[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":440},["ShallowReactive",2],{"slug-the-future-of-prosthetics-depends-on-a-i":3},{"post":4,"relatedPosts":175,"relatedBooks":328},{"id":5,"date":6,"date_gmt":7,"guid":8,"modified":10,"modified_gmt":11,"slug":12,"status":13,"type":14,"link":15,"title":16,"content":18,"excerpt":21,"author":23,"featured_media":24,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":29,"categories":30,"tags":34,"project_category":38,"contact_email_category":39,"yst_prominent_words":40,"class_list":61,"better_featured_image":74,"acf":111,"yoast_meta":121,"_links":123},29773,"2020-09-01T10:00:00","2020-09-01T08:00:00",{"rendered":9},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=29773&_wpnonce=6f696e847e&status=auto-draft&type=post","2020-08-31T10:16:39","2020-08-31T08:16:39","the-future-of-prosthetics-depends-on-a-i","publish","post","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-future-of-prosthetics-depends-on-a-i",{"rendered":17},"The Future Of Prosthetics Depends On A.I.",{"rendered":19,"protected":20},"\n\u003Cp>To the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Faccessprosthetics.com\u002F15-limb-loss-statistics-may-surprise\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">1 million global new amputees yearly\u003C\u002Fa> (that’s one amputation every 30 second), the loss of a limb means that they have to adapt to a new world. Take India, one of the world’s most populated countries, for example. Only \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Feconomictimes.indiatimes.com\u002Fnews\u002Fpolitics-and-nation\u002Fonly-3-per-cent-of-buildings-accessible-for-disabled\u002Farticleshow\u002F63104371.cms\">3% o\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Feconomictimes.indiatimes.com\u002Fnews\u002Fpolitics-and-nation\u002Fonly-3-per-cent-of-buildings-accessible-for-disabled\u002Farticleshow\u002F63104371.cms\" target=\"_blank\">f\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Feconomictimes.indiatimes.com\u002Fnews\u002Fpolitics-and-nation\u002Fonly-3-per-cent-of-buildings-accessible-for-disabled\u002Farticleshow\u002F63104371.cms\"> its buildings\u003C\u002Fa> are adapted for accessibility, while the country counts \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fqz.com\u002Findia\u002F1769396\u002Fai-is-bringing-new-life-to-artificial-limbs-for-indias-amputees\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">more than half a million amputees\u003C\u002Fa>. As part of this new adaptation process, amputees succumb to further injuries. Experts estimate that amputees \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.medtechdive.com\u002Fnews\u002Fhow-ai-and-machine-learning-are-changing-prosthetics\u002F550788\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">fall at about 200 times\u003C\u002Fa> the rate of healthy individuals; and seek medical attention comparable to the institutionalised elderly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>With aging populations, increased incidence of vascular diseases and trauma that lead to amputations, those numbers are likely to increase worldwide. Some countries like the U.S. could see their number of amputees \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.medtechdive.com\u002Fnews\u002Fhow-ai-and-machine-learning-are-changing-prosthetics\u002F550788\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">nearly doubled by 2050\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002FGyörgy-Lévay-768x432.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-29775\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002FGyörgy-Lévay-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002FGyörgy-Lévay-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002FGyörgy-Lévay.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>György Lévay , Research Manager at Infinite Biomedical Technologies\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But advances in prosthetics are helping to improve that world for amputees, even if the world around them does not necessarily improve.  And these developments are happening fast. To get a clearer picture of what lies ahead, whom better to ask than a prosthetic wearer who develops robotic prostheses?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As such, we turned to  \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhub.jhu.edu\u002Fmagazine\u002F2016\u002Fwinter\u002Ffoot-operated-video-game-controller\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">György Lévay\u003C\u002Fa>, Research Manager at \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.i-biomed.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Infinite Biomedical Technologies\u003C\u002Fa>, who shared his insights into the present and future of prosthetics with us. From brain-controlled prostheses through A.I.-powered ones to supplementing healthy individuals with additional limbs, that future sounds like a wild one. So strap up as we dive into the latest advancements and into what’s next in the field of prosthetics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>From steampunk Egyptian mummies to cyberpunk brain-controlled prosthetics \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Back in 2011, archeologists unearthed one of the oldest known prosthetic device; a wooden toe \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Feducation-19802539\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">buried with Egyptian mummies\u003C\u002Fa> some 3,000 years ago. While aesthetically it packs a steampunk look, this artificial toe was far from being a cosmetic item. After testing replicas, researchers found that they were indeed practical devices that helped in walking. While throughout the millennia the materials have changed, prosthetics only evolved in the recent decades with the advent of robotic prostheses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002FEgypt-Mummys-prosthesis.