For reasons I may never understand, while mowing the lawn yesterday my roomie reached into it through the mulching opening in the back. There's even a big yellow triangular warning sticker on the lid that normally covers that opening, bearing an image of a hand being cut:
He did it anyway, and after x-raying his hand (and some stitches) they told him they might not be able to save his ring finger. They said they might have to amputate everything down to the middle joint (not down to the knuckle thankfully).
That leaves enough of the finger that prosthetics become an option. In recent years there's been an explosion of activity in the DIY 3D printed prosthetics scene. Perhaps you've seen news reports about good samaritans 3D printing prosthetic hands for kids:
Being the problem solving sort, the gears in my head immediately began turning. I'd already seen some clever 3D printed prosthetic fingers in the past, so it was just a matter of researching which one is right for my roomie and having it printed.
I'll still have to do the assembly, more than likely. But that's the smallest, most easily overcome problem. Having perused Thingiverse, a service for 3D printing anything you can imagine and mailing it to you, I've narrowed it down to these two:
Knick's Finger 3.5 which, due to the strong joints, requires a great deal of assembly including metal pins and fishing line. But it looks like the strongest of the lot, and has benefited from the insight of the creator who has iteratively improved it based on his own experiences using his product over the years.
It's a handsome looking product and functions by tension; fishing line attached to the tip of the finger internally exits the back of the base of the finger and is restrained by attachment to a bracelet. When the finger stump bends it increases tension, causing the jointed plastic finger to curl into the closed position.
This is the Kinetic Finger by Matt Bowtell. It doesn't have mechanical joints, instead utilizing flexible foam. It looks easier to construct but also less durable in my opinion, but I'm still feeling out what will be the most pragmatic and feasible option.
I like the look of the velcro wrist strap. I don't think my roomie will bother to use the finger every day if it's a hassle to put on and take off, so it has to be quick and easy. That's what attracts me to the bracelet solution since he can just wear a metal chain bracelet or similar all the time.
Something like this is a possible alternative. More secure and snug, but also more involved when it comes to putting it on and taking it off. My roomie said he doesn't like the look of this one and I agree. Too "medical". I'm convinced at least that the bracelet attachment method for the tension line is the right answer.
Thank goodness we live in an age where general fabrication technology is in the hands of regular people, democratized so that everybody can have access to this sort of capability. Prosthetics, normally prohibitively expensive due to the custom needs of each amputee, is an ideal application.
Even though losing a finger is a traumatic experience, it doesn't have to be a professional setback. My roomie needs all his fingers for his job, you see. But then, every problem is solvable with sufficiently advanced technology, and before long I'll see to it that he has a shiny new 3D printed prosthetic finger suited to his needs.
Stay Cozy!
aww man, This is heartbreaking, I've seen this happen in a food production plant, poor girl wanted to save time and lost her right index in a similar fashion.
I really hope they can save his, but if not he's quite lucky to have you already thinking of the solutions :)
Wow just crazy i'll be calm if i lose one finger.
But i'll take care of my little fingers \o/
At least he is alive. That's great news. So I hope he will cope with it and move forward.
I am sorry for the incident. But today's technology allows us to find a solution. In my opinion also alternative bracelet that is the best solution.
Oh man...i am really sorry about that....
I wish him all the best
Shit, man. I'm glad it was just the one finger and not his whole hand that got shredded. I think it's really cool that you're looking into 3D printed prosthetic's for him, I think we're pretty lucky that we live in the age where this kind of stuff is available to us.
Either way, hope that he recovers soon and that you can decide which of these will work best for him.
Shit! Hope he gets well soon and let's hope they can save his finger.
Modern technology keeps surprising me. Amazing what they are able to build and help other people with.
It’s alway unfortunate these kind of accidents. Fortunately, it’s only finger. Hopefully, one of these alternatives will eventually work. Wishing the best to your roommate.
When you've written a post about mowing the lawn a couple months ago.
I already had a bad premonition, damn. Sad that happened to your roomie.
Greetings friend, I regret what happened, I hope your partner is fine. That accident will be overcome. As you say, every time the technology gives us useful tools for our health. I hope everything goes well.
awe man that sucks. Loosing a hand is like my only fear in life. More so my right hand than my left, I don't do as much with it. Hope it turns out well for him.
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Wait. @alexbeyman I just realized your roommate just gave him self a permanent "shocker" hand . Tell the doctor to take it off at the knuckle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shocker_(hand_gesture)
We have really dominated by science. Anyways its good that he got his finger back.
I just dont get why he did that even when there was warning posted. God, he must be in such a pain. I feel really sorry and hope this technology thing help him and dont bring a stop to his work otherwise he will be really disappointed. Good that you are helping him on this so we don't have to worry cause you are really good on technology so I am sure he will be fine.
Shit man. That's a bad news. I feel sorry for him, I know that we live in a generation when everything is possible that even includes a prosthetic finger or whatever but nothing can replace an original part.
I think 3D printing not only for fingers, if I am not mistaken it will be used to make artificial body items like heart and brain also! Technology is growing faster than we thought! So I think your roomie can have the same finger in next 1-5 years of time through these techniques!@alexbeyman,
Cheers~
That’s awesome that things like this exist nowadays! Still feel quite sorry for the fellah..
really heartbreaking !
though nothing can replace natural things
but the options you give will make alot of difference
3D printing will have to save the finger and can continue with his work with his full fingers, technology has solved the problem
My brother has lost 2 of his finger in a motorbike accident 3 years ago, As I know until this time, He was a funny who love cooking and make cocktail,.
And so thank you for this information. Maybe it will bring hope back to my brother.
Those prosthetics look pretty sweet. Simple, functional, pretty cool looking. Not bad.
Pretty lame about your roomie's finger. You should ask him why he did that sometime.
He was stoned tbh
bummer so sorry for your friend. Let's hope someday they can 3d print a new finger.
Very soon in fact. I have friends with 3D printers I have contacted about this.
I meant 3d print flesh fingers. I think its great the way you are helping your friend.
Be merciful to those of us who have lived in all-powerful times. Hopefully all can be overcome. And in my opinion, using the bracelet is quite effective and efficient.
We have dominated by good science. Anyways its good that he got his finger back.
what is this man why his hand cutted? nice fingers
Amazing post, and I hope they can save his finger!
sir @alexbeyman, amazing tool sir. This types of technology are so wonderful. great sharing sir
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@alexbeyman Such a great article
Accident happens,its part of live....we should always take precautions to reduce it..because accident could take life..and anything that can take once life,should not be joked with. ....so sorry for him..but thanks to technology, he would get an artificial fingers, capable of doing what real fingers will do.....technology is a life saver......with technology, he would soon forget his lost his fingers