Berkeley Bionics Develops Exoskeleton for Paraplegics

Posted 10/08/2010 at 5:04am | by Paul Lilly

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If anyone ever questions your obsession for technology, just tell them about Berkeley Bionics' latest project. Those eggheads at Berkeley this week unveiled eLEGS, a wearable bionic device with artificial intelligence designed to help paraplegics stand up and walk.

"As a wheelchair user, I experience the multiple health and fitness benefits of mobility from the standing position. I can’t wait to share this alternative with other individuals," shared eLEGS tester and a partial quadriplegic herself, Dr. Suzy Kim, an assistant clinical professor at the Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, UCI Medical Center, as well as director, Clinical Spinal Cord Injury Program & Scientific Liaison for Reeve-Irvine Research Center. "The application of eLEGS will revolutionize the field of neurologic rehabilitation from the hospital to the home setting."

Berkeley Bionics said the device will initially be offered to rehabilitation centers. Medical supervisors can adjust eLEGS to fit just about anyone between 5 feet 2 inches and 6 feet 4 inches weighing up to 220 pounds. Knee flexion is big part of the design, "which translates into the most natural human gait available in any exoskeleton today, making it better equipped to handle mixed terrains."

Read all about the project here.

Image Credit: Berkeley Bionics