HAL Exoskeleton With Anti-Radiation Vests

Cyberdyne's exoskeleton HAL was originally designed to assist with walking. They have now displayed a new model that could help nuclear workers weighed down by heavy anti-radiation vests. The Radiation shielding vests are made from tungsten and are extremely heavy at around 60kgs. Because the HAL exoskeleton is designed to take excess load of the legs of the wearer it makes wearing the gear much more viable.

Cyberdyne is located in Japan and this new upgraded HAL is intended for workers at the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant. This video show the suit in action http://youtu.be/PZCVwGlh9MI

Elastic Electronic Circuits That Stick To Skin

A better way to gather data from the human body is now possible with the development of a new platform called the Electrical Epidermal System. The tattoo like ultra thin circuits stick to the skin and bend and stretch without being damaged. The possible uses for this technology include sensing, medical diagnostics, communications and human-machine interfaces.

One major advantage of skin-like circuits is that they don't require any conductive gel, tape, skin-penetrating pins or bulky wires, which can be uncomfortable for the user and limit coupling efficiency. They are much more comfortable and less cumbersome than traditional electrodes and give the wearers complete freedom of movement.

And the circuitry can even be embedded into a temporary tattoo to camouflage it. This picture shows the circuitry on the underside of a tattoo before it's stuck on the skin. The circuitry is able to monitor muscle and nerve signals as well as wirelessly transmit and receive the data.

By 2016 its estimated there will be 100 million wearable health devices sold and used each year according to ABI research. Wearable heart rate monitors, blood glucose meters, will all be the norm. Current trends suggest that connections provided by mobile phones will play a major part in bridging the gap from wireless sensor to phone and on to social networks.

Source: University of Illinois via Eurekalert

LOPES Exoskeleton for Stroke Survivors

Developed by scientists at the University of Twente, the LOPES is a robot exoskeleton which can help partially-paralysed and stroke survivor patients regain their mobility. LOPES stands for "Lower-extremity Powered Exoskeleton". It's designed to provide gait training and assessment of motor function. The Dutch government has awarded large grants to fast-track the implementation of LOPES in practice by the end of 2011. 

This has been added to our collection of exoskeletons which currently numbers at twelve.

You can view them all here -> upgradeyourbody.com/biotech-directory/exoskeletons/

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2008K@home™ Dialysis Machine Approved For Use

A new dialysis machine will soon hit the market with Fresenius Medical Care getting their product cleared by the U.S. FDA. Called the 2008K@home™ its specifically designed for use in the home environment. It offers patients regardless of their size or metabolic needs, more options for achieving adequate dialysis in the comfort of their own home. The unit will be available to patients later in 2011. In a recent presentation by the company it was estimated that they treat 212,000 patients worldwide.

With so many people getting treatment for kidney failure, its good to see these devices becoming mobile enough for home use. Eventually they may even become small enough to be worn or implanted. The AWOK device announced in 2007 by UCLA in America is one contender, however its still under development. The wearable prototype is 6 pounds and they are hoping to get it down to 2 pounds.

View our renal assistance devices in the directory -> Biotechdirectory/Bionics/Kidneys

View Fresenius Medical Care Press Release -> fmcna.com/idc/idcplg?IdcService...

New POWERLOADER Light on the Market

Last year we found the POWERLOADER exoskeleton from Japan which was being developed for use in the construction industry. It was definately heavy duty. See the image below. Now ActiveLink a subsidiary of Panasonic in Japan, have for sale a smaller model they've called the PowerLoader Light.

The PLL uses the same “Direct Force Feedback System” which was used in the development of the original POWERLOADER. 6-axis force sensors allow the robot to follow the natural motion and direction of the operator legs to produce incredased leg strength equivalent to 40kgs. It lacks the arms of the original, but looks like it is designed for carrying weight on the back as opposed to moving objects. Because its still in development the PLL can be improved by the users so its software and hardware can be freely customized.

The official price is 18 million Yen (around US$220,000) but would be around half the price for some developers.

This was the original POWERLOADER

View the Powerloader Light Product Page 

eLEGS Unveiled For Paraplegics

Berkely Bionics has unveiled their new exoskeleton called eLEGS which has been designed for wheel chair users. It empowers them to stand and walk. Berkely Bionics has previously been focussed on military style exoskeletons that would allow soldiers to carry heavy loads without tiring. This is a change in direction for the organization.

Announced at a press conference in San Francisco this month, Berkely Bionics said its knee flexion technology is better than competing exoskeletons which allows for the most natural human movement available by robotics today.

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XOS 2 Exoskeleton Unveiled

Power Assist Suits are fast becoming reality. This week the US military tech firm Raytheon Sarcos has showcased their new XOS 2 exoskeleton. It allows wearers to easily bench press 200 lbs as shown in the video. XOS 2 is the second-generation powered exoskeleton which is lighter, faster and uses 50% less power than the XOS 1 proof-of-concept robotic suit. It's powered by an internal-combustion engine. The XOS  2 just happens to coincide with the release of Iron Man 2 on DVD which is attracting media coverage across the globe.

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First Person in the World to Recover After Using AB5000

The AB5000 is a ventricular assist device designed to have relatively few moving parts. Dr. Jack Crumbley from the Medical University of South Carolina has performed a successful implant of the AB5000 on patient Tom Fincher. Fincher has been recognized as the first person in the world to recover after being treated with the AB5000 and is now healthy and grateful for the procedure. 

If a persons heart is failing after a heart attack or trauma, the AB5000 is designed to assist the failing heart by taking load and giving the heart time to rest and heal. As well as the implanted portion there is the AB5000 Console which is designed to allow patients to leave their hospital rooms and walk around within the hospital. Multiple studies have shown that allowing patients to walk around greatly assists the recovery process. 

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HAL Exoskeleton Being Mass Produced

Cyberdyne's robot-suit "HAL" (Hybrid Assistive Limb) has been available for rent for around two years in Tokyo. However its now being mass produced at 500 units per year. Enquiries are coming in from around the world for use in hospitals and rehabilitation centers. At around $2000 per month, the HAL exoskeleton helps the wearer carry out everyday tasks, including walking, climbing up and down stairs, and lifting heavy objects. The suit can operate for almost five hours before it needs recharging.

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Artificial Hearts Now Selling Online

Some artificial heart accessories are now available for sale online. SynCardia Systems, the maker of the only FDA-approved temporary total artificial heart has opened an online store to take orders for the device. As an industry first they've launched a new online shop this week at http://Shop.SynCardia.com to make ordering the devices more easier and accurate.

Anyone can browse through the website which includes accessories such as running gear, bags and backpacks. If you click on patient accessories, there are batteries, bags and filters that are relevant products for patients. Potential buyers need to have a SynCardia certified implant center actually order the products.  Patients need to sign in with a username and password, and to get those need to e-mail the company via a link on the shop “Contact Us” page. And only staff members at certified centers can order the device and the equipment needed to implant it.

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