This technology could offer millions independence again
Happy Fourth of July!
Whatever you’re doing today to celebrate America’s birthday, I hope you take a moment to think about all that we enjoy in the U.S. and the sacrifices made for us to become an independent nation.
Unfortunately, though, many Americans have lost their independence.
They didn’t commit a crime and go to jail… or do anything that would have caused their freedom to be restricted.
I’m talking about the millions who suffer from paralysis, either as a result of an accident, injury, or medical condition (such as a stroke or MS).
Research from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation discovered that around 5.4 million Americans suffer from some form of paralysis. That’s the same number of people you’d get if you grouped together everyone who lives in L.A., Philadelphia, and Washington D.C.
And shockingly, that number is close to 40 percent higher than previous figures.
But now, many who were previously totally confined to a wheelchair are able to walk again. It’s no longer a dream!
That’s the good news.
The bad news is that the medical miracle that’s allowing the paralyzed to break the chains of confinement appears to be reserved for just a lucky few.
Let freedom ring
Eight years ago, David Carter’s life changed forever. He was in a motorcycle accident that broke his spine and left him unable to walk.
Two years after that misfortune, he was asked to participate in research to develop the first-generation “exoskeleton” (an external “skeleton”) by a company called Indego. After months of rehab and training, David was able to use the device to walk again!
And at his recent wedding, he stood at the alter to take his vows, something he would have never thought possible a few short years ago.
David is just one of many amazing success stories involving advances in exoskeleton technology, with companies around the globe making these robotic devices “smarter,” lighter, and easier to use.
It works by having the patient don a brace-like apparatus that straps to the waist, hip, legs, and feet. The mechanism is battery-powered, with a computer controlling small electric motors that generate movement of the hips and knees – allowing wearers to stand and move again!
Actions are controlled by slight body movements — learning forward, for example, to stand and walk and leaning back to stop and sit down.
Other types of exoskeletons are now being designed (two in particular at Harvard and Stanford University) specifically for stroke victims and others with leaser degrees of paralysis. And these devices are said to be as easy to put on as a pair of gloves!
As I mentioned, exoskeletons for those with severe spinal cord injuries are already on the market – two having been recently approved by the FDA.
One, the Indego device that David Carter uses, was given the agency’s OK two years ago. It weighs under 30 pounds and was tested far more than most of the medical devices the FDA approves.
The downside is that at a cost of $80,000, it’s way beyond the reach of most paralysis patients. Even the other approved exoskeleton, a “cheaper” version called ReWalk, still costs around $70,000.
As for whether insurance (including Medicare) will cover these devices, that can be hit or miss… but mostly miss at this point.
A couple of years ago, however, a medical review board ruled that a U.S. insurance company had to cover the robotic device for a patient, as it was “medically necessary.”
Gee, being able to stand and walk is a necessary part of life! Who would have ever thought?
One shining light in getting these exoskeletons into action for more paralysis patients has been the Veteran’s Administration!
Two years ago, the VA announced that it would cover ReWalk for all “qualifying” vets who have suffered a spinal cord injury. That could mean that thousands of brave service men and women, many of whom have been immobilized in combat, could once again have the freedom to put one foot in front of the other.
And the technology is only getting better.
Soon, these devices will be able to be controlled by simply thinking of what you want your legs to do, rather than giving the device “instructions.”
While all this research and development is truly amazing, it won’t be good enough until it’s available for everyone who needs it – giving these patients back the independence they deserve.
“Advances in exoskeleton technology could help some walk again” Erika Celeste, June 3, 2018, Voice of America, voanews.com
