3D Printing Helps Woman with Limited Use of Her Hands Create Customized Tools for Everyday Use
Lake Forest, CA (PRWEB) June 26, 2015 -- Brandy Leigh Scott, a successful post-production supervisor in Los Angeles, has been living with limited use of her hands due to Dupuytrens Contracture since she was a child. Dupuytrens Contracture is a progressive disease which, over time, creates tight cord-like areas underneath the skin that draws the fingers inward, limiting the ability to open and fully utilize hands.
“It affects men and women, usually men, after the age of sixty, and I contracted it when I was seven,” Scott said.
Throughout nearly her entire life, Scott has had to discover ways to adapt to everyday actions with her disease.
“I have issues with doorknobs, glasses, anything I drink out of really. I need a mug or anything with a stem is perfect,” Scott said.
A few years back, Scott found a versatile plastic cup holder with a handle that could compensate any cup size, making it the perfect contraption for her to use. Unfortunately, when she returned to the store to purchase more, she learned that they had been discontinued.
Months later, Scott was having lunch with long-time friend Mara Hitner, who was getting involved with 3D printing. Scott mentioned the progression of her disease, and the discontinuation of the cup holder that had made her life easier.
“She [Hitner] was the first one who said, ‘You know we can just print more of these,’” Scott said.
Shortly after this conversation, Hitner was hired as the new Director of Business Development at MatterHackers, an online retailer of 3D printers and accessories based in Southern California, and developers of MatterControl 3D printing software. Anxious to help her friend, Hitner began to see if MatterHackers could find a solution for Scott.
“I started speaking with Dave Gaylord, who is our Director of Print Solutions, and he is a great designer. I told him about Brandy and the condition with her hands, and he started coming up with a couple of ideas,” informed Hitner.
With the MatterHackers team on board, Scott met with Gaylord to express her daily struggles and collaboration began. One of Scott’s newest challenges was not being able to slide her credit card into machines used at gas stations. To solve this problem, Gaylord created a set of forceps, customized just for Scott.
“We were able to get them in Brandy’s hands, make some design changes and really optimize them for her particular hands and exactly what she needs to use them for to make daily tasks in her life much easier,” Gaylord said.
Along with the forceps, Gaylord also designed Scott a soda can holder, as well as a replica of her beloved discontinued cup holder. Since this experience, Scott says her life has been forever changed.
“Now that I have been kind of more exposed first hand with 3D printing, it really has opened up more things for me. Everyday, I’ll do something that doesn’t work for me and I immediately think ‘Ahh what could we print that could help me out with this?’ I feel like it is just unlimiting at this point. It is really cool,” Scott said.
About MatterHackers
Based in Southern California, MatterHackers leads the 3D printing industry in both online retail and software development. In 2012, MatterHackers created MatterControl, the 3D printing software of choice for over 50,000 users and 20+ manufacturers. In 2015, MatterHackers released MatterControl Touch; the first standalone, WiFi enabled touchscreen device with onboard camera to import, slice, and print models untethered from a computer. MatterHackers.com remains one of the largest retailers for 3D printing hardware, filament, and accessories in the industry.
Erica Derrico, MatterHackers, http://www.matterhackers.com, +1 (949) 613-5838, [email protected]
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