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-29777\"\u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>The prosthetic device found with Egyptian mummies. \u003Cbr>Source: www.world-archaeology.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nature.com\u002Farticles\u002Fnature06996\" target=\"_blank\">a seminal 2008 paper\u003C\u002Fa>, researchers described how monkeys were able to control a mechanised arm with their brain activity. Controlling the prosthetic limb via electrodes implanted in their brains, it even allowed them to feed themselves fruits; that was \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newscientist.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmg21028105-000-mind-controlled-prosthetics-to-help-amputees\u002F#\" target=\"_blank\">a first\u003C\u002Fa> with brain-controlled prostheses. Developments in subsequent years inched closer to human dexterity like \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newscientist.com\u002Farticle\u002Fmg21028105-000-mind-controlled-prosthetics-to-help-amputees\u002F#\" target=\"_blank\">the Modular Prosthetic Limb\u003C\u002Fa> from 2011; and in 2020, patients with mind-controlled arm prosthesis were \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sciencedaily.com\u002Freleases\u002F2020\u002F04\u002F200430110321.htm\" target=\"_blank\">able to experience sensations of touch\u003C\u002Fa> thanks to a new implant system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>With developments along those lines, it seemed like the future of this technology depended on battery life and robotic advancements. Now the narrative shifted to focus on how good of an artificial intelligence (A.I.) we can develop for prostheses. Indeed, A.I. could very well shape this field’s future. “In one way or another A.I. will be a part of advanced prostheses in the future,” György Lévay tells us. “Processing the amount of data running between our brain and limbs will require “smarter and smarter” algorithms as the technology advances.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>If you thought that the prosthetics field got all sci-fi with cyberpunk brain-controls, hold on as there’s more. Enter the age of the smart prosthesis as engineers couple A.I. with artificial limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The age of smart prosthetics\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The basis of incorporating A.I. in robotic prostheses is that the algorithm interprets nerve signals from the patient’s muscles that will allow for the prosthesis to be controlled more precisely. “A.I. has become a cornerstone of all externally powered (motor driven) upper limb prostheses R&D, but has been difficult to apply to lower limb prostheses,” Lévay says. However, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fstm.sciencemag.org\u002Fcontent\u002F12\u002F533\u002Feaay2857\" target=\"_blank\">a study published in Science Translational Medicine\u003C\u002Fa> by a team of University of Michigan in March 2020 documents a new method to incorporate the technology with more types of prostheses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Their new technique, based on regenerative peripheral nerve interface (RPNI), has surgeons use a small piece of muscle and wrap it around the end of the amputated nerve to produce amplified signals. Computational scientists on the team then apply machine learning algorithms to turn the signals into fine movements in a prosthetic. “The cool thing about this surgery is that it works on any type of amputation,” Cynthia Chestek, an author of the new study, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.statnews.com\u002F2020\u002F03\u002F04\u002Fsurgery-ai-give-amputees-more-precise-control-of-prosthetic-hand\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">told STAT\u003C\u002Fa>. Participants were even able to use this smart prosthetic on their first try, Chestek added. They were able to perform fine motor controls such as picking up small toy blocks, making a fist and pinching fingers together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"463\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002FAI-prosthetic-768x463.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-29779\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002FAI-prosthetic-768x463.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002FAI-prosthetic.jpg 1444w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>A participant from the RPNI study uses his mind and A.I. to control a prosthetic hand. \u003Cbr>Source: https:\u002F\u002Fwww.technologyreview.com\u002F\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“RPNI are being investigated heavily and have good potential to allow for more complex control capabilities,” confirms Lévay. Coupling A.I. with the process can give fine motor controls back to amputees. But he is quick to bring us back to the current state of affairs. “However these signals are relatively weak and currently require intramuscular electromyography (iEMG) sensors to be implanted. iEMG is a complicated, expensive and not yet widespread technology, which complicates the usability of RPNIs”. In fact, there are still several hurdles to be overcome before smart artificial limbs are commonplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Current limitations to the mass adoption of A.I. prosthetics\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Firstly, many of the developments in the prosthetics field are proofs of concept. The A. I. prosthesis from the University of Michigan depends on a wired connection to a computer. “Everything that we’ve done so far has been six feet away from a computer cart [and people come in once or twice a week for the trial],” explained Cynthia Chestek. “We want people to be able to do this with an implantable device so we can move away from the cart”. There’s still work to be done before this concept leaves the lab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Once it does leave the lab, the smart prosthesis will face another slowdown as it transitions to a company and seeks approvals from regulators like the FDA. Along with this transition comes the cost factor that could limit their adoption. “The use of A. I. increases the cost of a prosthetic device significantly (on the order of tens of thousands of dollars),” György Lévay tells The Medical Futurist. