This LEGO-Friendly Prosthetic Arm Lets Kids Build Their Own Attachments

July 12, 2015

Hoping to build the confidence of children living with a missing limb, Carlos Arturo Torres Tovar, of Umeå University in Sweden, has designed a prosthetic arm that's compatible with LEGO so kids can swap its gripping attachment for their own custom creations.

The arm functions very similar to traditional prosthetics, but it features a twist-and-lock modular design that's easy for kids to assemble. And with a special motorized adapter, its standard three finger gripper can be swapped out for one made entirely of LEGO. By essentially turning the prosthetic into one of their toys, Carlos hopes his IKO arm will empower children by improving their every day lives.