Robotic exoskeletons are ready to wear, battery-powered robots enabling individuals to achieve mobility, strength, or endurance
Vodafone’s Internet of Things division has won a contract to connect a new series of robotic exoskeletons aimed at helping stroke victims and spinal cord injury victims increase mobility.
The Ekso Bionics “Ekso GT” is the world’s only FDA approved exoskeleton for use with spinal and stroke victims. It is strapped over the users clothing, enabling individuals to achieve mobility, strength, or endurance not otherwise possible.
Vodafone’s connectivity will be used to provide communications for diagnostics and improved access to patient data.
Vodafone Group’s head of IoT for the Americas Andrew Morawski said: “The Internet of Things is enabling all types of medical devices to be connected anywhere in the world, which is directly affecting the care that patients are receiving.
“The focus that Ekso Bionics has on helping stroke and spinal cord injury patients to increase mobility is making a significant impact on the quality of life for its users.”
The Ekso GT is currently available in the United States, Mexico, Canada, South Africa, and most European countries.
It can provide power to either side of the patient’s body. The suit also allows physical therapists to mobilise patients earlier, more frequently and with a greater number of high intensity steps, all of which will aid recovery, Ekso Bionics claims.
“We are in business to help people achieve the remarkable, and we can do this most effectively with best in class partners. We chose Vodafone to provide a single global solution that ensures seamless connectivity, no matter where a rehabilitation hospital is located,” said Ekso Bionics CEO Thomas Looby.
“With Vodafone IoT technology, we can monitor how our exoskeletons are performing in real time, providing therapists with data on how the patients’ rehabilitation is progressing.”