Imported prosthetic brand crisis, domestic high-end prosthetic is catching up

When it comes to high-end prosthetics, three names cannot be avoided: Ottobock from Germany, Ö ssur from Iceland, and Blatchford from the UK. Whether it's high-end bionic hands with multiple degrees of freedom or high-end intelligent lower limb prosthetics, they have long been dominated by these three imported brands. In recent years, domestic brands have been taking remedial courses in this high-end field, and the core technology of receptive cavity has also sparked a wave of digital research and development. Will these three major imported brands start to feel nervous?

Three imported brands, long-term control of the high-end market

In the field of high-end prosthetics, Ottobock is widely recognized as a technology and market benchmark, with C-Leg and Genium intelligent knee joints serving as industry references. According to its official website, Ottobock was the first to launch the microprocessor controlled C-Leg knee joint globally in 1997, followed by the emergence of intelligent prosthetic legs such as Genium (now Genium X4); Ö ssur is well-known for its carbon fiber system and i-Limb high-end electromyography hand; Blatchford is a century old British manufacturer that originated in 1890. Their barriers are not in individual components, but in the core algorithms, clinical data, channel networks, and brand trust accumulated over decades - high-end prosthetics have long been controlled by these few companies.

High end bionic hand, domestic counterparts catching up on the same stage

High end bionic hand: Multiple fingers move independently, real-time control of electromyography, and this segment has long been dominated by imported products such as Oso i-Limb and Ottobock bebionic. Domestic manufacturers are catching up in this area: Shanghai KeSheng originated from the Bioelectric Control prosthetic research group of the Shanghai Institute of Physiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 1963, it pioneered research on electromyographic control prostheses in China, covering a full range of upper limb products from the palm to the shoulder; Emerging companies OYMotion OHand and BrainCo have successively launched bionic hands, continuously seizing the high-end hand prosthesis market.

High end intelligent knee joint, multiple breakthroughs in domestic production

High end intelligent knee joint for lower limbs: In the past, this field was dominated by imported intelligent knee joints such as Ottobock C-Leg and Genium. Nowadays, domestic manufacturers have achieved breakthroughs in multiple directions, such as Yijiang non-invasive brain computer interface intelligent knee joint A1; Zhenxing Technology Zhenxing · Jiguang intelligent knee joint; Senyue ® Biomimetic hydraulic intelligent knee joint; QiangBrain Technology Qingling M3 intelligent bionic leg.

Acceptance cavity process

The receiving chamber is the carrier for the prosthetic to directly adhere to the residual limb, determining comfort, force distribution, and long-term wearing performance. It is a key part of the prosthetic wearing comfort experience and traditionally relies heavily on the manual experience of technicians in shaping and repairing.

Some domestic universities, institutions, and enterprises are promoting the track of digital acceptance. The receiving cavity process is changing: 3D scanning collects residual limb data, software or algorithm modeling, and then 3D printing or composite material molding, making the fit and force distribution quantifiable and optimizable. It can even achieve a temperature controlled receiving chamber, allowing the residual limb to be unafraid of cold in winter and hot in summer.

Will imported brands tremble? ‌

I once compared prosthetic products to cars, and I used to like importing when buying cars.

I think the current prosthetic products can also be compared to cars.

Can domestic brands become substitutes for imported products?