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Sol RyanLittle Welshman with amputated arm
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- The Little Welsh Boy with a Missing Arm
- Losing an Arm Too Soon
- A Father's Determination
- A Bionic Arm Inspired by Spiders
- A Life-Changing Invention
- Ambionics: Creating Innovative Prosthetics
- Changing Lives through Technology
The Little Welsh Boy with a Missing Arm
Ben Ryan, a former biology teacher, has created a life-changing bionic arm for his son, Sol, who was born with a missing left arm.
Losing an Arm Too Soon
When Sol was just five weeks old, he had to have his arm amputated above the elbow due to a blood clot. Doctors told Ben and his wife that Sol would receive a passive prosthetic arm in a year and an electric one in three or four years.
A Father's Determination
"I thought he was never going to be able to play the guitar or do boxing," said Ben. "I didn't want him to be held back." Unable to bear the thought of his son waiting so long, Ben decided to create a bionic arm himself.
A Bionic Arm Inspired by Spiders
Ben drew inspiration from spiders, whose limbs move using hydraulics. His design features a simple piston with a pressurized fluid that "squashes" Sol's elbow bone. The fluid then travels down a tube into a membrane that triggers a lever, opening the fingers and allowing a pinching motion.
A Life-Changing Invention
Ben's bionic arm is battery-free, intuitive to use, and can be made entirely of 3D-printed plastic. It gives Sol the ability to hold books, turn pages, and even pick up toys.
Ambionics: Creating Innovative Prosthetics
Ben has since founded Ambionics to bring his innovative prosthetic designs to other limb-different children. He is currently seeking £150,000 in funding to support the company's growth and clinical trials.
Changing Lives through Technology
With the help of experts like Autodesk designer Paul Sohi, Ben believes his bionic arm has the potential to revolutionize the lives of countless children with limb differences.
