Jonathan Naber, an undergraduate at the University of Illinois, won the Lemelson-MIT Illinois Student Prize for innovation on 3 March for his work on developing an affordable prosthetic arm for people in developing countries. The materials science and engineering major accepted the $30,000 cash prize on the behalf of the Illini Prosthetics Team (IPT).

After identifying a need for low-cost prosthetic arms in developing countries, Naber assembled a team of five other engineers to begin developing prototypes a year and a half ago. "We wanted to start an engineering project that related with rehabilitation technology," Naber told MediaGlobal.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that by this year, approximately 30 million people will need prosthetic and orthotic devices in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, according to their Guidelines for Training Personnel in Developing Countries for Prosthetics and Orthotic Services. With 80 percent of the world's amputees living in developing countries, the WHO calls allocating resources to rehabilitate amputees an investment.

Causes for amputation vary from landmines and civil wars to birth defects and farming accidents. Many amputees will not be able to return to their normal daily lives until they have a proper replacement limb. The WHO states that not being able to continue with daily activities infringes on a person's human rights for an adequate standard of living. Nader hopes to give people that standard of living back with a proper replacement limb.

Naber and IPT explored five different prototype options. The early models were extremely expensive, said Naber, but their most recent model is low-cost and made from recycled materials.

There are three main advantages to the low-cost prosthetic arm IPT has designed, explained Naber. The IPT arm can be mass-produced, which means it no longer has to be custom fitted for each amputee. Naber believes this will keep the cost of the prosthetic arm below $30, which Naber calls a breakthrough in prosthetic technology. Secondly, the IPT arm allows for more aeration making it easier for the skin to breath and to prevent overheating. Finally, the arm is adjustable and allows for the diameter and length to be changed, making it more comfortable for the wearer.

IPT plans to field-test their prototype in Guatemala this summer. "My team and I are interested in producing and providing our prosthetic arms to areas of heavy amputation concentration," said Naber. Besides Guatemala, these areas include Honduras, El Salvador, and Haiti, where the recent earthquake created 200,000 new amputees, explained Naber.

As the first undergraduate to win the Lemelson-MIT Illinois Student Prize, Naber plans to invest the money from the award back into his work. He plans to make the prototype a final product and to begin a business to start distributing the prosthetic arm around the world. Naber hopes that in the future, the low-cost prosthetic arm will help people in southeast and southwest Asia, and conflict countries in southern and western Africa.

IPT is still trying to raise money and awareness for their work. Speaking about the work IPT has accomplished so far Naber said, "It is not by any means a final product, but it's a lot closer from where we were a year and a half ago." Naber is excited by his team's future creating prosthetics, "This is what we want to do with our lives, to produce our prosthetic arm and travel the world to give it to people."

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