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F02\u002F3d-printing-prosthetics-768x432.jpeg\" alt=\"3D Printing Prosthetics\" class=\"wp-image-15423\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F02\u002F3d-printing-prosthetics-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F02\u002F3d-printing-prosthetics-370x208.jpeg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F02\u002F3d-printing-prosthetics-512x288.jpeg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F02\u002F3d-printing-prosthetics-444x250.jpeg 444w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2015\u002F02\u002F3d-printing-prosthetics.jpeg 870w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: https:\u002F\u002F3dsourced.com\u002F\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This also extends to insurance structures. Artificial limb companies must demonstrate that value proposition so as to expand access to these devices. “The risks are in working with insurance companies to reimburse for these types of devices that are already very expensive and have a high degree of abandonment,” \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.medtechdive.com\u002Fnews\u002Fhow-ai-and-machine-learning-are-changing-prosthetics\u002F550788\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">said Robert Armiger\u003C\u002Fa>, project manager for amputee research at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab. “Insurance companies say, ‘we’re spending this much money on this device and people don’t wear it, and now you’re asking us to spend more money on a more advanced technology.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, there’s the science behind it all to consider. “Controlling a limb is very complicated; and we still have a limited understanding of how our brain manages to do it exactly,” György Lévay tells us. “The quality and complexity of the data; our lack of understanding of how exactly feedback mechanisms work in the human nervous system; and the uniqueness of individual neurological systems make it very difficult to train A. I. algorithms to predict human intent.” It is not only an engineering issue; it is a basic science issue, he adds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>A robotic hand(some) future\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Without any doubt, there’s promise for amputees with advances in robotics, machine learning and prosthetics. With time, the costs of components will go down and these technologies will become integral parts of artificial limbs. These developments we hear of are incremental changes that will add up to improve future artificial limbs; improvements that will turn them into truly artificially intelligent limbs. We’re still years from seeing A. I.-limbs being commonplace but it’s a time to look forward to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Given how A. I.-powered prostheses, with their abilities to be upgraded both on the hardware and software fronts, hold the potential to be superior to biological arms, we asked György Lévay if he thinks that such artificial limbs could be used in the future to augment the capacities of manual workers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002Frobotic-arm-prostheses-768x480.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-29785\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002Frobotic-arm-prostheses-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002Frobotic-arm-prostheses.jpg 1250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: https:\u002F\u002Fwww.techinasia.com\u002F\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“I don’t believe we will ever see a time when people replace their biological limbs with mechanical ones,” he replied. “Primarily because our brain’s plasticity can support up to eight additional limbs; so why cut off anything if you can just add? Also, by the time we reach the point of scientific and technological advancement where it might be worth replacing a healthy limb (which is very far off), we would have to have the ability to augment that biological limb with exoskeletons or implants. However, by that time if we still have manual labourers that will mean humanity is in big trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n",false,{"rendered":22,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>To the 1 million global new amputees yearly (that’s one amputation every 30 second), the loss of a limb means that they have to adapt […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",16,29823,"closed",true,"","standard",{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[31,32,33],504,506,512,[35,36,37],610,1498,144,[],[],[41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60],5749,5783,5751,5785,5753,5755,5713,5757,5719,5759,5723,5761,5725,5763,5729,5765,5741,5779,5747,5781,[62,14,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73],"post-29773","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artificial-intelligence","category-cyborgization","category-robotics","tag-prosthetic-leg","tag-robotics-in-healthcare","tag-artificial-intelligence",{"id":24,"alt_text":75,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":76,"media_details":77,"post":5,"source_url":110},"artificial intelligence and