Oct 16 2014
Ekso Bionics Holdings, Inc., a robotic exoskeleton company, announced today that the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago has ordered three Ekso GT™ robotic exoskeletons for use in general neuro-rehabilitation of patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury, and incomplete spinal cord injury.
The only robotic exoskeleton used in the clinical setting within VA systems, the Ekso GT robotic exoskeleton is uniquely designed to provide varying amounts of power to either side of the body. This allows patients with hemiplegia to get upright and walking early on in the rehabilitation process, which may result in the mitigation of compensatory behavior and gate deviations. Early clinical findings link early intervention with earlier discharge from acute rehabilitation facilities.
"To date, there are 8 Ekso GT robotic exoskeletons already being used for rehabilitation at Tampa VA (James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital), Syracuse VA Medical Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center and the Palo Alto VA System with additional Ekso suits scheduled for delivery and training to Chicago VA, Dallas VA, New Orleans VA and Oklahoma VA Systems," said co-founder Russ Angold, whose brother is a veteran and was paralyzed for a period of time. "This latest sale is a great next step in our progress of bringing the highest level of care to the VA system with best in class technology."
Ekso Bionics designs, develops, and commercializes exoskeletons, or wearable robots, which have a variety of applications in the medical, military, industrial, and consumer markets. Exoskeletons are ready-to-wear, battery-powered robots that are strapped over the user's clothing, enabling individuals to achieve mobility, strength, and endurance not otherwise possible. Ekso is forging a new frontier in rehabilitation for people living with the consequences of stroke, spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions affecting gait.
Source: http://www.eksobionics.com/