Ottobock C-Leg 4: microprocessor knee for safe, confident walking
Ottobock’s C-Leg is one of the most widely used microprocessor knees. It adapts to the way you walk in real time and supports you if you stumble.
Bionic technology · Ottobock
Ottobock Genium: bionic knee for a more natural gait
The Genium is Ottobock’s most advanced bionic knee, designed to come as close as possible to natural walking: step-over-step stairs, obstacles, slopes and walking backwards.
- Step-over-step stairs and stepping over obstacles
- Multiple sensors for a more natural gait
- Waterproof Genium X4 (IP68)
- Battery lasts up to 5 days, depending on use
- Safe walking backwards and on slopes
Ottobock’s Genium is a bionic microprocessor knee for people with an above-knee amputation. It was developed on the basis of many years of experience with the C-Leg and aims for more than safety: a gait that resembles natural walking as closely as possible. The latest generation, the Genium X4, was launched in 2024 and is fully waterproof. At Hlamidis Orthopaedic Center in Thessaloniki we assess whether the Genium is right for you and fit it as part of an above-knee (transfemoral) prosthesis with a socket made to measure.
How the Genium works
The Genium has a set of sensors, including a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a knee angle sensor and a knee torque sensor. The microprocessor continuously analyses this data and recognises the situation you are in: walking, stairs, slopes, standing, sitting. Based on this, it adapts the knee’s behaviour before every step. In the Genium X4 the processing is faster, so the knee adapts more quickly to changes in the way you walk.
What you can do with the Genium
- Step-over-step stairs: going up and down stairs one foot after the other, as before your amputation.
- Stepping over obstacles: the knee recognises when you want to step over an obstacle and bends accordingly.
- Slopes and uneven ground: functions such as optimised uphill walking and support at the start of the step give you confidence where the ground is not level.
- Starting off and walking backwards: a smooth start when you begin walking and safe backward steps in tight spaces.
- Natural weight distribution: when standing, you share your weight more evenly between both legs, which takes strain off your sound side.
Waterproof, with long battery life
The Genium X4 has an IP68 protection rating, meaning it is waterproof and corrosion-resistant. According to Ottobock, its battery lasts up to five days, depending on use. Settings and modes for different activities are managed through a smartphone app.
Who the Genium is for
According to the manufacturer, the Genium X4 is intended for users with activity levels (mobility grades) K2 to K4. In practice, we mainly recommend it to people with high demands: a job that involves a lot of walking, stairs, the countryside, travel, or simply the wish to move as naturally as possible. It is fitted for above-knee amputation and knee disarticulation and, combined with the Helix 3D joint, also for hip disarticulation. If your main priority is safety when walking day to day, we will also compare the C-Leg or the Rheo Knee with you.
Fitting and training
A knee with this many capabilities needs a proper fit and time to get used to it. We first make a test socket and then a definitive socket tailored to you, set up the Genium for your gait with Ottobock’s software and train you in the training area at our premises on stairs, a ramp and obstacles. Working with your physiotherapist, we move on gradually to the more complex functions, with follow-up visits for any adjustments needed.
What to expect in the first few weeks
If you are coming from a mechanical knee or from the C-Leg, it will take a little time to trust the new functions, such as step-over-step stairs or support on downhill slopes. This is normal. We start with the basic settings and gradually activate the more complex functions, so that each new skill builds on the previous one. Regular practice and letting us know about anything you find difficult make the biggest difference.
Cost and EOPYY
The Genium is one of the most advanced systems on the market and its price depends on the version and the overall configuration of the prosthesis. EOPYY (ΕΟΠΥΥ), Greece’s national health insurance organisation, reimburses people insured in Greece for prosthetic components according to the categories and maximum prices in its price list, with a co-payment of, as a rule, 25%. There is no provision for full cover of a bionic knee; the difference is paid by the patient. After the assessment we will tell you the exact amount. See our pages on EOPYY reimbursement and our bionic knee comparison. If you are not insured in Greece, EOPYY reimbursement does not apply; you can pay privately, and any cover depends on your own insurer’s rules — contact us and we will give you the information you need for your case. The EOPYY information is correct as of the date this page was last updated (October 2026).
To discuss whether the Genium is the right choice for you, contact us or see all the systems in our bionic technology section.
How much does a Genium knee cost?
The price depends on the version (e.g. Genium X4) and on the overall configuration of the prosthesis: socket, silicone liner, suspension system and prosthetic foot. We give a price after an assessment, with a detailed proposal. For people insured in Greece, EOPYY covers up to the amount of the relevant category in its price list and the patient pays the difference.
Can I swim with the Genium X4?
The Genium X4 has an IP68 protection rating, meaning it is waterproof and corrosion-resistant, so you do not need to protect it from water in everyday life. For how and where it can be used in water, we follow Ottobock’s instructions, which we explain to you in detail when we hand over the knee.
Am I a suitable candidate for the Genium?
The Genium is intended for people with an above-knee amputation or disarticulation, mainly with a moderate to high activity level. The condition of your residual limb, your strength, balance, weight and goals all play a part. We can answer this after an assessment, working with your doctor.
Does EOPYY cover the Genium?
EOPYY reimburses people insured in Greece for prosthetic components according to the categories and maximum prices in its price list, with a co-payment of, as a rule, 25%. There is no provision for full cover of a bionic knee. If you are not insured in Greece, EOPYY does not apply. Contact us and we will check what applies in your case.
How is the Genium different from the C-Leg?
The C-Leg focuses on safety when walking day to day. The Genium has more sensors and functions, such as step-over-step stairs, stepping over obstacles and optimised uphill walking, for a more natural gait. The best choice depends on your needs, not just on the technology.
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Prosthetic legs – above-knee (transfemoral) prostheses
Custom above-knee prostheses for amputation above the knee: from your first assessment and test socket to gait training and ongoing aftercare.
Bionic leg: C-Leg, Genium, Rheo Knee or Power Knee? How they compare, who they suit and what they cost
Microprocessor knees look alike, but they are not the same. We compare the C-Leg, Genium X3, Rheo Knee and Power Knee using manufacturers’ data, and explain cost and EOPYY.
We work with the leading manufacturers
Find out whether the Genium is for you
Book an assessment on +30 2310 282 894. We will explain what it can do and what EOPYY covers if you are insured in Greece.