Bristol Firm Fits Veteran With First of Its Kind Bionic Arm
A former paratrooper received a new upper limb designed to prevent skin infections, marking a technical milestone for the local startup.
By Pedro Tanaka ·
Milos Stankovic, a 63-year-old former Army Major, recently received a new bionic upper limb in Bristol. The device, manufactured by local firm Open Bionics, is the first of its kind installed in the United Kingdom. Stankovic lost his arm in a motorbike crash in northern Spain last year, an incident he described to the BBC as a near-fatal experience.
The prosthetic was fitted at the Bristol Centre for Enablement. Unlike heavier alternatives, this lightweight limb is designed primarily for daily use rather than high-impact physical activity. A key feature of the design is its ventilation system. Stankovic noted that the arm allows sweat to drain out, which he said reduces the risk of skin and fungal infections common in traditional prosthetics.
Open Bionics, based on All Saints’ Street in Bristol, specializes in 3D-printed limbs. The company was founded in 2014 by Samantha Payne MBE and Joel Gibbard MBE. They worked with the NHS for two years under a product development contract before launching private sales in May 2018. Their 'Hero Arm' became a best-selling multi-grip bionic hand in Britain.
The firm gained public attention after creating custom superhero-style limbs for Tilly Lockey. Lockey had lost her hands as a baby due to meningitis and is now a 21-year-old model and influencer. In 2022, the company’s robotic devices became available to eligible patients on the NHS in England, extending access beyond military veterans.
Stankovic’s new arm was funded through Open Bionics’ charitable foundation. He previously raised thousands of pounds for Veterans Aid in 2022 by hiking 725 kilometers. He currently works at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and hopes the new limb will allow him to return to extreme sports.
Payne and Gibbard received the Princess Royal Silver Medal in 2024. The award, presented by HRH Princess Anne at the Royal Academy of Engineering, recognized their contributions to British engineering and innovation. The business now operates in Europe and the United States, with the American market becoming its fastest-growing segment.
Source: Bristol Post
