A devoted dad whose baby son’s arm was amputated has invented a 'revolutionary' bionic limb for the youngster using an Xbox scanner and a 3D printer - after teaching himself how to do it.

Ben Ryan dreamed up the prototype after being told by NHS doctors there was nothing they could do for lovable baby Sol until he was at least a year old.

The former psychology lecturer has now set up a crowdfunding page to raise £150,000 so other children who have lost limbs can benefit, as the project is in a 'desperate situation' and could flounder without financial help.

Sol Ryan and dad Ben, who designed his son's bionic limb using an Xbox scanner and a 3D printer (
Image:
Daily Post Wales)

Ben - a got around the problem of his young son wriggling around too much and scanned the lad's arm on a £20 Xbox scanner while the boy was asleep.

Ben says he believes 3D printing is the 'future of prosthetics' and can 'change the lives of children who need this the most' in a powerful video featuring heartwarming footage of Sol.

In the inspirational film, he says he wants to bring prosthetics out of the 'Victorian' age, arguing the technology has not changed for 200 years.

Sol using his 'revolutionary' bionic limb designed by his father (
Image:
Daily Post Wales)

After complications led to Sol's left arm being amputated below the elbow at just 10 days of age, Ben was not prepared to wait, and after coming up with designs, he manufactured the limb on a 3D printer.

Sol, now two, can use his arm to grip and power the hydraulic arm.

Health bosses have described his invention as “potentially revolutionary”, reports the Daily Post.

Ben, from Angelsey, north west Wales, said: “It was likely to be three years before he could be fitted for an electric device.

Cheeky Sol appears in a heartwarming video showing him with his amazing bionic arm (
Image:
Daily Post Wales)

“I thought I could do better for my son. By encouraging him to use both arms during this period of early brain development, we believed Sol would become more likely to adopt prosthetics later on.

“Current prosthetic arm technology for infants dates back to the Victorian era in many cases."

He said the current, antiquated prosthetic limbs being offered were 'ugly' and often rejected by young children early on.

Sol, named after the solar eclipse on the day of his birth, was born in March 2015 with an undetected clot in his upper left arm.

Newborn Sol, pictured with dad Ben, had his left arm amputated as just 10 days old (
Image:
Daily Post Wales)

Surgeons advised amputation through the elbow joint but Ben and wife Kate persuaded them to save as much of their son’s lower arm function as possible.

After being told about the lack of help available, he began his project and within two months had managed to design and print the first working system, though it was too small for Sol to wear.

He knew he needed to scan Sol’s arm, but was concerned he may not keep still long enough to produce a scan using the sensitive Artec scanner at Bangor University.

Ben and wife Kate persuaded doctors to save as much of their son’s lower arm function as possible (
Image:
Daily Post Wales)

He looked for another way and eventually used the Microsoft Xbox Kinect scanner plugged in to his laptop to easily scan Sol’s arm while he was asleep.

Having taught himself the basics of product design and development using Fusion 360 software, Ben is now working closely with Paul Sohi from software company Autodesk.

He used the same software to design the world’s first 3D printed sports prosthetic for Rio Paralympic cyclist Denise Schindler.

Ben and Sol's mum Kate are appealing for funds so the revolutionary bionic arm can be developed and help other young children with amputations (
Image:
Daily Post Wales)

Mr Sohi said: “It’s been inspiring to work on this innovative and ambitious project.

“It is amazing that, despite Ben having no background in product design, he’s taught himself enough to create something that will not only help his own son Sol, but potentially lots of others facing the same challenges too.”

To support Ben's fundraising drive visit his indiegogo.com page and help fund essential trials of the device.

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