SP offers exoskeleton for the treatment of paraplegics – 03/06/2023 – Health

The Lucy Montoro Network, a São Paulo government health service specializing in rehabilitation, is going to offer two robotic exoskeletons for the treatment of paraplegic people.

The equipment is a support that allows the patient with paralysis to stand up and perform movements such as sitting and crouching. The robot is used in the treatment of those who have suffered damage to the spinal cord and have motor limitations caused by other diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and stroke sequelae (Cerebral Vascular Accident).

In April, Senator Mara Gabrilli (PSD) traveled to the United States to learn about the technology. Gabrilli, who was paralyzed in 1994 after a car accident, was able to walk with the help of an exoskeleton.

The technology will be offered in São Paulo starting in July. The exoskeletons were purchased by the State Department of Health, each costing US$ 100,000 (about R$ 500,000).

The equipment is produced by the company Wandercraft. One part of the product is attached to the patient’s back, while the other is attached to the side of the legs. It contains a balance system that allows the user to move in different directions and perform tasks with both hands free.

The product is indicated for use in rehabilitation therapies for people who have lost movement. According to the Wandercraft website, the exoskeleton is useful both for improving the locomotion of users, allowing the first steps to be taken even on the first day of treatment, and for the work of therapists by helping in the rehabilitation of patients.

According to the manufacturer, in the European Union, where it is already permitted, Atalante is indicated for paraplegic adults with complete or incomplete motor disability, in addition to hemiplegia –when one side of the body is paralyzed– due to a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or any other brain injury.

In the United States, the exoskeleton is indicated for cases of adult patients with hemiplegia, as long as there is supervision by a duly trained professional. Also, use should be carried out in rehabilitation institutions.