Parker Hannifin Corporation, the global leader in motion and control technologies, today announced that it has formalized an agreement with Shepherd Center to support the commercialization of Parker's exoskeleton device Indego™, which is planned for release in 2014. Shepherd Center, based in Atlanta, Ga., is one of the leading hospitals in the United States for medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury or brain injury.
Parker Hannifin and Shepherd Center Executives Sign Indego Agreement. (PRNewsFoto/Parker Hannifin Corporation)
Under the general terms of the agreement, Shepherd Center will function as the lead rehabilitation center for clinical testing of the device. Shepherd Center will develop clinical protocols for use of the device, train clinicians at other rehabilitation centers where the device will be used, and monitor clinical trials. Also, the agreement includes collaboration between Parker and Shepherd Center to market the device subsequent to regulatory approval.
"Shepherd Center has a world-class reputation in the field of rehabilitation and we are proud they have chosen to support us in the commercialization of Indego," said Craig Maxwell , Vice President of Technology and Innovation for Parker. "Shepherd Center is the only rehabilitation facility to have tested Indego and the two other devices currently being marketed by other companies as exoskeletons."
"We see distinct advantages in Indego, including its lightweight and modular design that promotes independence," said Gary R. Ulicny , Ph.D, President and CEO of Shepherd Center. "From a rehabilitation perspective, we applaud Indego's ability to vary the degree of robotic assistance and the use of electrical stimulation based on the user's level of function."
Indego is not yet for sale but is being tested and refined through clinical research at Shepherd Center. Patient and clinician feedback on the device has been overwhelmingly positive, and the Center has concluded that Indego has the most promise as a device for both rehabilitation and home use.
"Indego is the only robotic exoskeleton that can be worn by a person while in his or her own wheelchair, as well as in a vehicle or even a restaurant booth," said Clare Hartigan , a physical therapist at Shepherd Center who leads the clinical research. "The device can be used for mobility on all surfaces, including stairs."
Shepherd Center is proud to be a part of this effort and looks forward to testing Indego with other diagnoses such as stroke and multiple sclerosis, she says.
"We are impressed with how easy Indego is for people to use, as well as its potential to provide compensatory gait for those with motor complete injuries, in addition to its rehabilitative potential for those who are motor incomplete," Hartigan said. "The level of independence Indego offers is unprecedented."
To learn more about Indego, visit: http://Indego.parker.com
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