prosthetics","image",{"width":78,"height":79,"file":80,"sizes":81,"image_meta":108},1920,1080,"2020\u002F09\u002F199_tmf-01.png",{"medium":82,"large":88,"thumbnail":93,"medium_large":97,"1536x1536":98,"2048x2048":103},{"file":83,"width":84,"height":85,"mime-type":86,"source_url":87},"199_tmf-01-370x208.png","370","208","image\u002Fpng","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F09\u002F199_tmf-01-370x208.png",{"file":89,"width":90,"height":91,"mime-type":86,"source_url":92},"199_tmf-01-768x432.png","768","432","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F09\u002F199_tmf-01-768x432.png",{"file":94,"width":95,"height":95,"mime-type":86,"source_url":96},"199_tmf-01-150x150.png","150","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F09\u002F199_tmf-01-150x150.png",{"file":89,"width":90,"height":91,"mime-type":86,"source_url":92},{"file":99,"width":100,"height":101,"mime-type":86,"source_url":102},"199_tmf-01-1536x864.png","1536","864","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F09\u002F199_tmf-01-1536x864.png",{"file":104,"width":105,"height":106,"mime-type":86,"source_url":107},"199_tmf-01-2048x1152.png","2048","1152","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F09\u002F199_tmf-01-2048x1152.png",{"aperture":109,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":109,"copyright":27,"focal_length":109,"iso":109,"shutter_speed":109,"title":27,"orientation":109},"0","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F09\u002F199_tmf-01.png",{"cta_type":112,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":113,"related_posts_footer":117,"related_posts":20},"subscribe",[114,115,116],24765,24763,24762,[118,119,120],23488,15101,25221,{"yoast_wpseo_title":122,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":27,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":15},"The Future Of Prosthetics Depends On A.I. - The Medical Futurist",{"self":124,"collection":130,"about":133,"author":136,"replies":139,"version-history":142,"predecessor-version":145,"wp:featuredmedia":149,"wp:attachment":152,"wp:term":155,"curies":171},[125],{"href":126,"targetHints":127},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F29773",{"allow":128},[129],"GET",[131],{"href":132},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts",[134],{"href":135},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fpost",[137],{"embeddable":26,"href":138},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F16",[140],{"embeddable":26,"href":141},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=29773",[143],{"count":23,"href":144},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F29773\u002Frevisions",[146],{"id":147,"href":148},29835,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F29773\u002Frevisions\u002F29835",[150],{"embeddable":26,"href":151},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F29823",[153],{"href":154},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=29773",[156,159,162,165,168],{"taxonomy":157,"embeddable":26,"href":158},"category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=29773",{"taxonomy":160,"embeddable":26,"href":161},"post_tag","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=29773",{"taxonomy":163,"embeddable":26,"href":164},"project_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=29773",{"taxonomy":166,"embeddable":26,"href":167},"contact_email_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=29773",{"taxonomy":169,"embeddable":26,"href":170},"yst_prominent_words","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=29773",[172],{"name":173,"href":174,"templated":26},"wp","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.w.org\u002F{rel}",[176],{"id":120,"date":177,"date_gmt":178,"guid":179,"modified":181,"modified_gmt":182,"slug":183,"status":13,"type":14,"link":184,"title":185,"content":187,"excerpt":189,"author":191,"featured_media":192,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":193,"categories":194,"tags":196,"project_category":211,"contact_email_category":212,"yst_prominent_words":213,"class_list":220,"better_featured_image":237,"acf":276,"yoast_meta":283,"_links":286},"2019-10-29T14:55:42","2019-10-29T12:55:42",{"rendered":180},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=25221&_wpnonce=6d939de972&status=auto-draft&type=post","2023-03-28T17:44:38","2023-03-28T15:44:38","exoskeleton-technology","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fexoskeleton-technology",{"rendered":186},"Exoskeletons: Robotic Structures Making Paralyzed People Walk Again",{"rendered":188,"protected":20},"\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2019. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd> \u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A paraplegic man \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fscience-environment-27812218\">made the first kick\u003C\u002Fa> of the World Cup in Brazil in 2014; another paralyzed man was able to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fhealth-49907356\">move all four of his limbs\u003C\u002Fa> through mind-control, and yet another could \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F5-jaw-drapping-stories-of-digital-health-technology-saving-lives\u002F\">walk down the aisle\u003C\u002Fa> with the love of his life due to robotic structures called exoskeletons. These are just a few mind-blowing and heart-warming stories about their current power, but they haven’t reached their full potential yet. We looked around what exoskeleton technology can do today and what it promises for tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Digital Health Makes You A Superhero! - The Medical Futurist\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FnZI6pSfXdsw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Exoskeleton\nbecomes \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.imdb.com\u002Ftitle\u002Ftt7131622\u002F?ref_=tt_ch\">as real as a\ndonut\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Remember\nthe huge mechanic beasts fighting against the indigenous people on moon Pandora\nin \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.imdb.com\u002Ftitle\u002Ftt0499549\u002F?ref_=nv_sr_2?ref_=nv_sr_2\">Avatar\u003C\u002Fa>?