3D Systems Prints First Hybrid Robotic Exoskeleton Enabling Amanda Boxtel to Walk Tall...

seekingalpha.com ^ | 2/18/2014

[RoosterRedux]

- 3D Systems (DDD) (NYSE:DDD) today announced that it recently debuted the first ever 3D printed hybrid Exoskeleton robotic suit in collaboration with EksoBionics at a Singularity University-hosted event in Budapest. Amanda Boxtel acted as the test pilot for this venture. On Feb. 27, 1992, Amanda Boxtel took a fall while skiing in Aspen, CO that culminated in a freak somersault. The accident left her paralyzed from the waist down. At the hospital, Boxtel's doctor told her she would never walk again. Despite her paralysis, the hybrid 3D printed robotic suit enabled Amanda to stand tall and walk throughout Budapest.

Photos accompanying this release are available at

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=23660

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=23661

"After years of dreaming about it, I am deeply grateful and thrilled to be making history by walking tall in the first ever 3D printed Ekso-Suit, made specifically for me," said Amanda Boxtel, referencing the custom tailored 3D printed Ekso-Suit that was created by 3DS' designers. To obtain the perfect fit for Amanda, our designers used 3D scanning to digitize the contours of Amanda's thighs, shins and spine and create a personalized three-dimensional base to inform the shape of the required assemblies. Sophisticated mechanical actuators and controls, manufactured and provided by Ekso Bionics, were then integrated with the more fluid components that were 3D printed from the customized scans to create the first ever bespoke suit.

[null and void]

3-D Printer Ping!

[RoosterRedux]

Talk about bad timing. Bernstein Research picked today to offer their list of short-sale candidates for buy side investors. On that list was DDD...egg meet face.

Here's the link to the Barron's article...

IBM, 3D Systems, Salesforce Top Bernstein List of Buyside Short Sale Picks.

[Zeneta]

This is awesome stuff.

Back in 1998, I had an idea to create an exoskeleton “Body suit”.

There are materials that are long thin fibers that when you apply a small amount of current to them, they contract to a third or less of their original length. I can’t recall where I saw this right now. Needless to say they have a very high strength to weight ratio.

So my idea was to sew together these fibers in a body suit and program a controller for certain functions.

The suit, ideally would be very thin light weight and fit like the suits we see Alpine Skiers wearing during the Olympics. It would contain hundreds of these fibers that would, in effect, be exterior muscles considering their characteristics.

I must admit, my first application was for a suit that literally forced a Golfer into following certain movements in order to build a new muscle memory of an ideal swing.

Quickly I recognized that it may be used in a rehab environment or even to help the paralyzed walk again.

Just a thought.

[Cold Heart]

DDD is up over 5% today.

[I want the USA back]

So it’s being used for useful purposes and to help people. That means that government control and regulation can’t be far behind.

[babygene]

It’s called muscle wire...

http://www.musclewires.com/AboutMuscleWires.php

[BenLurkin]

bttt

[RoosterRedux]

I think the DDD angle here is that they used their imaging/scanning software to design and their printers to then build a one-off product to exacting specs and do so relatively cheaply. I say relative cheaply (not that the cost was provided) because a unique, one-of-a-kind product would not enjoy any economies of scale that mass produced products have.

This is more a demonstration of how 3-D printers can bring value than a product idea.

[Vendome]

Looks like a suicide bomber.

She needs to be searched and her contraption taken apart to ensure she’s not gonna blow anyone up.

[GeronL]

There was a character on Deep Space 9...

[null and void]

[Zeneta]

Thanks.

I’m not exactly sure if that is the same material.

It may be.

From what a briefly read at the link, Flexinol seems closest to what I recall.

But, there is something different.

I know this seems strange, but the material I remember was not metallic. It reacted to a very small amount of electrical current with amazing strength for it’s weight.

IIRC, it was from a University lab or a research center, not a material that was available for purchase. I read the studies and was very impressed with their findings.

[reed13k]

Interesting that they decided to do this in the geography they did - I’m assuming the local (u.s.) regulatory hurdles for med device patient prototypes was part of the drawback to doing it in the US (I happen to work in the industry it would have likely been another year min in our environment).

[Wonder Warthog]

"I know this seems strange, but the material I remember was not metallic. It reacted to a very small amount of electrical current with amazing strength for it’s weight."

Nafion is one plastic that has this sort of property.

[Wonder Warthog]

Videos:

Short (31 sec)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FpKD_W9zKQ

Longer (2 1/2 min)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhCAkUMQ5GA

[RoosterRedux]

Beautiful! Thx for that!