Skip to main content
University of Nebraska Omaha logo University of Nebraska Omaha
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY

APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY
  • About Backback to Main menu
    • About
    • Leadership
    • Mission and Strategic Plan
    • Accreditation
    • Our City
    • Facts and Figures
    • Campus Safety
    • Buildings and Maps
    • Contact Us
  • Academics Backback to Main menu
    • Academics
    • Majors & Programs
    • Class Search
    • Catalogs
    • Academic Calendar
    • Colleges
    • Academic Affairs
    • Online Learning
    • International
    • Library
  • Admissions Backback to Main menu
    • Admissions
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • Graduate Admissions
    • Tuition and Fees
    • Financial Aid
    • Registrar
    • Visit UNO
    • Request Info
    • Apply
  • Student Life Backback to Main menu
    • Student Life
    • Division of Student Life and Wellbeing
    • Maverick Advising Center
    • Career Services
    • Accessibility
    • Housing & Residence Life
    • Student Leadership, Involvement, and Inclusion
    • Service
    • Student Conduct & Community Standards
    • Student Involvement
    • Student Safety
    • Wellness
  • Engagement Backback to Main menu
    • Engagement
    • Office of Engagement
    • Campus Resources for Community
    • Service Learning Academy
    • Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center
    • Volunteer and Civic Engagement Programs
    • Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center
    • Faculty Resources
    • Student Resources
    • Voter Engagement
    • Community Engagement Partnership Initiative
  • Research Backback to Main menu
    • Research
    • Research News
    • Centers and Institutes
  • Athletics Backback to Main menu
    • Athletics
    • Baxter Arena
    • Omaha Mavericks Website
  • Alumni Backback to Main menu
    • Alumni
    • Transcripts
    • Thompson Center
  1. UNO
  2. News
  3. 2017
  4. 07
  5. NU Team to Research, Design Next Generation of 3D-Printed Prostheses

NU Team to Research, Design Next Generation of 3D-Printed Prostheses

  • contact: Charley Reed - University Communications
  • phone: 402.554.2129
  • email: unonews@unomaha.edu
  • search keywords:
  • research
  • biomechanics
  • 3D

Jorge Zuniga, assistant professor of biomechanics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, utilizes 3D printing technology to produce cost-effective and adaptable prosthetic devices for children

Drew Dudley, a biomechanics graduate assistant and biomedical engineer, programs a 3D printer inside the robotics laboratory at UNO. A team of University of Nebraska researchers believe they can design a 3D-printed arm prosthesis that would cost under $1,000 in parts.

Researchers from across the University of Nebraska system will spend the next two years designing and testing a new 3D-printed arm designed to improve the lives of children with lower arm amputations and medical malformations

Jorge Zuniga, assistant professor of biomechanics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, designed the Cyborg Beast, a 3D-printed prosthetic hand, in 2014 and released the design online for free. The original design has been downloaded more than 50,000 times

OMAHA – A team of University of Nebraska researchers hope a new two-year grant will help provide a solution for parents of children who need wearable prosthetics, but cannot afford them.

Approximately 1,500 babies are born every year with upper-limb defects, but less than 1 in 9,400 children are fitted for prostheses due to cost and device maintenance. With the help of 3D printing technology, six professors from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), hope to dramatically increase access for children in need.

This clinical research effort is the first of its kind attempted in the United States.

"A parent having to travel hundreds of miles and spend tens of thousands of dollars that they do not have all so their child can have some semblance of normalcy is heartbreaking to see,” said Jorge Zuniga, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomechanics at UNO and lead investigator on the grant.

Zuniga has spent years developing 3D-printed prostheses for children, including the revolutionary “Cyborg Beast” design, which can be freely downloaded online and constructed for just $50 worth of materials compared to current models that cost anywhere from $4,000 to $20,000 and require expertise to maintain.

“Current versions of these prostheses do not meet the needs of growing children,” Zuniga said. “As children grow they need replacement parts, which becomes cost prohibitive for parents. Meanwhile, the children themselves want designs that match their personality, which can mean everything from closely resembling human skin tone to replicating Iron Man’s arm.”