\nOr what about Tom Cruise extending his powers by exosuits in \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.imdb.com\u002Ftitle\u002Ftt1631867\u002F?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1\">The\nEdge of Tomorrow\u003C\u002Fa> or Matt Damon ‘getting a\nway out’ by turning into a robotic structure himself in \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.imdb.com\u002Ftitle\u002Ftt1535108\u002F?ref_=fn_al_tt_1\">Elysium\u003C\u002Fa>?\nScience fiction movies fantasized about ways to give fragile humans more muscle\npower, protection, and endurance through metallic solutions for years – until\nthey finally appeared in the form of exoskeletons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>These\nare basically robotic structures that are attached to the joints in order to\nsubstitute muscle power when it’s needed. The mobile frameworks contain a computer\nin the backpack that can power the robotic components for hours. Their aim is\nto provide back, shoulder, waist, and thigh support, sense the user’s motion,\nand assist movement for lifting and holding heavy items while lowering back\nstress\u003C\u002Fstrong>. The first prototypes couldn’t really\nmimic the way we walk but they are definitely getting better, the elements are\ngetting thinner, their energy source is getting stronger, and as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fworld\u002F2019\u002Foct\u002F04\u002Fparalysed-man-walks-using-mind-controlled-exoskeleton\">the\nlatest news showed\u003C\u002Fa> they can be mind-controlled by now. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While they seem to be easy to make, mechanical engineers have serious challenges to overcome: how do you supply enough power to the structure? How will you ensure joint flexibility? How do you detect and control invalid movements? How do you decrease the weight of the components so that it won’t be too heavy to wear for a long time? How do you customize them? And finally, how do you make them easier to adapt to? At the moment, it takes serious effort from the user: typical patients need between 20-70 sessions to learn how to use these wearable robots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002Ffortis-exoskeleton-512x341.jpg\" alt=\"exoskeleton technology\" class=\"wp-image-25222\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002Ffortis-exoskeleton-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002Ffortis-exoskeleton-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002Ffortis-exoskeleton-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002Ffortis-exoskeleton.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Still,\nwe believe \u003Cstrong>these mobile frameworks have a bright future in giving back the\nsense of movement for the paralyzed, in assisting doctors during long hours of\nsurgery, or even keeping pensioners longer in blue-collar jobs requiring heavy\nlifting\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Let’s break down their potential here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Miraculous help for the paralyzed\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>115\nmillion – that’s the number of steps that the exoskeletons of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Feksobionics.com\u002Feksohealth\u002F\">Ekso\nBionics\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>, a California-based\ncompany founded in 2005, helped paralyzed people take that otherwise would not\nhave been possible.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Their robotic structures\nare used by individuals with various degrees of paralysis stemming by a variety\nof causes, but mainly spinal cord injury, as well as by various industry\nplayers for strength enhancing purposes. Its Ekso GT suit \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fir.eksobionics.com\u002Fpress-releases\u002Fdetail\u002F570\u002Fekso-gt-robotic-exoskeletoncleared-by-fda-for-use-with\">won\nFDA approval\u003C\u002Fa> in 2015.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Russ\nAngold, Chief Technology Officer of Ekso Bionics told The Medical Futurist that\n‘\u003Cem>it is really interesting that we had over 3000 different individuals in our\ndatabase in less than 2 years. The device is helping a lot of people who\notherwise could not work, or their therapy would take a long time. Our job is\ngiving them the technology that allows them to stay healthy and live a full\nlife\u003C\u002Fem>.’ Angold pointed out that any new technology faces obstacles, and that\nparalysis can be emotionally trying for patients. While the company is careful\nnot to overpromise what the device can do, they are working to gain great\nacceptance among medical professionals and patients who can benefit from their\nexoskeletons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Another great company with inspiring human stories is Israel’s ReWalk Robotics. