Water-resistant and waterproof are not the same thing. Learn what IPX5, IP44, and IP67 mean for bionic prosthetic hands, with verified water-resistance information for Esper Hand 2, Adam’s Hand, COVVI Hand, bebionic, and Zeus V2.

Water resistance can make a significant difference in everyday use of a bionic hand. Rain, washing your hands, cleaning, cooking, and doing dishes can all expose a prosthetic device to moisture.

But terms such as water-resistant, waterproof, and IP-rated are often used as if they mean the same thing.

They do not.

Esper Hand 2 is water-resistant, not fully waterproof. It is rated IPX5 and designed for everyday exposure to water, including rain, handwashing, dishwashing, rinsing, humidity, and light cleaning. It is not designed for swimming or prolonged submersion.

Understanding exactly what an IP rating covers makes it easier to compare bionic hands—and, more importantly, understand what a prosthetic hand can safely do around water.

Why “water-resistant” and “waterproof” are often confused

There is no single yes-or-no category called “waterproof” within the IP system.

Instead, Ingress Protection, or IP, ratings describe how an enclosure has been tested against solid objects and water under defined conditions. IEC 60529 is the international standard governing these classifications.

An IP code normally contains two characters after “IP”:

• The first digit describes protection against solid foreign objects and dust.

• The second digit describes protection against water.

• An X means that a protection level for that category is not specified by that particular rating; it does not mean “zero protection.”

For example:

These classifications describe specific tested conditions, not unlimited use around water. IP67, for example, should not automatically be interpreted as permission for unrestricted underwater use; manufacturer instructions still apply.

That distinction is especially important for prosthetic devices because protection may also depend on the glove, wrist interface, socket connection, battery system, and condition of the components.

What does IPX5 mean for Esper Hand 2?

Esper Hand 2 has an IPX5 water-resistance rating.

Under the IP system, the second digit 5 represents protection against water projected in jets against the enclosure. The X means the rating does not specify a solid-particle protection level.

In practical terms, Esper Hand 2 is designed to handle the kinds of brief moisture exposure people commonly encounter during daily life.

Esper specifically identifies examples including rain, humidity, rinsing, handwashing, dishwashing, and light cleaning—low-pressure water steams.

That means users do not necessarily need to treat every drop of water as an emergency. Water resistance is intended to reduce friction in ordinary routines where occasional contact with moisture is difficult to avoid.

Can Esper Hand 2 be used for washing hands or doing dishes?

Yes. Esper Hand 2 is designed for everyday water exposure including handwashing and dishwashing.

Esper's current technical information describes IPX5 protection specifically in the context of activities such as rain, handwashing, and dishwashing.

This is an important distinction between a device designed merely to survive an accidental splash and one engineered with routine moisture exposure in mind.

However, water resistance still has limits.

Is Esper Hand 2 waterproof?

No. Esper Hand 2 is water-resistant, not fully waterproof.

Esper Hand 2 should not be treated as a swimming or underwater prosthesis. Esper's guidance states that the hand should not be:

• submerged deeper than 0.5 m / 20 in;

• submerged for longer than 1 minute;

• used in saltwater;

• used in chlorinated water;

• exposed to high-pressure water streams.

These should be understood as product-specific exposure limits, not as an IPX5 submersion certification. IPX5 itself is a water-jet classification; it does not certify the device to the temporary-immersion standard represented by IPX7.

For that reason, swimming, prolonged underwater use, or intentionally submerging Esper Hand 2 should be avoided.

How should Esper Hand 2 be cared for after water exposure?

After exposure to water, dirt, or damp conditions, basic care can help maintain the hand's performance.

Esper recommends:

• gently wiping the device when needed;

• allowing it to air dry at room temperature;

• checking joints, openings, and connectors;

• keeping moisture away from exposed electrical contacts.

Water resistance is therefore best understood as a feature that makes normal daily activities easier—not as a reason to ignore normal prosthetic-device care.

How water-resistant are other bionic hands?

Water protection varies substantially between commercially available multi-articulating prosthetic hands.

More importantly, manufacturers do not always describe protection in the same way. Some provide an IP rating for the hand, some require a specific protective glove, and some explicitly advise avoiding water.

Here is a comparison based on current manufacturer documentation.

Adam’s Hand: IP67

Adam’s Hand is rated IP67 when used with Adam’s Skin, its medical-grade silicone glove reinforced with textile fibres. BionIT Labs describes the system as water- and dust-proof and says its IP67 protection can extend across the wrist.

BionIT Labs' current product documentation specifically says that its QDW Lamination Kit is designed to match the hand's sealing ring so that IP67 protection extends through the wrist connection up to the socket.

In IP terminology, the 6 means dust-tight protection, while 7 represents protection against the effects of temporary immersion under standardized conditions.

So the configuration matters: when comparing IP ratings, it is important to check which components are included in the certification, not just the number printed next to the hand.

COVVI Hand: IP44

The COVVI Hand is certified to IP44 when used with its integrated silicone glove.

