CONgRaTULAtiOnSSS MaRcuS!!!

“here boy, have a cigar… you’re gonna go far!!!…” ( to quote a phrase )

I’m happy to hear the news!!

It does look like an amazing device! Gonna help a lot of people!

The Now Patented Natural Dexterous Hand is an incredible device. Very cool!

Congratulations! This is very exciting. Just curious, can the individual fingers move independently? I can imagine a few drivers with prosthetic hands who might find a use for that feature alone.

Mark, your mechanical hand invention is fantastic!! Congratulations on getting your patent. Truly amazing in deed. It not only will make peoples lives better who have lost a hand but it will likely also be sought for robotic applications. Best of luck to you marketing your invention. Thanks for sharing this with us all on the forum.

Congratulations Mark!! Awesome invention!

Congratulations Mark for creating a very “worthy” product given the available competition. Please post your story either here or on your web site about what inspired you to take an such an interesting and helpful product. Good Job.

Thanks everybody!

Rich, the fingers and every joint close independantly. However, they are not controlled independantly.
This independant closing allows the hand to quickly grasp odd-shaped objects, making it possible to catch a tossed ball or other object. You can’t use it to play the piano. This device can be economically mass-produced and can compete on price with hooks. I designed it to be highly reliable.
dond, The inspiration came from wanting to help a good friend (the guy in the films) who has lived with the hooks his entire life.

Hi Mark,

Nice to see that you received the patent. I’m curious – what have you done to market your product? Seems like someone like Dean Kamen may be interested in something like this. I have a product for sell called the Cascade Gardens™ Adjustable Height Trellis (check it out on Youtube) and I know how tough it can be to get a license deal. What caught my eye about your product was that my nephew passed away months ago and he donated both of his arms and surgery (first double hand in the country) was performed here in Pittsburgh and so far it’s a success.

Congratulations Mark! What a great invention. Best of luck with it.

Mark – What a great idea! I ‘see’ a future with our VA hospitals.

Mark congratulations. The virtual prototype was spinning too fast for me to get a close look at how it operates mechanically. I guess that was intentional on your part. How long did you work on it and how many prototypes/revisions? Great job.

That is a great inventioned. I am very impressed! Congratulations.

Congrats and best wishes!

Very good Mark…I know you have been working hard at this for a long time. It is a great feeling when you see that patent in your hands too. The jealous say sometimes a patent is just to hang a picture on the wall…they say that because they don’t have one.

I am very proud of my patents and anyone who has one here should be very proud of their accomplishment too…even if it never makes a dime…it shows how hard you tried and separates you from many.

Ron Komorowski
Inventor of Handi-Straps
www.handi-straps.com

It does feel good and will be hanging on my wall. But the purpose is to make money and help people in the process. It won’t do either if I don’t get it produced.
So far marketing has been my downfall. I’m a designer, not a marketer or salesman. I’m learning. I want to license the design to a company already in this field. One mistake I made was assuming the manufacturer would want to finalize the design themselves. It looks like I was wrong, they want all the work done for them. The current design is the fourth generation. I’m in the process of making a fifth generation design that looks a lot more like a human hand. I’m hoping this and being patented will put me over the top.
But it has been frustrating.

Personally I think your idea is a game-changer and there are going to be a lot of people who will benefit from it. This will be a true godsend for the men and women coming home from war.

Congrats Mark!

Congrats! That is an amazing device. It reminds me of the hand from Terminator.
I know what you mean by you not being a marketer. I think if you can get some news coverage you will be well on your way. Just start with your local community news and go from there. I believe that this is a major and affordable break through in the area of prosthetic limbs. If I were you I would look at all of the medical conventions that deal with prosthectic limbs and just walk around and show every one . You WILL build an instant buzz.

yeah that hand looks handy and at least people cannot say ‘what a needless pollution of the planet’ when they see an old one thrown out in the trash.
people will really need those devices

Congrats,Mark.Serious achievement-building it and patenting it.Good luck!

Congratulations Mark!

That looks like quite something!!

Mark,

Way to go!! I hope you make tons of money..but it will never measure to the help you will give folks.
I’m so glad we have sharp people in the world like you!

Congratulation and way to hang in there!

Mark I want to be like you when I grow up. Congrats

I agree with Julie; you should locate the closest VA hospital and find out who is in charge and ask some questions. This may sound simplistic but trying to find the right person to talk with in Washington by making phone calls or searching the Web may just lead to a dead end. There has to be funding related to this and I would think on a global level. I’m sure there are support groups for people that have lost limbs as well and maybe you could talk with them. Disney??

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. It means a lot.

Let’s all give Marcus a hand!!
Oh, yeah – - a hand is the one thing he really doesn’t need.
Anyway, Marcus,
I have a couple friends you may want to contact. Joe Lane directs the SUNY Bufallo "Center for Assistive Technology. I’ve spoken at a couple of their annual programs am always impressed by the truly imaginative things they’ve done in putting technology to work for the disabled. I believe this # will work: Phone- -716-829-3141 The other friend is Dean Kamen…in Manchester NH. He typically likes to invent his own stuff…but there might be some interest. I can
help make a connection there, too.
Good luck.

Mark this kid may need your invention-soon!
http://huffpostfund.org/stories/2009/11/12-year...

Mark~
I tried to access your link, but can’t seem to get it to display anything…Anyway, thought you might find this story interesting?!

Melding Man and Machine…
Moving one step closer to the ultimate prosthetic, scientists have unveiled the results of their “Life Hand” experiment. The study connected a robotic hand via tiny electrodes to the nervous system of a man who had lost his forearm in an accident. Using only his thoughts, the man was able to control and master a variety of movements involving the limb as well as feel pain and other sensations.

Italian Man Controls Robotic Hand With His Mind
http://www.breitbart.tv/italian-man-controls-ro... [1;07]

Mark, this is an incredibly cool invention. You should display it on Ted.com. Do a 4 minute talk. Cover why you invented it, how you invented it and bring your friend on stage to demo it. They love groundbreaking inventions there.

Mark, congratulations. I know what a challenge it is to stay focused while you are trying to get a patent that takes 4 years to complete. Now you can focus all your energy on the next phase, getting it licensed. Do you have any targets in mind to go after?

http://www.rogerbrown.net

Mark,
Congatulations.Super cool.You have a neat,inspirational story behind your new Patented invention!

but why did it take 4 years and thousands of dollars? thats the part that worries me

Congratulations, Mark!

I’m very impressed by your invention. It’s a design that has the potential to make life much easier for many people.

I recently received the good news from my attorney that my patent was granted. Mine only took 2.5 years and about $12,000. I got off cheap!

Congratulations Mark! Excellent Invention! Way to go for you!!

Senthil
Patent Consultant
http://www.intepat.com