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.roboticsbusinessreview.com\u002Fcompany\u002Frewalk-robotics\u002F\">Dr. Amit Goffer founded the company in 2001\u003C\u002Fa>, following a life-altering accident that rendered him a quadriplegic. He pioneered the invention and the development of the ReWalk Robotics wearable exoskeleton, enabling individuals with lower-limb paralysis to walk again. Even though the technology does not currently enable him to walk again due to the extent of his injuries, his tenacity to develop a wearable exoskeleton so that others could walk \u003Cstrong>paved the way for the ReWalk Rehabilitation and Personal systems to be used by more than 1,000 people around the world today. By now, the FDA also appreciated the company’s operation: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Frewalk.com\u002Frewalk-robotics-announces-expansion-to-india-with-saimed-innovations-2-2-2-2-3-2-3\u002F\">it approved the ReWalk Personal System in 2014\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Watch this robotic exoskeleton help a paralyzed man walk\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FAYVZped_Qh4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Exoskeleton technology skyrockets\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>In\nthe last years, the number of companies with the aim to create exoskeletons\nthat can help the paralyzed has multiplied\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\nCountless examples can be mentioned here. In 2018, Japanese robotics company \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.cyberdyne.jp\u002Fenglish\">Cyberdyne\u003C\u002Fa>\nhas\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fspectrum.ieee.org\u002Fthe-human-os\u002Fbiomedical\u002Fdevices\u002Fcyberdynes-medical-exoskeleton-strides-to-fda-approval\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> received approval from the FDA\u003C\u002Fa>\nto make its lower-body exoskeleton, known as Hybrid Assisted Limb or HAL,\navailable to U.S. patients. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Italian engineers at the Perceptual Robotics Laboratory developed what they called a Body Extender, a robot that can help move heavy objects as an exoskeleton by lifting about 50 kilograms in each of its hands. However, teams at Swiss companies \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.hocoma.com\u002F\">Hocoma\u003C\u002Fa> and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.rehatechnology.com\u002Fen\u002F\">Reha Technology\u003C\u002Fa> are also working on robotic structures helping those in need, and a lot more startups are joining them \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsifted.eu\u002Farticles\u002Fexoskeleton-startups-wandercraft-marsi-bionics-tendo\u002F\">all around Europe\u003C\u002Fa>. For example, a French startup, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wandercraft.eu\">Wandercraft\u003C\u002Fa>, developed an exoskeleton to allow users to walk hands-free, or Spanish \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.marsibionics.com\u002F?lang=en\">Marsi Bionics\u003C\u002Fa> has been working on a wearable gait structure specifically designed for children with neuromuscular diseases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Now, \u003Cstrong>that’s just the beginning of the glorious conquest of the exoskeleton market. Researchers estimate that the global market is already worth \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.businesswire.com\u002Fnews\u002Fhome\u002F20190919005820\u002Fen\u002FGlobal-1.9Bn-Smart-Exoskeleton-Market-Component-Type\">more than $125.6m\u003C\u002Fa> and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbisresearch.com\u002Findustry-report\u002Fglobal-wearable-robotic-exoskeleton-market.html\">generates well over $100m in revenue each year\u003C\u002Fa>, but its size is expected to hit \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.businesswire.com\u002Fnews\u002Fhome\u002F20190919005820\u002Fen\u002FGlobal-1.9Bn-Smart-Exoskeleton-Market-Component-Type\">nearly $1.9bn by 2025\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"287\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FExoskeleton-for-kids-512x287.jpg\" alt=\"exoskeleton technology\" class=\"wp-image-25223\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FExoskeleton-for-kids-512x287.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FExoskeleton-for-kids-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FExoskeleton-for-kids-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FExoskeleton-for-kids.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.engadget.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Robot-powered\nsurgeons and…\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These\nmetallic structures can not only help stroke or spinal cord injury patients,\nbut they could also greatly support the medical staff. \u003Cstrong>Imagine the emergency\nrescue team moving away huge rocks covering people under collapsed buildings,\nnurses carrying around heavy patients more easily, or doctors assisted by\nexoskeletons enduring long hours of surgery\u003C\u002Fstrong>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.vice.com\u002Fen_us\u002Farticle\u002F8q8g8g\u002Frobotic-exoskeleton-rewalk-will-be-covered-by-health-insurance\">When\na surgeon in the US who currently uses a wheelchair applied for health\ninsurance coverage of an exoskeleton\u003C\u002Fa>, the health plan initially denied it.\nBut a review board determined that the exoskeleton was necessary because it\nallowed the doctor to walk thus ruled that the exoskeleton was “medically\nnecessary”. The ReWalk robotic exoskeleton costs $69,500 and the decision\ncould be a major turning point for people with spinal cord injuries, as well as\nfor members of the medical staff who believe using an exoskeleton in their work\ncould make a difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And it definitely started to have an influence. In March 2019, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.themoscowtimes.com\u002F2019\u002F03\u002F12\u002Frussia-claims-europes-first-exoskeleton-assisted-surgery-a64784\">doctors in a Southern Russian hospital said\u003C\u002Fa> they had the first surgery in Europe with the help of exoskeletons. ExoChair, developed with help from Sberbank’s robotics division, is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fchrdk.ru\u002Fenglish\u002Fpeaceful-exoskeleton\">designed\u003C\u002Fa> to support the lower limbs and pelvic region to help reduce fatigue and improve efficiency. The exoskeleton was used by doctors during a 12-hour urological surgery. We believe more examples like these are likely to line up in medical institutions soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"342\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FRussian-doctor-in-exoskeleton-512x342.jpg\" alt=\"Exoskeletons\" class=\"wp-image-25225\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FRussian-doctor-in-exoskeleton-512x342.