A New Exoskeleton Allows Paralyzed People to Walk Again
Definitions
paralyze - immobilization of a certain movement, thought, or part of a body because of nerve or tissue damage
crutch - a device used to help; concretely used to aid a person in walking, when a lower body limb is hurt or unable to be used; psychologically used as a thought to fall back on in times of need
paralyze - immobilization of a certain movement, thought, or part of a body because of nerve or tissue damage
crutch - a device used to help; concretely used to aid a person in walking, when a lower body limb is hurt or unable to be used; psychologically used as a thought to fall back on in times of need
Summary
"Hugging someone standing up. Going on a hike. Making eye contact with someone at their level, instead of always being looked down upon. These are simple things that people stuck in wheelchairs don’t have a chance to experience in daily life"(Amanda Boxtel).
Is there a way for people who can't walk, to be able to walk again?
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| The eLegs Suit without its crutches being tried on by a man. |
Berkley Bionics created an artificially intelligent, exoskeleton suit called eLegs. Being a large step forward for technology and the paralyzed (no pun intended), this device is made of steel, carbon fiber, and weighs about forty-five pounds. The user carries two crutches with him or her; pressure on one makes the person step with the opposite leg, while pressure on two tells the legs to stand. It was at first only for the use of the army to help carry the heavy loads on the men's backs as a preventative against injury, but in 2011 it will available for the use in clinics at $100,000, and once finished, it will be allowed to be given out to the public in 2013. By then the suit will be thinner, lighter, and cheaper, being at most $50,000.
Discussion
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| Amanda Boxtel's first time standing up after 18 years. |
Amanda Boxtel, who was paralyzed from a skiing accident and one of the testers for this new device, was amazed; “To take my first step in the eLegs was just astounding, because I bent my knee for the first time in eighteen years and I placed my heel on the ground.
And then I transferred my weight. And then I took another step. And another one. And it was so natural, and that was what really gripped me.” Even though she had not actually walked during those eighteen years, she explained that "My body has the muscle memory. And I learned to walk really fast." This device not only gets people up off their feet again, it helps with a patients health, well being, digestion, and blood circulation. This is because if one is stuck in a bed or chair all day, he or she is not being active and as most P.E. teachers say, "Getting their blood pumping," which helps in digestion and benefits the physical health. The patients mental health is affected, because if a person is stuck in a chair all day, watching as sports, exercises, and games, he or she used to be able to do, are played by other people, it is as if their freedom was taken away, sometimes causing distress and sadness. Being able to walk again gives the person optimism and hope that in the future, he or she may regain the use of the legs.
Even though eLegs are still in refinement, it will become a benefit to society. This interested me, because if someone goes from living a
normal life to being hurt in a second, it gives him or her years and years after the incident to watch as the limits close in on them, restricting their everyday fun to a minimum. Imagine the sorrow or extreme remorse that is created from the empty interval between the accident and recovery.
My older brother was almost in this predicament. He was in a skiing accident, and while going down a familiar route, he tried a few tricks, but ran into a bush. Only one of his skis popped off, while the other became twisted, causing his leg to turn 360 degrees, breaking it. At eight years old, my older brother could have become unable to ever walk again; he could have lost half of his childhood. Luckily after about six months of struggles, casts, therapy, and pain, he recovered. People sometimes find themselves in these situations, and eLegs is a new way to bring back the past life that the person becomes cut off from.
normal life to being hurt in a second, it gives him or her years and years after the incident to watch as the limits close in on them, restricting their everyday fun to a minimum. Imagine the sorrow or extreme remorse that is created from the empty interval between the accident and recovery.
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| skiing in the winter |
(for more, watch this video Berkley Bionics: Introducing eLegs)
Questions
- Is there another way to help paralyzed people walk again without wearing an exoskeleton device strapped to his or her entire body?
- Can the device be simplified so that the use of crutches is not needed?
- How come people did not think of this sooner?
Resources
- Welsh, Jennifer. "A New Exoskeleton Allows Paralyzed People to Walk Again." Blogs/80 Beats. Discover Science, Technology, and The Future, 8 Oct. 2010. Web. 10 Oct. 2010. <http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/10/08/a-new-exoskeleton-allows-paralyzed-people-to-walk-again/>.
- "Skiing in Austria Guide - Arlberg, Kitzbuhel (Kitzbühl), Montafon etc." fitforeurope.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2010.<http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fitforeurope.com/uploads/Image/skiing.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fitforeurope.com/austria/skiing/&usg=__5yfdy8iCp3kft8PPiyLhtVgoi-E=&h=571&w=800&sz=210&hl=en&start=0&sig2=v0KOPtP9jkE0vSi5lvtcEA&zoom=1&tbnid=PxKFhoaE7Q_QHM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=138&ei=VPi0TMiAO4HqvQPC1tWrCg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dskiing%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D589%26tbs%3Disch:10%2 C40&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=104&vpy=131&dur=1898&hovh=190&hovw=266&tx=166&ty=108&oei=_Pe0TNjaNcKRjAfYk9i1Aw&esq=5&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&biw=1280&bih=589>.
