Unless you’re willing to pay the premium price of complete, modular bionic arms like the Atom Touch or the LUKE Arm (which are worth the extra money — we just wish more people could afford them!), those needing above-the-elbow bionic solutions will likely have to piece them together using multiple components. Except for an all-Ottobock solution, those components will likely come from different manufacturers.
Because compatibility between components can be an issue and suitability for each prospective end-user is always an issue, you will need a prosthetist to help you do this. But you should still do your own homework, as the choice of components can have a significant impact on your quality of life.
Below, we provide three separate lists of components:
- complete, modular arms;
- electric elbows, which also act as control platforms for all the other components; and
- bionic hands that can interface with other components.
We are still working on our lists of bionic wrists and shoulder joint options.
Complete, Modular Arms
Atom Touch from Atom Limbs
Now targeting a launch date in 2023, the Atom Touch will be the most advanced bionic arm/hand in the world.
Mobius Bionics LUKE Arm
The LUKE Arm is one of two bionic arms to come out of DARPA’s Revolutionizing Prosthetics program, and the only commercial arm to offer a powered shoulder option.
Electric Elbows
Ottobock DynamicArm
Ottobock’s DynamicArm is an electric elbow with the ability to flex and extend via myoelectric control. Combined with a rotating wrist and a bionic hand or another terminal device, the DynamicArm can form an integral part of an above-the-elbow solution.
Steeper Espire Elbow
Steeper’s Espire Elbow comes in five different models. Two of these — the Espire Pro and Espire Hybrid — are compatible with bionic hands.
Ottobock ErgoArm
Ottobock’s ErgoArm comes in four different models. Two of these — the ErgoArm Hybrid Plus and ErgoArm Electronic Plus — are compatible with bionic hands.
Motion Control Utah Arm
Motion Control’s Utah Arm is a microprocessor-controlled electric elbow that is compatible with multiple input systems, wrist components, and bionic hands or other terminal devices.
College Park Boston Digital Arm
Note: the Boston Digital Arm has been discontinued, so we will no longer be updating this page going forward. Please refer to our various current options articles for alternatives.
Component Bionic Hands
COVVI Hand
The COVVI Hand has quickly become one of the most impressive bionic hands on the market, driven mainly by exceptional engineering principles.
Ottobock bebionic Hand
Ottobock’s bebionic hand is well established in the bionic hand industry. But surging competition and underwhelming reviews from our User Satisfaction Surveys suggest that it may be in need of an upgrade.
TASKA Hand from TASKA Prosthetics
Rugged, waterproof, and capable of operating in dusty environments, the TASKA is the first bionic hand designed specifically for durability.
MeHand from MaxBionic
MaxBionic’s MeHand appears to exhibit a level of user control, dexterity, and responsiveness found in much more expensive bionic hand systems.
Vincent Evolution
The Vincent Evolution is clearly an advanced bionic hand but there is very little English-language material available for it.
OHand Intelligent Bionic Hand
The OHand may be a relatively new bionic hand, but its advanced feature set and polished engineering suggest it will be a worthy competitor going forward.
Zeus Hand From Aether Biomedical
The Zeus Hand is a relatively new addition to the bionic-hand market but it appears to be backed by solid technology and a promising young company.
Ottobock Michelangelo Hand
Ottobock’s Michelangelo Hand is one of the most robust and technologically advanced bionic hands on the market. At $60,000 to $70,000 US, it’s also one of the most expensive. The question is: is it worth it?
Ossur i-Limb Hand
Ossur’s i-Limb hand is one of the world’s most advanced bionic hands. It is also one of the most expensive. The question is: is it worth it?
The Psyonic Ability Hand
With sensory feedback, superior closing speed, and an emphasis on durability, the Psyonic Ability Hand offers good value for its lower midrange price.
BrainRobotics Prosthetic Hand
BrainRobotics is currently undergoing a transition from a single 8-channel bionic hand to two products: a 2-channel hand and an 8-channel hand. We will update this article when that transition is complete.
Adam’s Hand from BionIT Labs
Adam’s Hand is one of the most intriguing new bionic hands due to its unique adaptive grip technology, which eliminates the need to change grips.
Related Information
For a list of all options for below-the-elbow bionic solutions, see Current Options for Bionic Hands.
For a comprehensive description of all current upper-limb technologies, devices, and research, see our complete guide.