ABS exoskeleton wins Design of the Year nomination

An ABS exoskeleton called "magic arms" is one of the candidates for the Designs of the Year 2013 awards by London's Design Museum.

Researchers at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Philadelphia were able to help four-year-old Emma Lavelle overcome the limitations of a congenital disorder, allowing her to use her arms for the first time. The "magic arms" device is a custom-designed robotic exoskeleton made with a Stratasys 3D printer.

"This is an exciting time for 3D printing, as more people become aware of its potential and its impact," said Stratasys Executive VP of Global Marketing, Jon Cobb. "We are honored to have been involved in such a worthwhile project and pleased to see it recognized by the design community."

The Designs of the Year is an international awards program, showcasing the most innovative and imaginative designs from the past year. It spans seven categories: Architecture, Digital, Fashion, Furniture, Graphics, Transport and Product.

Stratasys has been named a finalist for three Golden Mousetrap Awards from UBM Canon publication Design News. It was recognized in the Materials and Assembly category for its Mojo 3D Printer, its Objet30 3D Printer, and its Objet line of digital materials. Award subcategories are engineering plastics and rapid prototyping machines.

The overall winner will be decided by a jury and announced to the public on April 17. The nominated entries will also be available to view in an exhibition at the Design Museum, staring March 20.

Fifteen children now use custom 3D-printed exoskeletons.