Milos Stankovic, a former Parachute Regiment officer who lost his arm in a motorcycle collision last year, has become the first person in the UK to be fitted with a new type of 3D-printed upper limb.
The 63-year-old ex-paratrooper received the prosthetic from Bristol-based Open Bionics, an award-winning technology firm that creates 3D-printed limbs for amputees. The limb was fitted at the Bristol Centre for Enablement.
Designed for daily use
Speaking to the BBC, Stankovic said he "nearly died" in the crash in the north of Spain last year and felt "very lucky" to receive the specially designed arm, adding that he hoped it would help him return to "extreme sports".
The lightweight limb is primarily intended for daily use rather than high-impact activities. However, Stankovic, who is employed at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, said it would benefit active individuals like him as it enables "your limb to breathe and sweat to drain out of them".
Reducing infection risk
The former Army Major also said the design would reduce the risk of skin and fungal infections caused by perspiration while minimising discomfort.
The breakthrough marks a significant milestone for Open Bionics, which has predominantly focused on below-the-elbow devices. The firm, which operates from All Saints' Street in Bristol, was founded in 2014 by Samantha Payne MBE and Joel Gibbard MBE, who collaborated with the NHS for two years under a product development contract.
Company growth and NHS availability
The pair introduced sales to the private market in May 2018, with its 'Hero Arm' quickly becoming the best-selling multi-grip bionic hand in Britain. The firm's profile soared after it engineered bionic arms for Tilly Lockey, a 12-year-old girl who lost her hands as an infant following a meningitis diagnosis. Lockey, now aged 21 and a model and influencer, received a bespoke pair of limbs designed to resemble superhero arms.
In 2022, the robotic devices became available on the NHS in England to 'eligible' patients, extending beyond military veterans.
Funding and future plans
Stankovic, who raised thousands of pounds for Veterans Aid in 2022 after trekking 725km, had his arm funded through Open Bionics' charitable foundation. He says he is now hoping to "get back to the sports that I was doing before".
In 2024, Open Bionics secured major funding to open clinics in the US. The business now operates throughout Europe and the US, with America currently representing the company's fastest-growing market.
