What sets this prosthesis apart

The device is a bionic hand that uses optical sensors to read tendon activity in the wrist rather than traditional muscle signals. This enables more natural, low-effort control for users with weakened muscles after frostbite, electrical injury, or other trauma. The model, branded Omni Hand by Motorica, is positioned as the first bionic hand with optical control to reach the market.

Why optical sensing matters

Optical myography sensors monitor changes in tissue light transmission as tendons move, capturing subtle intent signals even when muscle strength is limited. This yields intuitive, real-time control of grasping and hand shapes without cycling through preset modes. 

How the hand “learns” your gestures

The system records up to six user-defined “phantom” gestures — such as a pinch or fist — and refines recognition through a built-in decision-support algorithm that adapts to each wearer over time.

From intent to movement

When the user imagines a gesture, the prosthesis detects tendon micro-movements and reproduces the corresponding hand motion immediately, in any order, improving speed and fluidity compared with sequential gesture switching on many legacy devices. 

Availability and timeline

Pilot users — eight people — are already wearing the device in daily life. Serial production is slated to begin in January 2026. In Russia, the hand is expected to be provided at no cost to eligible citizens via federal programs, either through state procurement or an e-certificate from the Social Fund. (

Market context

While optical approaches have been explored by research groups abroad, the developers claim this is the first productized, light-controlled bionic hand moving to broad distribution. 

Expert assessments

Independent specialists in bionic engineering view optical tendon sensing and phantom-gesture recognition as especially promising for users with atrophy or denervation, provided robustness holds up under real-world conditions like socket shifts and perspiration.

Outlook

If field reliability matches lab performance, optical sensing could expand access to advanced upper-limb control and reduce training burden compared with conventional EMG-only systems.