Student designs prosthetic arm

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - A Long Island high school student has designed a plastic prosthetic arm built by a 3D printer. It is Elsa Diaw's senior project, inspired by a summer spent volunteering at a nursing home.

Elsa has the background in robotics. She told us that she is interested in biology and anatomy. The prosthetic arm is controlled by electrical signals traveling from the brain to the muscles. It's just one way technology can improve a person's life.

The device records signals produced by movement of muscles. They are translated into code; the higher the signal, the more movement.

Dr. Dave Morgan, director of the Innovation Lab at the Ross School, says this showcases the future of prosthetics. A prosthetic arm can cost around $40,000. While it's not titanium, you can do this for $25 worth of plastic.