ReWalk exoskeleton cleared for home use
The ReWalk exoskeleton has been cleared for home use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The revolutionary motorised exoskeleton, which has been available in the UK since 2012, provides powered hip and knee motion to enable individuals with spinal cord injuries to stand upright and walk.
After extensive performance testing and several clinical studies, the FDA has now certified the technology's safety and effectiveness, paving the way for thousands more people to benefit from it.
"This product will have an immediate, life changing impact on individuals with spinal cord injuries," said Larry Jasinski, CEO of ReWalk Robotics. "For the first time, individuals with paraplegia will be able to take home this exoskeleton technology, use it every day and maximise on the physiological and psychological benefits we have observed in clinical trials."
ReWalk provides user-initiated mobility through the integration of a wearable brace support, a computer based control system and motion sensors.
The system allows independent, controlled walking while mimicking the natural gait patterns of the legs, similar to that of an able-bodied person.
In addition to the ability to stand and walk independently, clinical studies of the ReWalk Rehabilitation system show significant health benefits to the user, on both a physiological and psychological level.
