UCF announces national clinical of new Limbitless Solutions bionic arm for children

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Alex Pring was one of more than 2 million people in the U.S. living with just one arm. However, doctors told his family that a prosthetic would cost up to $40,000. His mother, Alyson, reached out to a University of Central Florida aerospace engineering PhD candidate named Albert Manero.

Manero came up with a way to use a 3D printer to make a bionic arm for Alex. It worked and Limbitless Solutions was born, backed by UCF. The company now builds arms for a few dozen children per year. However, that may change soon.

UCF just announced a major, national clinical trial centered on the newest generation of the Limbitless arm. Manero will run the study in partnership with renowned trauma surgeon and advanced prosthetics expert, Dr. Albert Chi of Oregon Health and Science University. The 1-year trial will begin with 20-children nationwide and could expand to as many as 100.