Workplace injury amputee builds prosthetic limb to help himself and others

Zhang Xian-liang (張憲良) is a 3D prosthetic limb designer and user. Just over two years ago he was involved in an unfortunate accident while operating machinery at work, in which his right hand became trapped and severed. His sympathy and understanding for the economic difficulties that amputees face inspired him to develop a cheap and effective way of creating prosthetic limbs. In order not to worry his family, Zhang Xian-liang stumped up the money to learn how to use a computer and gain professional certification, before throwing himself heart and soul into developing prosthetic limbs. The process of developing a custom prosthetic limb requires not only skills in computer-aided design but also technology-oriented skills.

Through the Internet, Zhang Xian-liang found partners with expert skills in computer programming and by means of 3D printing technology has significantly reduced the cost of prosthetic limb production. On a technical level, Zhang Xian-liang has received help from many like-minded friends allow the way and aspires to meet the needs of amputees through using ergonomic design and improving prosthetic limbs. In the future, he will also design prosthetic fingers tailored to the needs of people with finger damage. Many people see him as a Taiwan’s version of ‘Ironman’, and in fact for amputees even to lift a bowl is a great feat. Zhang Xian-liang’s indomitable spirit is benefitting many people who are in the same or similar predicament as him.

Workplace injury amputee builds prosthetic limb to help himself and others

URL：https://www.peopo.org/news/322509

(以下是中文對照)

工殤截肢逆境築夢 開源義肢助己助人

照片

張憲良是3D義肢的設計者與使用者，兩年多前他因為在工作時機器操作上的意外，導致右手被機器捲入，面臨截肢的命運。正因為他能感同身受身障者的經濟困境與立場，引發他發明便宜又好用的義肢的想法。為了不讓家人擔心，張憲良自費學電腦、考證照，將自己投入在設計義肢的忙碌之中。要完成一隻客製化義肢，除了繪圖設計，還需要很多面向的技術。

透過網路，張憲良找到了專長設計程式的協作夥伴。藉由3D列印的技術，大幅降低生產義肢的成本，在技術層面也遇到許多志同道合的朋友們協助。除了義肢的設計及改良外，未來張憲良也針對斷指的身障者需求做設計，用符合人體工學的方式來達到使用者的需求，有人說，他是台版的鋼鐵人，事實上，身障者要捧起飯碗真的不容易，張憲良只能用鋼鐵般的心，造福跟他一樣處境的人。