits to potential manufacture sites, adapting the product for the demands of new markets, researching and trialling the 3D printing on location model and developing our supply chain.The outputs of this project will be to determine if on demand, on location manufacturing is a suitable manufacturing option for ExpHand through a pilot test, analysing and updating our supply chain for international growth and improving the product based on international insights and international product requirements.