Exoskeleton to help people with spinal cord injuries to walk

The first wearable, motorised device that acts as an exoskeleton to help people with lower body paralysis due to a spinal cord injury to walk has been approved in the US.
ReWalk is a motorised device worn over the legs and part of the upper body that helps an individual sit, stand, and walk with assistance from a trained companion, such as a spouse or home health aide.
According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention there are about 200,000 people in the US living with a spinal cord injury, many of whom have complete or partial paraplegia.

"Innovative devices such as ReWalk go a long way towards helping individuals with spinal cord injuries gain some mobility," said Christy Foreman, director of the Office of Device Evaluation, at the The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s Centre for Devices and Radiological Health.
"Along with physical therapy, training and assistance from a caregiver, these individuals may be able to use these devices to walk again in their homes and in their communities," said Foreman.
ReWalk consists of a fitted, metal brace that supports the legs and part of the upper body; motors that supply movement at the hips, knees, and ankles; a tilt sensor; and a backpack that contains the computer and power supply.

Crutches provide the user with additional stability when walking, standing, and rising up from a chair. Using a wireless remote control worn on the wrist, the user commands ReWalk to stand up, sit down or walk.

ReWalk is for people with paraplegia due to spinal cord injuries at levels T7 (seventh thoracic vertebra) to L5 (fifth lumbar vertebra) when accompanied by a specially trained caregiver.
It is also for people with spinal cord injuries at levels T4 (fourth thoracic vertebra) to T6 (sixth thoracic vertebra) where the device is limited to use in rehabilitation institutions. The device is not intended for sports or climbing stairs.

Prior to being trained to use ReWalk, patients should be able to stand using an assistive standing device (eg, standing frame), and their hands and shoulders should be able to support crutches or a walker.
Patients should not use the device if they have a history of severe neurological injuries other than spinal cord injury, or have severe spasticity, significant contractures, unstable spine, unhealed limb fractures or pelvic fractures.
To assess safety and effectiveness of ReWalk, the FDA reviewed testing done to assess ReWalk's durability, its hardware, software and battery systems, and other safety systems that help minimise risk of injury should the device lose balance or power.

The FDA also reviewed clinical data based on 30 study participants.