Charlie Egan Five-year-old Briton who received a prosthetic hand created on a 3D printer Country: Great Britain

1. Charlie Igan: A Five-Year-Old Boy Receives a 3D-Printed Hand
2. A Journey to Obtain a 3D Printed Hand
3. The Discovery and Journey of Charlie Igan

Charlie Igan: A Five-Year-Old Boy Receives a 3D-Printed Hand

Five-year-old Charlie Igan was born without his right hand (below the elbow), and even the joyful process of unwrapping presents turned into a challenge for him. Equally painful were the constant questions about his 'missing limb'. But during this Christmas season, no one will be able to spoil the holiday atmosphere for Charlie, who received a new Spider-Man prosthetic hand made with a 3D printer. Charlie Igan is one of the first children in the United Kingdom to have an unusual 'hand' created using revolutionary 3D printing technology. The prosthetic was specially designed in red and blue, the colors associated with Charlie's favorite superhero, Spider-Man. He received this gift just before Christmas. The boy has already decorated the Christmas tree and finally had a ride on his scooter. But what is more important, the superhero hand helped Charlie to fit in among his peers. His mother, Penny, is confident that her son's life will change for the better. She says that before, he would get tired of constant questions from people who wanted to know what happened to his hand. He also noticed the sideways glances of those who did not dare to ask him directly. Now, with the appearance of the superhero hand, Charlie only hears people marveling at his unusual limb. 'Charlie is thrilled with it,' says Penny. 'He can't stop smiling.'

A Journey to Obtain a 3D Printed Hand

34-year-old Penny Igan and her 32-year-old husband, engineer David, sought help from the US-based network of volunteers called 'E-nable', which develops and creates prosthetics, mostly for children. The design for Charlie's hand was based on a plaster cast made by his parents. Engineers and scientists from 'E-nable' in Baltimore carried out all the necessary preparatory work before launching the 3D printer, which was located in London. Today, 3D printing is considered the 'manufacturing of the future'. The superhero prosthesis attaches to the boy's hand using a Velcro fastener. When Charlie bends his elbow, the 'fingers' move, allowing him to grab and hold objects. Earlier in the same year, doctors used 3D technology to replace a patient's hip when the first pioneering operation was performed in the UK. In addition, the non-profit organization 'E-nable' developed a hand prosthesis for five-year-old Hayley Fraser from Inverness.

The Discovery and Journey of Charlie Igan

Penny Igan learned that something was wrong with her child during a scan conducted at 20 weeks of pregnancy. She says, 'It was a huge shock to us when it was discovered. There were no explanations as to why this happened in the womb, and I was told it was just one of those things that happen.' When doctors fitted six-month-old Charlie with a prosthetic hand provided by the healthcare service, the baby could not get used to it. He tried to maintain balance when crawling, without any adaptations. Penny says, 'When he was very young, he never used that prosthetic. He managed perfectly well without it. He learned to crawl and walk, just like any other child. For him, that prosthetic was like a doll's hand.' About two years ago, Penny finally decided to send photos and measurements of her son to the 'E-nable' website. Her decision led to positive changes in Charlie's life, who remained satisfied with his superhero hand. Penny says, 'Charlie has always coped well with his circumstances, but now that he has his new hand, he can feel like other children.'