Product: Powered Exoskeleton Developer: Dr. Amit Goffer Company: ReWalk Robotics Ltd. Start of Development: 2001
"You will never walk again". These 5 words, heard by Dr. Amit Goffer during his recovery from a serious accident, were the beginning of his quest towards a solution for spinal cord injuries.
Unwilling to accept that the only available solution for mobility impaired people like himself was a wheelchair, Amit - a scientist, engineer and serial entrepreneur – used his rehabilitation period to come up with the idea of a robotic exoskeleton, and subsequently started to develop the device that would enable paralyzed people to walk again.
Goffer founded the ReWalk Robotics Corporation (previously Argo Technologies) in 2001 and devoted the following years to designing an exoskeleton (from the Greek word 'exo' – outer). Progressing from a home-made prototype to the Technion Incubator in 2006, ReWalk registered a patent for the exoskeleton in 2006 and completed clinical trials at Sheba Medical Center, Israel, in 2009. Using unique motion sensing technology, the system provides powered knee and hip movement which is controlled by detecting subtle changes in the user's center of gravity and mimics a functional natural gait of the legs.
Following clinical trials at the VA Center of Excellence, NYC, Bronx FDA approval was granted in 2014 and in the same year the company issued shares on the NASDAQ stock exchange.
Designed for people with paraplegia, current systems allow the user to sit, stand, walk, turn and even ascend and descend stairs, while independently operating the system.
When used on a regular basis, the ReWalk powered exoskeleton contributes to a significant improvement in health, reinforces self-esteem and extends the users’ range of ability to activities which cannot be performed from a wheelchair, all contributing towards a significant improvement in their quality of life.
To date, more than 300 ReWalk devices are being used in homes and communities around the world, and over 100 devices are in use in rehabilitation clinics and hospitals around the world.
Hundreds of thousands of SCI people may eventually benefit from the ReWalk powered exoskeleton.