The $150,000 grant is provided by the University of Nebraska’s Collaboration Initiative, a university-wide effort launched by President Hank Bounds in 2015 to invest in cross-campus, cross-disciplinary research in areas where NU has global leadership potential. The initiative aims to build the university’s research expertise, capacity and competitiveness for external funding. The Collaboration Initially focused on food for health; systems science was added last year to foster teamwork among faculty in the engineering and quantitative/data science fields and faculty in other disciplines.

“This is exactly the kind of project the Collaboration Initiative is intended to support,” said NU Executive Vice President and Provost Susan Fritz. “It engages faculty with expertise in a diverse range of disciplines. It puts the University of Nebraska on the forefront of an emerging area of research. Most importantly, this partnership will result in real solutions that will impact real people in Nebraska and beyond. I congratulate these faculty for coming together on behalf of the children and parents who will benefit from their work.”

In the first year of the grant, the team will design and produce the devices. Participants will be recruited to test the new prostheses at the start of the second year.

Joining Zuniga are:

Mukul Mukherjee, Ph.D., UNO
An assistant professor of biomechanics at UNO and co-principal investigator. Mukherjee will assist the team with testing, development and analyzing participants’ brain activity as they adapt to the device.

Carl Nelson, Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
A professor of mechanical and materials engineering. Nelson will assist in the construction of devices, building on his experience with robotic devices used for post-surgical rehabilitation.

Dr. Justin Cramer, M.D., UNMC
An assistant professor of radiology. Cramer’s prior research involves the use of 3D modeling and printing of medical devices, as well as patient education and training.

Ku-Chun (Joseph) Siu, Ph.D., UNMC
An associate professor of physical therapy. Siu will assist in training patients to use the device as well as setting outcome goals.

Said Abushamleh, Ph.D., UNK
An assistant professor of electrical engineering. Abushamleh is a trained engineer and will work closely to design the electronic components of the prostheses.


The University of Nebraska team will also on the project consult with two clinicians: Rakesh Srivastava, the CEO of Innovative Prosthetics and Orthotics, and Jean Peck, an occupational therapist from Allegiant Creighton Health.

“This is a true Nebraska collaboration that will impact the lives of hundreds here in the state and thousands across the world,” Zuniga said. “Nebraskans help each other and that is exactly what we are doing here with our research.”

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

Follow UNO on Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

  • News Sections:
  • UNO News Center
  • Maverick Daily
  • The Bullseye
  • Campus Events

News Sections

  • News Center
  • Maverick Daily
  • The Bullseye
  • Campus Events

Featured Stories

  • UNO Named ‘Best for Vets’ Among Nebraska Universities in 2023 Military Times Rankings
  • Get in the Game: Maverick Athletics Ticketing Information
  • Wear Black, Give Back Reaches New Heights in 2023
  • Town Hall Outlines UNO’s Approach to Budget Challenges

Contact Us

If you have a story idea, news tip, or other question, please email the UNO News team at unonews@unomaha.edu.

About University Communications

Next Steps

  • Visit UNO
  • Request Information
  • Apply for Admission
  • The UNO Advantage
  • Our City (Omaha)

Just For You

  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Work at UNO
  • Faculty and Staff
  • A-Z List

Popular Services and Resources

  • my.unomaha.edu
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Buildings & Maps
  • Library
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Course Catalogs
  • Internships & Career Development
  • Bookstore
  • MavCARD Services
  • Military-Connected Resource Center
  • Speech Center
  • Writing Center
  • Human Resources
  • Center for Faculty Excellence

Affiliates

  • University of Nebraska System
  • NU Foundation
  • Buffett Early Childhood Institute
  • Daugherty Water for Food Institute
  • National Strategic Research Institute
  • Peter Kiewit Institute
  • Rural Prosperity Nebraska
  1. University Policies
  2. Privacy Statement
  3. Accessibility
  1. 402.554.2800

University of Nebraska Omaha
University of Nebraska Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182
  • © 2023  
  • Emergency Information Alert
  • MavsReport

Social Media


Omaha Skyline

Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement.