NARRATOR: She's meeting thirty-one year old Tobijah, who鈥檚 paralysed from the chest down. He's a keen cook, but struggles in the kitchen due to limited movement in his hands. He's hoping Zoe can help.
ZOE: Tell me about how long you've been in a wheelchair.
TOBIJAH: I had my accident September, 2006. I was a passenger in a car. It was raining that day and visibility was poor. So, I looked at the driver and looked at the road and I says, 'We need to slow down.' And at that point, it flipped.And as the cars rolled, my head's kinda gone sideways like a horror film. Because my neck's already broke by then. And I remember looking up at the sky because the back of my head was touching in between my shoulder blades. I was paralysed from the neck down when I first woke up. I couldn鈥檛 move my hands.
NARRATOR: The accident led to Tobijah's spinal cord being severely damaged. And the signals from his brain no longer reach the nerves in his hands. As a result, he's not able to open and close his fists.
ZOE: Is it alright if I pull your fingers? Yeah.
TOBIJAH: See there's, there's not much there.
ZOE: Yeah. And so, what sort of tasks have you really missed doing?
TOBIJAH: Everything, really, you use your hands for. I can't even button my shirt. Tying shoelaces, even tying the cords in track suits. I love my food, still do now. Uh, I used to cook a lot. And uh, my mom used to do it with us all. And we'd all run to the kitchen and all be sticking our fingers in the bowl. And that was fun.And I'd like to do that with Tanifah.Erm, but, yeah, a bit frustrating, impossible.So, um, obviously buttering the bread now is a different story, because I've got, um.
ZOE: You've got no strength. Yeah.
TOBIJAH: Yeah. There's no strength, so just trying to stab it in and trying to鈥 it's鈥 that's where I get to. I don't come in here because it's just frustration.
ZOE: What would you love to be able to cook?
TOBIJAH: I would love for one of my daughter's birthdays to actually bake her a cake. 'Cause, uh, my mum did that with me. And she can help me as well. So that's what I'd really love to do.
ZOE: Giving him just a small amount of improved grip and the ability to use his hands in a more functional way will actually really change his relationship to himself, in, in the sense of how he feels empowered to do things around the home, but then also how his family respond to him. And how he can feel that he's taking care of them.[unclear] Come on in. How're you doing?
TOBIJAH: Thank you, what a wonderful place. Fine, thank you.
NARRATOR: To get a clearer idea of the challenges Tobijah faces in the kitchen, Zoe's invited him to her workshop in London.
ZOE: Would you show me what you can do?
TOBIJAH: I'll be able to get it with two hands like this. Um, probably push down on that. But it's not secure.
ZOE: That's interesting. So, can we try something? I've got some materials over here that will help me essentially make a mould of the space that you can hold and try and turn that into a handle.
TOBIJAH: Yeah. Yeah. Ok. Yeah.
NARRATOR: Zoe is using polymorph, a thermoplastic polymer which melts at a relatively low temperature.
ZOE: Right, it's already sticking to the tongs. [laughs]
NARRATOR: Once the material is softened by the heat, it fuses together, allowing Tobijah to shape the plastic with only a small amount of pressure.
ZOE: Starting to firm up, isn't it?
TOBIJAH: Think that's perfect.
ZOE: Yeah?
TOBIJAH: Yeah.
ZOE: Alright.
NARRATOR: When it cools, the material hardens.
ZOE: Ok.
TOBIJAH: Brilliant. [laughs]
ZOE: How about that? Your first custom, robust, bespoke handle. Good work.
TOBIJAH: That looks pretty solid.
ZOE: It is, it's really solid.
TOBIJAH: I mean鈥
ZOE: One hand. [TOBIJAH: Yeah.] One hand.
TOBIJAH: Oh wow. Yeah, yeah. And I feel comfortable making scrambled egg with that.
ZOE: Yeah?
TOBIJAH: Yeah, that works well.
ZOE: It does work, doesn't it. I'm pleased with that.
TOBIJAH: I'm looking forward to, um, what else you're gonna bring me. And uh, what other ideas you're gonna be drawing up. [laughs]
ZOE: Pressure, no pressure then.
TOBIJAH: No pressure. [laughs]
ZOE: It's easy to get carried away, 'cause it feels like there's some successes here, and we're onto something. But this is just the sort of first rung on a ladder. I still haven't even touched upon how he's gonna start cracking eggs. But he can definitely whisk eggs. So, we're partway there.
NARRATOR: She's scanning the handle she created with him and is sending the 3D images to a company called Smart Design, who are refining her concept.
ZOE: Well, the design team in New York, the handle experts, sent me a file. I've been printing it overnight. And um, here it is. [wordless victory singing]
NARRATOR: She's also working on a design to improve Tobijah's existing grip.
ZOE: I was thinking about the gloves he wears and whether there's a contraption that I could put inside a glove that meant that, you know, it would restore some mobility to his hand. I've got a bit of a drawing. But the best way with this sort of thing is to have a go.
NARRATOR: With the prototype ready for testing鈥
ZOE: [laughs]
NARRATOR: Zoe's heading back to Shrewsbury to see Tobijah.
ZOE: So, I was thinking about your glove. What if we were able to animate this. Rig up a kind of pulley system.
TOBIJAH: Oh yeah.
ZOE: Where in pulling these strings, you know, we're able to move your fingers.
TOBIJAH: Yeah.
ZOE: And my, the ideal thing for me would be that this is something that you can put on yourself. How would you feel if that was the case?
TOBIJAH: I'll give anything a try. [laughter]
ZOE: You ready? Hang on. [TOBIJAH: Yeah.]
TOBIJAH: Ooh.
ZOE: Does it feel strange?
TOBIJAH: Yeah, 'cause I haven't, 'cause it's just like, feels like, I'm about to make a fist. That's amazing, that is. You know, it's been such a long time seeing my fingers move like that. You almost forget like, what it feels like. It's just like鈥
ZOE: Taking your first steps.
TOBIJAH: Yeah, that's what it basically feels like. Puppet master.
ZOE: Yeah, exactly. I mean, I don't know if it's gonna work, but the next thing is to try and mechanize this.
TOBIJAH: Yeah.
ZOE: And I'm hoping to use voice control. So, you could just go like, left close, and it would鈥
TOBIJAH: Oh!
ZOE: Close your hand.
TOBIJAH: Oh, brilliant!
ZOE: The only problem now is can I actually make it?
TOBIJAH: But that's it, yeah.
NARRATOR: Zoe is visiting the Royal Institution, where researchers from University College London have a biomagnetics lab. She's going to build Tobijah's glove with the help of Ben, a PhD student in wearable technology.
ZOE: Ok, so the plan is these will pull in, won't they, and that will therefore curl the fingers.
BEN: Correct.
NARRATOR: Zoe is creating a voice-activated, electronic pulley system to bring tension back to Tobijah's fingers when he's wearing the glove.
ZOE: Ok, so, it's in extension. Let's contract it.It's so simple. But it works, which is, you know, a great place to be. 'Cause it means not much, there's not much to go wrong.Now the problem is the housing of all the gubbins. This is amazing, flexible 3D printing material, that would just make such a nifty thing to be kind of strapped on. But it's fragile and fatigues really easily. There's stress points at the corners.I don't know what to do.
NARRATOR: Zoe decides a more robust design is required.
ZOE: We're gonna go rigid. So, these are now the housings. The idea is this will be strapped onto the top, this one's strapped onto the bottom. And I'm gonna make some Velcro webbing.
NARRATOR: After almost a week of setbacks, Zoe and Ben are ready to test the electronic system again.
BEN: Left, relax.
ZOE: Yay. [laughs]
BEN: Left, grip. Left, pinch.
ZOE: Yeah, you need more of a 'ch'.
BEN: Yeah.
ZOE: So, it, it is not a hundred percent, but it is working!Hello.
TOBIJAH: Hello. It's a bit cold out there.
ZOE: How're you doing? Oh my god, it's freezing! You look a bit nervous.
TOBIJAH: [laughs] I am a little bit, but let's see how we get on.
ZOE: Yeah.
NARRATOR: Zoe has designed three bespoke kitchen handles, all moulded to perfectly fit Tobijah's hand. Each has a different attachment to help Tobijah cook. She's also made a special chopping board to help him prepare food more easily.
ZOE: Right, come on in.
TOBIJAH: Right.
ZOE: So, this is [TOBIJAH: Ooh, wow.] your custom cooking station. [TOBIJAH: You know what?] Fits the tone and aesthetics of the kitchen. [TOBIJAH: It fits, yeah, I was thinking that.] [WIFE: Looks amazing.] [laughs]
TOBIJAH: Wow. Oh my gosh. It's like the Rolls Royce now, isn't it? Oh yeah.
ZOE: So that's the whisk.
WIFE: That's so amazing.
ZOE: This [TOBIJAH: Oh brilliant.] I'm gonna let you, put that down, let you fiddle with it. But this is a custom knife.
TOBIJAH: You know when you watch them, uh, cooking programmes in the day like, chopping quick. I reckon I could do that with this.
WIFE: I think you might give me a run for my money now.
TOBIJAH: I told ya. [WIFE: laughs] Oh, this is beautiful. I just didn't expect it to be like this. You've done a marvellous job, Zoe.
ZOE: [laughs] I got a thumbs up! Baby thumbs up. [laughter]So there's actually something else that I've been working on. So, in here, we have, here we go, these are your new grip gloves.
TOBIJAH: Wow. [laughs] 007 style.
ZOE: I know.
WIFE: That's amazing.
ZOE: I feel like it can help in the cooking scenario, but maybe it's also something that will be useful in other aspects of your life.
WIFE: That's amazing.
ZOE: Yeah, hopefully. We've gotta try it out, right?
TOBIJAH: Yeah, right.
ZOE: You actually have never seen Tobijah's hands move, have you?
WIFE: No. Just how his hands are now.
ZOE: So, you've never held hands and him give you a squeeze.
WIFE: No.
ZOE: Right, the next part is the box.
TOBIJAH: Yeah.
ZOE: I feel nervous.
WIFE: No, you shouldn't.
ZOE: I do, 'cause it's something, you know, it might work on my hand. It works sat on the bench鈥 fine. But it's got to do it on cue, on your hand reliably.
TOBIJAH: Think we're good there. Yeah, brilliant.
ZOE: Yeah? Do you wanna have a feel?
WIFE: I'm scared.
ZOE: You come with me. Come here.
WIFE: You're gonna take my hand off.
TOBIJAH: Right, grip.
WIFE: Wow.
ZOE: Can you feel it?
TOBIJAH: Woah.
WIFE: It's strong as well, yeah. [ZOE: Can you feel the, the pull?]
TOBIJAH: I can feel that it's, it's like someone's put their hand round my hand and squeezing down on it. Right, relax.
ZOE: Would you like to make a cake with daddy?
BABY: Yeah.
ZOE: Right. Let's make a cake.
WIFE: Wow.
TOBIJAH: Thank you.
BABY: [unclear] egg, dada.
TOBIJAH: Yeah, it's the egg.
ZOE: Now watch, dada's gonna crack an egg.
TOBIJAH: Right pinch.
WIFE: Wow.
TOBIJAH: Hello.
WIFE: Oh, my goodness, that is amazing.
TOBIJAH: Shall we try whisking?
ZOE: Yeah. [laughs]
TOBIJAH: Are you mixing as well?
BABY: Yeah.
TOBIJAH: [laughs]
WIFE: It's amazing, because obviously he never expected to do that with her. And I never expected him to do it with her.
ZOE: Yeah.
WIFE: It's gonna help him so much, it's making me wanna cry. For him, it will be life changing. It's just, [sigh] [ZOE: Thank you.] a step in the right direction. No, thank you. Aww. No, don't cry. [ZOE: Yeah.] You're brilliant. You are. You've given him his hands back.
TOBIJAH: You want some? Mmm, yummy.
WIFE: You like dada cooking?
BABY: He make cake!
ZOE: That was a special moment. Oh. Oh, it makes all the late nights worthwhile. I mean, just to see how it opens up family life to him in a way that wasn't available before. It's powerful stuff, design. You get to change people's lives.
TOBIJAH: You want some juicey? There you go.
Tobijah has limited movement in his hands and the team attempt to get him cooking again.
Tobijah was paralysed from the chest down in a car accident.
As a result, he鈥檚 no longer able to open and close his fists or pick things up.
Materials expert Zoe Laughlin works with Tobijah to try and find a way for him to use his hands in the kitchen.
Together they manage to fashion some bespoke handles that will enable him to hold utensils, but if he鈥檚 going to be able to cook anything from scratch she needs to come up with a way to give him back much finer motor skills needed to follow recipes, including the ability to pick up and crack open eggs.
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