A young patient walks around in an exoskeleton suit made just for him. The Spanish National Research Council have created and are currently testing a child-sized exoskeleton suit for those suffering from SMA. (vai CSIC)
Mobility-enhancing exoskeletons are nothing new. They're amazing devices that help disabled people freely walk and move around. But a new exoskeletons created by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) is unlike anything seen before. The CSIC have developed the world's first exoskeleton made specifically for children with spinal muscular atrophy. It helps them walk, but it could also say their lives.
The device weighs 26 pounds and has long support rods made from aluminum and titanium adjusted to fit around a child's legs and torso. Human muscles in the joints are mimicked by a series of motors and gives a patient the strength they need to stand upright and walk around. The device also includes a series of sensors, a movement controller, and a five hour battery to keep the juice flowing on the go. And since kids can grow at an alarming rate the device can be expanded and modified to fit kids between the ages of 3 and 14.
"The main difficulty in developing this type of pediatric exoskeletons is that the symptoms of neuromuscular diseases, such as spinal muscular atrophy, vary over time as both joints throughout the body. So an exoskeleton able to adapt to these changes autonomously necessary. Our model includes intelligent joints that modify the stiffness automatically and adapt to the symptoms of each child at all times, "explains CSIC researcher Elena Garcia, Center for Automation and Robotics, a joint CSIC and the Polytechnic University Madrid.
This is a big breakthrough for those suffering from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). In Spain, the disease affects one out of 10,000 babies. Those affected by SMA lose motor neurons and their muscles start deteriorating, which can leave a person unable to walk. With children they end up spending most of their time lying face down and ma lead to complications like scoliosis, osteoporosis, and associated lung dysfunction, which can be fatal. The new exoskeleton helps keeps kids upright in a walking motion, which keeps their muscles trained and active preventing the previously mentioned conditions.
The new exoskeleton is currently undergoing clinical trials. This is an amazing new device that can potentially help thousands of kids around the world. Hopefully, testing goes well so the device can start being used and aid kids suffering from SMA.
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