eLEGS Exoskeleton Allows Paraplegics To Walk

Zothecula writes "At a press conference held recently in San Francisco, California's Berkeley Bionics unveiled its eLEGS exoskeleton. The computer-controlled device is designed to be worn by paraplegics, providing the power and support to get them out of their wheelchairs, into a standing posture, and walking – albeit with the aid of crutches. The two formerly wheelchair-bound 'test pilots' in attendance did indeed use eLEGS to walk across the stage, in a slow-but-steady gait similar to that of full-time crutch-users."

Who will be able to use these

[systemsplanet]

I've been in a wheelchair for 20+ years, from a spinal injury when I was 20. I wonder if only newly injured people will benefit from this technology. My bones are probably too brittle to support me even with an exoskeleton. Probably will need years of bone therapy before I could use this. But I'd certainly be willing to try, just so I could look down at people again. It would really freak people out, cause I'm 6" but they're used to looking down at me. Wonder if they'll have some dance and ass-kickin modes too.

Re:What about coverage for such devices?

[Liquidrage]

Right but as the GP mentioned, just because something is easily available doesn't mean it's easily affordable. And that isn't because it shouldn't be affordable, it's because there are factors that make it such.
I work with a below the knee amputee and his prosthetic is one notch above a peg leg. And he has rather decent insurance.
So I could see this being a great device we should try and make available for anyone that would need it, but will end up getting to like .01% of those that need it.
That doesn't mean I'm saying this is a horrible project, but the external factors after production will likely make this live changing device out of reach for many.

Re:Who will be able to use these

[gstoddart]

Wonder if they'll have some dance and ass-kickin modes too.

On behalf of every quad I've ever known ... that's the funniest thing I've seen all week.

I've known some guys who would have been happy to have the high-school shuffle back. :-P

Re:VIDEO!

[Anonymous Coward]

or it didn't happen!

Here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_k30yeCk4c

Oh, wait... That's a Japanese version that has been available for a couple of years now. It also can help disabled people. Unfortunately, unlike the Berkley version it doesn't use crutches. Oh well, maybe they'll figure that out in another couple of years.

Re:What about coverage for such devices?

[BigSlowTarget]

Hah. I own a robotics company. I could probably build these pretty cheaply. What I couldn't do is afford the mandatory testing, liability insurance, permitting, advertising, special individual requirements, mandatory fitting costs, medical consultants, legislative lobbying to make them excluded from traffic laws, environmental impact studies related to the disposal of batteries, payments to financiers to arrange for financing for the twelve month wait between manufacure and actually being paid, FCC testing to make sure they don't interfere with wifi, etc. etc. etc.

I might make something like this for my own entertainment and/or family use and other people have already. If the US actually wanted cost effective medical technology we would pay less attention to tax incentives and more to removing the barriers that prevent innovators from introducing new products that could actually make profits to tax. I'm not saying remove all the environmental and liability laws, I'm just saying make it possible for small companies to deal with them without a staff of a dozen lawyers. That's not going to happen so people get to suffer instead.

Sorry about that. If I help you I'll get sued so you don't get help.