3D-printed 'Spock' hand lets young amputee play basketball again

Live long and play basketball.

It's not exactly what Star Trek's pointy-eared Vulcan had in mind when he raised his hand in the now-familiar Vulcan salute, but surely he'd appreciate the sentiment — especially when it refers to a young amputee who can now dribble a basketball and shoot baskets again thanks to a 3D-printed prosthesis that makes it look as if the boy is simultaneously shooting and giving the Vulcan greeting.

The prosthetic hand gets its signature look from its very specific design purpose: playing basketball. So instead of five fingers, there are just three, two of which are spread apart in the familiar Vulcan salute to fit around a basketball. Every finger tip is covered in rubber to provide a better grip and to give the right backspin during a shot. Read more...