Q-CARE
Queen's Collaboration for Accessible Rehabilitation & Engineering
The Q-CARE Team is focused on developing 3D-printed prosthetics to address the critical need for low-cost prosthetics in Southeast Asia, where civil war and related crises have left many without access to essential medical care. Traditional prosthetics are prohibitively expensive, leaving countless individuals without solutions to regain independence and mobility. By leveraging CAD design and 3D printing technology, our team at Queen’s is working in partnership with the Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) to create functional, customizable prosthetics that are accessible to underserved communities.
Visit BCMF here: https://burmachildren.com/
CURRENT PROJECTS
A.R.M.
Body-Powered Prosthetic Arm
The world’s longest ongoing civil war in Myanmar (formerly Burma) has created an urgent need for accessible prosthetic care. The Burma Children’s Medical Fund (BCMF) supports displaced Burmese migrants and refugees along the Thai–Myanmar border by fabricating and distributing low-cost, 3D-printed, body-powered prosthetics using open-source designs that can be freely adapted and reproduced.
Despite this progress, a critical gap remains for individuals with above-elbow amputations. In response, the Q-CARE partnered with BCMF to develop the A.R.M. (Assistive Reach Mechanism), a functional, low-cost prosthetic featuring both an elbow joint and hand to better meet patient needs.
The Foot Project
The prosthetic consists of a modular prosthetic pylon cover, a durable foot cosmesis, and a load-bearing partial-foot prosthetic to address critical mobility challenges faced by individuals in resource-limited, conflict-affected regions. This foot design prioritizes resilience in harsh environments, replacing fragile silicone components with high-strength, flexible 3D-printed materials that withstand barefoot walking, rough terrain, and high humidity. Unlike conventional models, the prosthetic foot is mechanically simple, eliminating reliance on expensive parts and enabling local, on-site repair without specialized tools. Its design also supports anatomical adaptability and long-term use, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
SNAPSHOT OF OUR WORK
Our teams have been working incredibly hard this semester to create innovative, patient-centered designs. Below, see the progress for our Q-CARE projects:
Hand Component for A.R.M. Project
Shoulder Component for A.R.M. Project
Thumb Component for A.R.M. Project
Assembled Hand for A.R.M Project
Assembled A.R.M Hand creating a Heart
Summer Interns
2026 Summer Interns:
Cole Mccauley
Hailey Parker
Previous Interns
Emese Elkind - Summer 2023