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Over the past several years, Philadelphia has become a hub for people who have suffered spinal cord injuries and can no longer walk on their own. This is due to the metro area’s availability of cutting-edge robotic technology that works as a second pair of legs. Local rehab facilities offer two competing models of the exoskeletons, which are not yet approved for commercial use.
One man, who was paralyzed from the waist down in a hunting accident, said the exoskeleton is just as important for his mind as it is his body. He said that when he is strapped into the robotic frame, he can finally look someone in the eye again. The man is one of just a handful of people who have tried both of the available models, right here in Philadelphia.
Another man, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a diving accident at the Jersey Shore, was able to walk for the first time in close to 18 years with the help of the bionic frame. The South Philadelphia man was emailed about the device by a local rehabilitation center and immediately jumped at the opportunity.
“Words cannot really describe how I feel at the moment,” the man said after taking his first steps on his own. “If I would hit the lottery tomorrow, I would certainly try to get one,” he said.
That’s the problem. Currently, the exoskeletons on the market are way more expensive than the average person can afford. The Ekso model costs $130,000 while the ReWalk, a competing model, costs $85,000. Of course, these are both way more expensive than the average electric wheelchair.
In order for insurers to cover the costs, the manufacturers will have to prove the medical benefits of the exoskeletons in a clinical trial. So far, some people who have tried out the devices have reported benefits, including less spasticity, which is the name for uncontrolled muscle tightness or spasms. Other users have reported reduced swelling in the joints.
Hopefully this cutting-edge technology continues to develop until all spinal-injury patients have the opportunity to walk again.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, “Philadelphia is a hotbed of robotic frames that help paralysis victims walk,” Tom Avril, May 13, 2012