Robotic Suit Helps Paralyzed Walk

A new robotic suit known as a ReWalk helps paralyze people walk changing people's life. Dr. Amit Goffer, an engineer and founder of Haifa, Israel-based high-tech firm Argo Medical Technologies created this invention.
"It acts like a kind of exoskeleton. It consists of lightweight, motorized leg supports and an assortment of intricate motion sensors. The person who uses this invention wears a backpack holding a computerized control box which helps the device recognize when a step needs to be taken." (2009)

"Standing changes my whole environment. I don't have to look from the bottom up. Now I am eye to eye with everybody," Radi Kaiof, who has used the device. He is a former Israeli soldier, who was paralyzed from the waist down 20 years ago. He is now able to move with the robotic suit.

People who wear the suit and is paralyzed from the waist down can walk, bend, sit and climb stairs, needing the assistance of cruches to balance the and support them.

"If the invention gets an approval, then it would be a hit in the market for 2010. The price of the product has not been set yet, but it is expected that it will be comparable to the expense of a wheelchair." (2009)

Source: (2009, January 9). Robotic suit helps paralyzed walk. Retrieved January 10, 2009, from www.cnn.com Web site: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/09/robotic.suit/index.html