Case Study: Foothill College achieves independence for a preschooler with Stratasys 3D-printed exoskeletons

Foothill College Students 3D Print Exoskeleton Arms for Preschooler

Foothill College took on the challenge of creating a custom, lightweight exoskeleton for Noel, a 4‑year‑old with arthrogryposis who could not bend his arms without arching his back. The device needed to be precisely fitted, match the elbow’s range of motion, and be easy to wear and update as Noel grew. Foothill used Stratasys PolyJet 3D printing technology to address these constraints.

Stratasys’ PolyJet printers let students produce the exoskeleton as a single assembled, lightweight part that prints both arms in about 24 hours and costs roughly $100 per arm, with water‑removable support material and easy reprinting for size adjustments. The result: Noel can eat, play, and put on a hat independently with less back bending, therapists and family reported immediate improvement in alignment and function, and Foothill students gained hands‑on biomedical design experience.

Foothill College

Kevin Godines

Foothill College