Prosthesis With a Microprocessor: Russian Company Advances Import Substitution in Health Rehabilitation
At the Eastern Economic Forum, Russian manufacturers showcased microprocessor-controlled upper- and lower-limb prostheses. Electronics and software algorithms analyze a person’s movements in real time and adapt to their gait and activity level.
Modern prosthetics have come a long way from the early 2000s, when a prosthesis was largely a means of concealing a disfigurement. Today, technology makes it possible to create prostheses that look and function like devices from science fiction movies: they can become an extension of the arm or leg, respond to a person’s movements and restore familiar functions. In effect, they become an extension of the body.
Russkiye Proteznye Sistemy showcased such prostheses at the Eastern Economic Forum, held in Vladivostok. The developer manufactures components for lower-limb prostheses as well as a line of microprocessor-controlled products. Its goal is to make an artificial limb more responsive to the individual user.
A Prosthesis That Adapts to Its User
In everyday life, people rarely think about how they move. When walking speed changes, the surface becomes uneven, or they need to climb stairs or sit down, healthy legs automatically adjust to those changes.
But when someone loses a leg and then tries to replace it with a prosthesis, the entire body has to adapt to the device. That process takes time, effort and emotional energy. A microprocessor-controlled prosthesis addresses this challenge.
Built-in sensors, much like natural nerve endings, collect information about a person’s movements. The microprocessor analyzes the data, while software algorithms determine how to adjust the mechanism to make movement more natural. As a result, the prosthesis adapts to its user and their movements in real time.
Comfort and Ease of Use
For someone who has lost a leg, these prostheses can restore the freedom and enjoyment of movement. The better a prosthesis responds to the user’s needs, the less they have to consciously control every step. That becomes especially important during long-term use, when comfort and predictable performance can be just as important as the device’s durability. With such prostheses, users can participate in sports, remain independent in everyday life and lead active, fulfilling lives.
These technologies are also changing the way prosthetists work. They now have to consider not only a patient’s anatomy but also the capabilities of the electronics, sensor settings and software control. The task becomes more complex on one hand, but the outcome can be better on the other. For a rehabilitation professional, what could be more rewarding than seeing a patient arrive on crutches and leave walking independently?
Made in Russia
The distinctive feature of the Russkiye Proteznye Sistemy project is its focus on a high level of domestic manufacturing in Russia. As the company’s CEO, Ilya Semenov, explained, the Russian prosthetics market was heavily dependent on foreign components for many years. The manufacturer is now working to produce both mechanical components and materials for its products domestically. “We have one of the deepest levels of localization. We produce everything, from metal machining and composites to the composites themselves, plastics and final assembly,” he said.
Russkiye Proteznye Sistemy now plans to launch a manufacturing facility in the Tver region. Its stated production capacity will be up to 35,000 units a year.
Entering Foreign Markets
Prosthetics manufacturers also have another important opportunity: exports. They can draw on their own manufacturing base and experience serving a vast geographic area. Potential markets include the Commonwealth of Independent States, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Russian companies are already showing interest in this direction. For example, Motorika sells its products in the CIS, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Turkey and Egypt. In 2024, international sales accounted for about 5% of the company’s business.
There is also an example involving component manufacturers. In 2025, METIZ reported supplying prosthetics products to 47 countries, with about 35% of its production going abroad. This means Russia can export not only finished prostheses but also individual technology components and software solutions.
Another important shift is that prostheses are no longer viewed as something shameful that should be hidden from public view. Today, they have become symbols of strength, technological progress and an individual’s personal story. They also demonstrate that even after a severe injury, a person can lead a full and active life.