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FRussian-doctor-in-exoskeleton-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FRussian-doctor-in-exoskeleton.jpg 1360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.themoscowtimes.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>…exosuited\nnurses\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Not only doctors but also nurses could benefit from the\ngentle metallic beasts. For instance, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newscientist.com\u002Farticle\u002Fdn1072-nurses-get-bionic-power-suit\u002F\">Keijiro Yamamoto and his team at the Kanagawa Institute of\nTechnology in Japan have designed\u003C\u002Fa> and built a prototype “power suit” with a\njointed metal framework that straps on to the wearer’s limbs in order to\nliterally take the burden off the shoulders (and backs) of nurses. The main\nrole of the Power Assist Suit is helping nurses and physiotherapists lift\npatients on and off beds. In tests, a nurse weighing 64 kilograms was able to\npick up and carry a patient weighing 70 kilograms. As for example, only in the\nNational Health Service in the UK, 3600 nurses have\nto take time off work because of back problems every year, exoskeletons could\nmean a huge relief. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In 2019, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.tuni.fi\u002Fen\u002Fnews\u002Fexoskeleton-vest-adds-extra-boost-nurses-muscles\">a group of professionals conducted an experiment at Tampere University on how nurses regard the use of exoskeleton vests\u003C\u002Fa>. While the perception of the metallic structures is rather positive generally – as nurses believe that the aids that they can use currently are less reliable and they tend to turn to technology -, \u003Cstrong>the feelings after the experiment towards the exoskeletons were mixed. They believed that the structures still need to be developed: to be as easy to wear and as light as possible beyond being one-hundred-percent reliable\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Plus, nurses need to get used to the exoskeletons as nursing students who haven’t got so much experience could adapt to them more easily than those who were already adjusted to using their own methods when dealing with patients. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FSelf-Reliance_Support_Robot-512x341.jpg\" alt=\"Exoskeletons: exoskeleton technology\" class=\"wp-image-25226\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FSelf-Reliance_Support_Robot-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FSelf-Reliance_Support_Robot-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FSelf-Reliance_Support_Robot-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002FSelf-Reliance_Support_Robot.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.wired.co.uk\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The\nfuture holds pensioners in exoskeletons\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Still,\n\u003Cstrong>we believe that due to their potential and the exponential drop in the price\nin the next years, exoskeletons will become truly widespread soon. So much so,\nthat \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fgreat-thinkers-the-medical-futurist\u002F\">The\nMedical Futurist even expects himself to board a spaceship to Mars in an\nexoskeleton\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> upon reaching the age of\none-hundred. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And\nwe don’t even have to wait so long. Rogier Barents, the founder of Dutch \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fen.laevo.nl\u002F\">Laevo Delft\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsifted.eu\u002Farticles\u002Fexoskeleton-startups-wandercraft-marsi-bionics-tendo\u002F\">believes\u003C\u002Fa>\nthat in 10 years every household will have some sort of exoskeleton type\nsolution. Gaurav Genani, the founder of another Dutch exoskeleton startup, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.skelex.com\u002F\">SkelEx\u003C\u002Fa>, also \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsifted.eu\u002Farticles\u002Fexoskeleton-startups-wandercraft-marsi-bionics-tendo\u002F\">thinks\u003C\u002Fa>\nthat ‘\u003Cem>in 10 years, powered exoskeletons that augment human strength\nsubstantially should be commonplace. In 25 years wearable technologies should\nhave evolved exponentially, resulting in a fusion of advanced materials,\nsensors, and actuators with the human body\u003C\u002Fem>’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So,\nthese metallic structures will be used for assembling complicated products,\nsuch as aircraft, lifting heavy machinery, packages or even humans around in\nvarious industries. For example, even the state-owned French railway company is\ndeveloping a versatile exoskeleton, which will aid workers from the risk of\nphysical ailments. The exoskeletons, an articulated brace developed in an\n“innovation partnership” with the specialist company \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fergosante.fr\u002F\">Ergosanté Technologie\u003C\u002Fa>, has been designed to\nassist in the maintenance of the trains, and offers support in maintaining three\npositions by mechanical means: the cervical when the worker looks upwards, the\nposture of the arms in the air and the bending of the trunk forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And\nthinking even further outside the box, imagine how \u003Cstrong>exoskeletons could help\nour aging societies. They could aid pensioners to keep their jobs longer as\nphysical strength and endurance will not be a limitation to working anymore. And\nimagine the entire universe of exoskeletons linked to the ultimate aim of\ndevelopments: \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftechnology.inquirer.net\u002F91081\u002Fparalysed-man-walks-again-with-brain-controlled-exoskeleton\">brain-control\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>.