In war-hit Ukraine, Indian innovators lend a hand to those who have lost arms

In war-hit Ukraine, Indian innovators lend a hand to those who have lost armsIn war-hit Ukraine, Indian innovators lend a hand to those who have lost armsLVIV: Yevhen Pramonov, a member of a Ukrainian special forces battalion, lost his legs while clearing mines in Donetsk region last Dec. Working non-stop for 24 days at the time, he had stepped on a Russian mine, triggering an explosion that left him critically injured.Evacuated amid heavy gunfire, he survived thanks to first aid and, later, the expertise of the Superhumans Centre in Lviv. The centre, launched after the full-scale Russian invasion, has become alifeline for soldiers and civilians alike. Specialising in prosthetics, mental health support, reconstructive surgery, and rehabilitation, it has treated more than 625 people and provided 850 prosthetic limbs.

But its success would have been difficult without Aether Biomedical, a company founded by two Indian innovators which has provided advanced bionic arms for soldiers. So far, Aether Biomedical has supplied 70 bionic arms to amputees at the centre.

Aether Biomedical is a Polish company founded by Dhruv Agrawal and Faith Jiwakhan, both from Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi. Their journey into prosthetic innovation began when they met a man born without a limb and lacking access to functional prosthetics.

Determined to make a difference, they created the prototype for a bionic hand, ‘Zeus’, in a small room during their first year of medical school. The company focuses on developing advanced, multifunctional prosthetic hands activated by the user’s muscle signals.

Dhruv explains: “Our prosthetics use electrodes connected to the user’s muscles to transmit signals to an algorithm, which then converts the signals into precise movements.” The prosthetics are 3D printed, remotely configurable, and locally repairable — a precious feature for Ukrainians who require maintenance in a war-torn country. Agrawal notes that with the conflict intensifying, there is “a pressing need for prosthetics as thousands have been forced to undergo amputations”.

Dhruv adds: “Usually, bionic hands are weak, break easily, and take forever to repair. Our arm is the strongest in the world. It has a gripping capacity of 35kg, damage-resistant fingers designed to withstand the impact of daily life, and it can be repaired locally rather than being sent back to the manufacturer.”
According to Dr Jiwakhan, the arm uses web-based software to make remote adjustments: “We have developed a digital platform for the ‘Zeus’ hand that connects clinicians and patients through a cloudbased mobile app. Clinicians can remotely configure the prosthetic, monitor device usage and make real-time adjustments. This ensures patients receive end-to-end support throughout their journey.”

“I was bleeding heavily after the blast,” Yevhen recalls. “When I woke up in hospital, I knew my life had changed, but Ialso knew I wanted to keep serving my country.” Yevhen, now, after receiving bionic limbs, plans to return to the armed forces to deliver lectures at a military academy.

Superhumans Centre offers prosthetic limbs free of charge, and is funded by international organisations. A mechanical knee prosthesis can range from euro 18,000 to 20,000, while a below-the-knee prosthesis costs about euro 9,000. More advanced myoelectric hands, like ‘Zeus’, cost between euro 15,000 and 50,000.
(Sudhakar Reddy is in Ukraine at the invitation of the Journalists for Justice of Netherlands and Ukraine Crisis Media Center)