Here come the exoskeletons!

Ekso, a wearable robot that powers paraplegics up, enabling them to stand and walk. Really? Yes it’s here! Ekso Bionics has recently delivered the ready-to-wear, battery-powered Ekso exoskeleton to its first customer, the Craig Hospital in Denver, an institution dedicated to spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Ekso is designed for patients with spinal cord injuries and pathologies that inhibit their ability to walk. It is strapped on to the user over clothing and while the unit weighs in at 45 pounds, this weight is transferred to the ground rather than to the patient. This amazing video demonstrates:

This video, from a FutureMed presentation, features several of the “test pilots” showing off their new found freedom with the robotic legs.

The system can accommodate most patients who weigh 220 or less and who are between 5’2” and 6’2” in height. Rehabilitation centers across the United States are currently completing a ten-month investigational study on 63 subjects who passed a preliminary health screening. We look forward to hearing the results.