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Limbitless Solutions, 2 Recipients of 3-D Arms to Present at Mayo Clinic Innovation Summit

Two children who received bionic arms through Limbitless Solutions at the University of Central Florida will speak to doctors and nurses at the Mayo Clinic’s first Neuroscience and Oncology Innovation Summit on Sept . 7.

The summit, which runs through Sept. 9 at the Four Seasons Resort at Walt Disney World Resort, is aimed at sharing medical and technical advances in global health care that are making a difference in people’s lives. Topics include cancer, brain diseases and new technology. The summit concludes with a look at the future of Florida’s health care.

Albert Manero, founder of the nonprofit Limbitless Solutions, will give a 20-minute TEDx style talk about how 3-D printing, innovation and ingenuity can change children’s lives.

Alex Pring, 9, who received an arm in 2014 and an upgraded version themed after Marvel’s Iron Man in 2015, and Julianna Linton, who received her arm in 2016, will discuss their experiences and how they adapted to their bionic limbs. Rejection of artificial limbs is a huge challenge for young people who need prosthetics. The children and their families will join Manero for a question-and-answer session after Manero’s talk.

Members of the Limbitless Solutions and UCF School of Visual Arts & Design collaboration team will feature their electromyographically actuated bionic arm and new simulation video game training system [1], advancing new methods into how children learn to use their bionic arms.

Manero, a UCF engineering graduate, will share the stage with some well-known leaders from the medical field, including Mayo Clinic’s Dr.  Robert B. Diasio, who has contributed to the national Cancer Moonshot project, scientist and former NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez, and former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Antonia Novello.

”We are excited to share the Limbitless story with the leaders of the neuroscience and innovation fields,” Manero said. “Advanced technology coupled with expression and compassion can enhance how children learn to use bionics and really change lives.”