A Schweizer-Reneke teen has invented a “Mind Controlled 3D-Printed prosthetic hand” as a cheaper prosthetic alternative.

Farida Cajee, a grade 11 learner at Hoërskool Schweizer-Reneke says the issues of unaffordable healthcare and the large amounts of plastics (particularly, PET bottles), are some of the societal problems that modern society, is faced with.

She says she recalls the day her mother was talking about the monthly payments she makes towards her medical aid, she realised then that a good medical aid is expensive. She also took note of the excessive amount of PET bottles that were laying around in Schweizer-Reneke alone, and that’s when she came up with the idea that can be a solution for many.

“I wanted to find a way to overcome both those problems in one project… and then it hit me, I needed to do something great enough to be noticed and needed to be different, very different”, she says.

She started by first looking for a medical device that is expensive and is needed by many people.  According to Farida, she noticed that the below-elbow prosthetics cost approximately R140 000. Further mentioning that due to the high medical accounts amputees have, most of them live without prosthetics.

“Amputees have it hard… they need a cheaper solution,” expresses Farida.

She then came to the conclusion to create a 3D-print prosthetic from recycled PET bottles. According to her, she wanted to make it more fascinating and realistic, so she conducted more research. That’s when she thought of adding the mind-controlling feature.

She conducted more research as she noticed that controlling the hand with her thoughts would not keep the prosthetic cost-efficient. She realized that instead, she could use the concentration levels of the brain. According to Farida, with the use of electroencephalography (EGG) headsets, when the user concentrates, it can transmit a signal to the Arduino Uno and code, which will tell the servo to rotate, therefore, opening the prosthetic hand.

She commenced her project last year, starting with a small pink hand that consisted of only 3 fingers, but it was only to prove her concept. However, she wanted to upgrade it and has been working on it since last year. Her concept got the attention of many, as a result, the prosthetic got sponsored.

Farida continued to conduct her research. She says that she started from January 2018 until May 2019 and from June, she started the practical process of building it. “Research was long! I have piles and piles of documents all over my room… But I’m glad to finally have the prototype working to its full potential”, she says.

The young inventor took part in a science expo where she won a gold medal and attained the titles for the best female project and best engineering project. With this achievement, Farida qualifies to represent her district at the national Eskom Expo for Young Scientists International Science Fair (ISF), this September.

With her invention, Farida wishes to help those who are in need of prosthetics as she believes that no one should have to live without something they are in need of.