A fishing-related explosion has left Chinese inventor Sun Jifa without arms for nigh on a decade. Sun couldn't afford prosthetics, so he took matters into his own hands and built a pair of incredible metal limbs. According to our friends as VICE Japan, who produced the video below, Sun has since built more than 800 metal hands for other men who similarly couldn't afford doctor-prescribed prostheses.As Sun explains, impoverished amputees are dealt dual blows when they lose their limbs: If they can't afford prosthetics, they likely can't afford to not work. But how can a poor laborer work without hands? Sun's custom prosthetics, developed from his own design, gives them a new chance, and have made him a local hero in the far-flung Jilin province in northeast China.In recent years, major strides have been made in the world of high-tech prosthetics. Earlier this year, I had the please of meeting Nigel Ackland, whose bebionic3 prosthetic is one of the most advanced in the world, and offers an incredible amount of dexterity. More recently, a robotic leg was wired directly into the nervous system of an amputee for what's likely the first time. Regardless, it's a huge step towards development replacement limbs that are more integrated and intuitive than ever.But such technologies don't run cheap. A 2006 report from the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists looking at prosthetic access in developing countries found that costs can be prohibitive for many people with little income worldwide. From the report:The costs of prosthetic limbs vary substantially by country, but a typical prosthetic limb made in a developing country costs approximately $125 to $1,875 USD, depending upon the region in which they are made. When the costs to make a limb in a developing country can be cut to as little as $41 USD (well below the $5,000-$15,000 USD average cost for a prosthesis in the United States), the costs over a lifetime of replacements and maintenance can still amount to thousands of dollars.While China's economy has boomed, poverty remains a stubborn reality for much of rural China. Between lack of funds and prosthetic specialists, amputees don't always have many options. And that's why Sun's work is in such high demand: Thanks to his DIY skills, he's been able to help people regain their independence when their are few other options.
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