Filling the Gap: The above-elbow prosthetic

BCMF already had access to open-source prosthetic designs and donated 3D printers to produce and test them with patients. But there was a critical gap – no open-source design existed for above-elbow amputees. Every time a patient with that type of amputation came through the door, the team struggled to find a solution as more joints are involved and most designs use electronics.

Determined to solve the problem, Elkind returned to Queen’s and connected with the Queen’s Biomedical Innovation Team (QBiT), assembling a dedicated group of engineering students to tackle the challenge. 

“We collaborate with BCMF on anything they need, including modifications to existing prosthetics and software user interfaces, but the main project is the above-elbow prosthetic, which is complex because we need to recreate both elbow movement and hand function simultaneously, by only using the patient’s body movements,” Elkind says.

Through two years of iterative design, they achieved a functioning harness system capable of independently moving both the elbow and each finger individually – without relying on electronics or robotics, which would be impossible to maintain in the resource-limited border region.

Recognition and giving back

The team’s work has earned recognition at engineering competitions across North America, including a first-place finish at Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) Conference in Chicago and runner-up at Rice University in Houston. Half of the prize money has been donated directly to BCMF, helping fund surgeries, translation services, and transitional housing for patients who cannot access care locally. Queen’s has also been able to extend free access to professional design software to the BCMF team.

“Our collaboration with Queen’s University has greatly benefited our 3D team, our beneficiaries, and the Queen’s students interning with us,” BCMF founder Kanchana Thornton says. “Our 3D team’s capacity has grown throughout this collaboration, while Queen’s students have gained valuable hands-on experience applying skills gained during their placements in real time. We hope to continue this partnership for years to come, to continue to reach more people in need.” 

A life-changing experience

For Elkind, the impact of the work extends far beyond engineering. Conducting patient interviews and writing donor reports for BCMF brought the human stakes of the project into sharp focus.

“BCMF’s patients often need to work every single day to support their families. Having a prosthetic that is durable, functional, and useful to them can completely change what they’re able to do independently,” she says. “This experience has been life changing, and has reshaped the way I think about engineering, where our job isn't just to make new technology, it's to solve real problems. Of course, none of this would be possible without my team and the support and mentorship I’ve received from my professors.” 

Now preparing to begin a master’s degree, Elkind is transitioning to a senior advisory role for the project, but has no intention of stepping away entirely. She has worked to establish a sustainable leadership pipeline within QBiT, ensuring that students returning from placements carry the project forward, keeping the work – and its purpose – firmly alive.