speedkilz88
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http://mashable.com/2014/12/16/dog-gets-3d-printed-legs/
A puppy born without front paws can now frolic with his friends thanks to a new pair of 3D-printed prosthetics.
Derby was born with a congenital deformity that left him with unusually small forearms and no front paws. It wasn't until he came into the care of Tara Anderson, an employee at 3D Systems, that real measures were taken to increase his mobility. Now, Derby can run freely with his new owners, Dom and Sherri Portanova, while outfitted with his high-tech legs.
Anderson fostered Derby through Peace and Paws, a nonprofit dog rescue group based in Hillsborough, New Hampshire. Originally, she had purchased a dog wheelchair to increase the dog's mobility, but ultimately decided that Derby would need a solution allowing for more active movement. So Anderson turned to her colleagues at 3D Systems to design braces that would allow the dog to experience a full range of motion.
Dom and Sherri Portanova's daughter Stephanie told Mashable that the team tested two designs for Derby, settling on what she called a "loop" design. The braces are made from plastic, with comfortable rubber cups to cushion the dog's legs. After a few hours of printing, 3D Systems shipped the braces off to the Portanova family for testing.
The first time the Portanovas fitted Derby with his new braces, he took off running. Though the first set was built low, future sets will be taller and level with Derby's hind legs.
"Derby seems to adapt very quickly to new things and his legs have been no different," Stephanie said. "He runs with my parents every day and plays with all of the neighborhood dogs (something he wasn't able to do much prior to his prosthetic legs)."
Derby receiving his new braces.
Derby receiving his new braces.
Derby running on his braces.
