14-year-old DeKalb resident Sarah Valentiner was born without a right hand, but that hasn't kept her from learning the violin, a hobby she picked up two years ago while in sixth grade.
But the splint she was using to hold the violin bow wasn't sturdy enough and didn't give her the range of motion she needed to effectively play her new instrument. So last spring Sarah and her parents connected with Northern Illinois University and the school's advanced materials lab with the goal of 3D printing a better prosthetic to help her play the violin.
Sarah worked closely with NIU engineering student Oluseun Taiwo and professor Fedrico Sciammarella to design a hand that would not only fit, but give her the flexibility to hit every note she wanted on the violin. Over the course of three months she worked with Taiwo, making tweaks and adjustments to get the prosthetic just right. And two weeks ago they made a product that Sarah says is much better than the splint she was using in the past.
"(The old splint) didn't give me as much motion, and it was a little bit more flimsy," Sarah said. "(The new 3D printed hand) is a lot more professional-like ... I'm still getting used to it but I think it will definitely make me a better player."
Taiwo, a 21-year-old senior at NIU, said the challenge was creating something light enough that could give Sarah the range of motion she needed, while also creating something that was confirmable and sturdy.
"It's one thing to make something that looks aesthetically beautiful, but it's another for it to fit somebody," Taiwo said. "It can look good, but it needs to fit exactly to their preference and how they play."
"I wasn’t just designing a product; I was designing a personalized product for somebody," he continued. "You have to start thinking differently and listening to the customer. How they play and what their needs are."
Taiwo said that since he came to NIU he always wanted to work on something that would make a difference in someone's life.
"When I had this opportunity, I jumped on it," he said.
Taiwo said knowing how his work has helped Sarah is validation that he's in the right line of work, and he hopes his career in engineering will allow him to tackle more projects that make an impact.
And as for Sarah, the experience working with Taiwo has got her thinking about what she might like to do when she's older.
"The idea of engineering has become more interesting," she said.
Check out Sarah's new prosthetic in action below, along with photos of Sarah and Taiwo working together.
Images provided