The first 4 means protection against solid foreign objects larger than 1 mm. The second 4 means protection against splashing water from any direction.

COVVI's current Instructions for Use make two additional limitations particularly clear: the wrist interface is not IP44 water- or dust-resistant, and the COVVI Hand must not be submerged in water. The manufacturer also states that puncturing the glove affects the IP44 protection.

This is a good example of why saying only “the hand is water-resistant” can be misleading. The protection of the complete fitted prosthesis may differ from the protection of the hand enclosure itself.

bebionic: showering and bathing are not supported

Ottobock states that users cannot shower or bathe with the bebionic hand and that standard prosthetic components are not intended for showering or swimming.

Ottobock does state that handwashing can be possible when the prosthetic glove is intact and the cuff is sufficiently long to prevent water from entering the prosthesis.

A separate, but sometimes relevant, limitation concerns touchscreen use: Ottobock states that a touchscreen can be operated with the small bebionic hand when no glove is worn.

Zeus V2: not water-resistant

Aether Biomedical's current Zeus V2 User Guide is particularly explicit.

The manufacturer says users should avoid direct exposure to water and excessive dirt or dust, should not spill or spray liquid directly onto the prosthesis, and must not submerge it. The manual states directly that “Zeus is not water-resistant.”

The guide further instructs users who splash water onto Zeus to switch the prosthesis off, remove it, dry it where possible, and contact their prosthetist.

Why an IP rating does not tell the whole story

When comparing water-resistant bionic hands, the number alone is not enough.

Five questions matter:

1. What IP rating does the hand have?

2. Does that rating require a protective glove?

3. Is the wrist interface protected too?

4. Does the manufacturer permit everyday activities such as handwashing or dishwashing?

5. What types of exposure are specifically prohibited?

This explains why two products described as “water-resistant” can have very different real-world limitations.

For example, IPX5 Esper Hand 2 is explicitly designed around routine exposure such as rain, handwashing, and dishwashing, while IP44 COVVI provides splash protection but excludes its wrist interface and prohibits submersion. IP67 Adam’s Hand offers a higher specified level of ingress protection in its certified configuration, while Zeus V2 is explicitly described by its manufacturer as not water-resistant.

These distinctions are more useful than simply asking whether a prosthetic hand is “waterproof.”

Frequently asked questions about bionic hands and water

Is Esper Hand 2 waterproof?

No. Esper Hand 2 is water-resistant and rated IPX5, but it is not designed as a fully waterproof or swimming prosthesis. It is designed for everyday moisture exposure such as rain, handwashing, and dishwashing.

What does IPX5 mean on a prosthetic hand?

IPX5 means the enclosure has a level-5 water-ingress rating, corresponding to protection against water jets. The X means that the IP code does not specify a solid-particle protection rating.

Can you wash dishes with Esper Hand 2?

Yes. Dishwashing is one of the everyday water-exposure scenarios Esper specifically identifies for Esper Hand 2, provided the device is used and cared for according to its instructions.

Can you use Esper Hand 2 in the rain?

Yes. Esper Hand 2's IPX5 water resistance is designed to support everyday exposure including rain and humid environments.

Can you swim with Esper Hand 2?

No. Esper Hand 2 is not intended for swimming or prolonged/full submersion, and Esper's guidance also excludes saltwater and chlorinated water.

Which bionic hand has the highest IP rating: Esper Hand 2, Adam’s Hand, or COVVI Hand?

Among these three products, the published ratings are Adam’s Hand IP67 in its specified protected configuration, Esper Hand 2 IPX5, and COVVI Hand IP44. However, these numbers should always be interpreted together with the manufacturer's instructions and the exact components covered by the rating.

Is IPX5 better than IP44 for water?

For the water component specifically, IPX5 corresponds to protection against water jets, while the second digit of IP44 corresponds to protection against splashing water. IP44 additionally specifies protection against solid objects over 1 mm, whereas the X in IPX5 means no solid-particle level is specified by that rating.

Does IP67 mean a bionic hand can stay underwater indefinitely?

No. The water digit 7 refers to protection against the effects of temporary immersion under standardized conditions. It should not be interpreted as unlimited underwater use. Users should still follow the specific manufacturer's instructions for the complete prosthetic system.

Water resistance designed around everyday life

For a bionic hand, water resistance is not just a laboratory specification.

It affects ordinary situations: getting caught in the rain, washing your hands, cleaning a surface, preparing food, or doing dishes.

Esper Hand 2's IPX5 design is intended to make those everyday interactions with water less restrictive while maintaining clear boundaries around swimming, prolonged submersion, saltwater, chlorinated water, and high-pressure exposure.

The most useful question is therefore not simply “Is this bionic hand waterproof?”

It is:

“What kind of water exposure is this bionic hand designed and tested to handle in everyday use?”

For Esper Hand 2, the answer is clear: IPX5 water resistance for real-life daily moisture exposure, including rain, handwashing, and dishwashin