Introducing eLEGS - a truly awesome technology offers real hope to those who would never walk again

[Douglas Carpenter]

Working in my particular field - I see people with various levels of paralysis all the time. Many of these have gone years and years without hope they would ever walk again or in some cases to ever walk for the first time. This video does promote one particular technology of exoskeletons based on technology originally developed by the military. Although this video comes from one particular developer - there are a number of other companies working on similar technology. As the technology improves and become more cost efficient a whole new hope for those who had previously had no hope of ever walking is becoming increasingly probable.

Here is another article from the same developer - needless to say I have no reason to promote one particular developer. I would hope if anyone wants to find out more they should research all the options.

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1662467/a-robotic-exoskeleton-helps-paraplegics-walk-again

[blackspade]

1. Science. Taste the awesome.

Great story.

[sakabatou]

2. Walking. So many people take it for granted.

[Live and Learn]

3. Wonderful. Happy to see that a bit of the taxpayer military funding

is actually going to help people instead of killing people.

[Smilo]

4. Brilliant - just seeing their

faces - the joy, the wonder, the possibilities.

K&R

[Pastiche423]

5. Will Medicare pay for this? (lol)

Unfortunately only the rich and newly injured will be able to take advantage of this great technology. For the hundreds of thousands of us that are poor and/or have lost muscle due to atrophy we can still only dream of walking again.

[Douglas Carpenter]

6. I doubt that at this time private insurance would. I would guess that eventually Medicare and private

Last edited Tue Mar 26, 2013, 06:36 AM - Edit history (2)

insurance will cover it. Experimental medicine in the development stage is seldom covered by any kind of insurance. I talked with someone who has some involvement in the project and they make a prediction that in 10 years it will be affordable, covered by insurance as well as Medicare and in common use. From what I can gather the E-legs mentioned in this video were going for $120,000 with the plan to drop the price to $80,000 within a year or so. I have a friend who lives in Berkeley along his brother who both suffer from the same congenital paraplegic condition - I so wish it were possible to sponsor them. The lady speaking in this video went 18 years without walking. So although it would be better to get someone on their feet as soon as possible - as robotic technology improves it may be able to help those who have never walked or who have gone decades without walking. The hope is real. They will come into common use and coverage will be available.

[Pastiche423]

7. Since 1986

when my injury occurred, Medicare has paid for ZERO wheelchairs for me. And you think once the eLEGS come into common usage that Medicare will suddenly reverse its stance on paying for direly needed mobility devices and start paying for something that is not direly needed and for the price tag of $80k?

I don't, but then I live the in reality of the disabled world.

The hope for a cure for paralysis (it's just around the corner) speech was given to me decades ago. As far as I am concerned the hope that you claim is real, is simply happy juice for the masses of ABs (Abled Bodied) so that they can feel good about the poor crips.

Moreover I believe the woman they allegedly hadn't walked for 18 years is an actor. Not only were her leg muscles not atrophied, but what about the lack of bone density from 18 years of no weight bearing? Bones that have not borne weight in 18 years would break or shatter.

While I love that someone is working on mobility needs, I despise false hope.