This month the 15-year-old tested a robotic hand at The Royal Children’sHospital with the hope of taking it home in the next year.

Senior prosthetist Meleita Finnigan said the hand would help him achieve
his goals.

“He is interested in engineering and is doing science subjects at school which require bilateral fine motor skills,” she said.

“It will allow him to carry items around school and open doors while doing so. He is also keen to do home DIY projects and increase his independence in food prep and cooking at school.”

“Another key goal is to increase his independence handling his kayak as he currently needs someone to help him carry it while getting in and out of the water.”

Ishan was born with one hand after the umbilical cord wrapped around his left hand and cut off the blood flow, which prevented it from forming.

During his appointment at the hospital, the drummer and bike rider was excited to do ordinary tasks such as cutting kiwi fruit.

“It felt really good, I’ve never done it before,” he said. “It makes me feel really happy to be able to do it.”

Ishan’s robotic hand is controlled by myoelectric signals created by muscle movements that trigger the hand to move in a specific way.

The device is battery operated, waterproof, and can carry up to 20kg of weight.

“Ishan can select which grip patterns he’d like to use through a phone app,” Ms Finnigan said.

“All the fingers can use touch screens and the wrist angle can be changed.”

Funded by the NDIS, the robotic hand can cost about $100,000.

“Funding approval with NDIS can take anywhere from a couple of months to a year to be evaluated,” Ms Finnigan said.

“But on approval, we require a minimum of three appointments to make the device, first one for casting and 3D imaging, second for a check fit and then the final fitting. That process can be between six to eight weeks, which also gives time for the componentry to be ordered and arrive.”

Ishan’s dad Arun thanked The Royal Children’s Hospital staff for their support.

“They have been very patient and very helpful,” he said. “They supported us right from day one.”