\nWhat perspectives could be opened for healthy people when wearing exoskeletons,\nespecially brain-controlled ones? Could we end up at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ffrom-human-to-cyborg\u002F\">the\nfirst stage of cyborgization\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong>?\nWe very easily believe so\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So, the above examples? Just the very beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":190,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>A paraplegic man made the first kick of the World Cup in Brazil in 2014; another paralyzed man was able to move all four of his limbs through mind-control, and yet another could walk down the aisle with the love of his life due to robotic structures called exoskeletons. These are just a few mind-blowing and heart-warming stories about their current power, but they haven’t reached their full potential yet. We looked around what exoskeleton technology can do today and what it promises for tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",6,25227,{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[195,33],521,[197,198,199,200,201,202,203,204,205,206,207,208,209,210],1525,376,1526,377,1527,383,425,603,661,207,1523,231,1524,246,[],[],[214,215,216,217,218,219],1587,1631,1719,1723,1883,3743,[221,14,63,64,65,66,67,222,70,223,224,225,226,227,228,229,230,231,232,233,234,235,236],"post-25221","category-future-medicine","tag-injury","tag-robot","tag-spinal-cord","tag-robotics-2","tag-exoskeleton-technology","tag-science-fiction","tag-technology-2","tag-exoskeletons","tag-rehabilitation","tag-digital-health","tag-paralyzed","tag-exoskeleton","tag-stroke","tag-future",{"id":192,"alt_text":238,"caption":27,"description":239,"media_type":76,"media_details":240,"post":120,"source_url":275},"tmf_exoskeleton technology","TMF",{"width":78,"height":79,"file":241,"sizes":242,"image_meta":273},"2019\u002F10\u002F119_The-state-and-promise-of-exoskeletons-1.png",{"medium":243,"large":248,"thumbnail":253,"medium_large":257,"1536x1536":258,"large_old_512x288":263,"thumbnail_old_150x150":267,"medium_old_370x208":268,"medium_large_old_768x432":269,"large_old_512x288_old_512x288":270},{"file":244,"width":245,"height":246,"mime-type":86,"source_url":247},"119_The-state-and-promise-of-exoskeletons-1-370x208.png",370,208,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002F119_The-state-and-promise-of-exoskeletons-1-370x208.png",{"file":249,"width":250,"height":251,"mime-type":86,"source_url":252},"119_The-state-and-promise-of-exoskeletons-1-768x432.png",768,432,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002F119_The-state-and-promise-of-exoskeletons-1-768x432.png",{"file":254,"width":255,"height":255,"mime-type":86,"source_url":256},"119_The-state-and-promise-of-exoskeletons-1-150x150.png",150,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002F119_The-state-and-promise-of-exoskeletons-1-150x150.png",{"file":249,"width":250,"height":251,"mime-type":86,"source_url":252},{"file":259,"width":260,"height":261,"mime-type":86,"source_url":262},"119_The-state-and-promise-of-exoskeletons-1-1536x864.png",1536,864,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002F119_The-state-and-promise-of-exoskeletons-1-1536x864.png",{"file":264,"width":33,"height":265,"mime-type":86,"source_url":266},"119_The-state-and-promise-of-exoskeletons-1-512x288.png",288,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002F119_The-state-and-promise-of-exoskeletons-1-512x288.png",{"file":254,"width":95,"height":95,"mime-type":86,"source_url":256},{"file":244,"width":84,"height":85,"mime-type":86,"source_url":247},{"file":249,"width":90,"height":91,"mime-type":86,"source_url":252},{"file":264,"width":271,"height":272,"mime-type":86,"source_url":266},"512","288",{"aperture":109,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":109,"copyright":27,"focal_length":109,"iso":109,"shutter_speed":109,"title":27,"orientation":109,"keywords":274},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F10\u002F119_The-state-and-promise-of-exoskeletons-1.png",{"related_posts_footer":277,"related_posts":20,"cta_type":112,"cta_color":282,"subtitle":27,"related_books":20},[278,279,280,281],22602,11947,13296,17139,"orange",{"yoast_wpseo_title":284,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":285,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":184},"Exoskeletons: What You Need To Know About Exoskeletons","Exoskeletons: What can exoskeleton technology do today and what it promises for tomorrow. Learn more about medical 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Guide to Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare",{"rendered":342,"protected":20},"\n\u003Cp>Can we stay human in the\nage of A.I.? To go even further, can we grow in humanity, can we shape a\nmore humane, more equitable and sustainable healthcare?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Our e-book aims to prepare\nhealthcare and medical professionals for the era of human-machine collaboration.\nRead The Medical Futurist’s guide to understanding, anticipating and\ncontrolling artificial intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":344,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>Can we stay human in the age of A.I.? To go even further, can we grow in humanity, can we shape a more humane, more equitable 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