Turns out, pups benefit from assistive tech as much as humans do.
Apple today posted a video to YouTube called “The Invincibles.” The spot, shot entirely on iPhone 14 Pro, tells the story of Chip, a dog who was born with a limb difference. Rather than face euthanasia, doctors instead decided to amputate one of his legs and give him a prosthesis.
The video, narrated by Chip’s owner, shows him doing typical doggy activities such as running and swimming while wearing his prosthetic. In addition to Chip, the video shows other dogs with limb differences partaking regular dog activities with their own prosthetic devices.
As MacRumors’ Juli Clover notes, Chip’s prosthetic was created by 3DPets and designed using the 14 Pro’s LiDAR scanner and TrueDepth camera system. The cameras take a three-dimensional body scan that is eventually used in designing the custom-made hardware for the animal.
In addition to Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” video, megastar tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, known as MKBHD, shared a video of his own in which he goes behind-the-scenes at how 3DPets does its work.
On its website, 3DPets writes that although technology has revolutionized countless industries—thanks in large part to Apple products like the iPhone—there are those that have been “left in the dust,” adding pet orthotics, prosthetics, and carts are examples of industries left behind. Thus, it’s 3DPets’ mission to “give these pets in need the latest and greatest to produce better outcomes and reduce stress, and strain” by bringing pet prosthetics into the 21st century.
According to 3DPets, giving these dogs better accessibility is crucial because, as is the case with humans, the prostheses give the dogs greater mobility and freedom. Moreover, the dogs carry 60% of their weight on the front limbs; a prosthetic helps redistribute the weight more evenly. The use of a prosthetic aids greatly in reducing the chances of conditions such as carpal joint deterioration, arthritis, and hyperextension.
A full limb prosthetic like Chip’s is priced starting at $1,550.
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