Mr Worf, thanks for sending me this. I'm forwarding it to my friend Eric from college, who's in a wheelchair.
On Sat, Jul 17, 2010 at 12:43 AM, Mr. Worf <[email protected]> wrote: > > > REX robotic exoskeleton gets wheelchair users back on their feet > > By Darren Quick <http://www.gizmag.com/author/darren-quick/> > > *00:21 July 16, 2010* > > 4 > Pictures<http://www.gizmag.com/rex-robotic-exoskeleton/15736/picture/117934/> > [image: The no longer wheelchair-bound Hayden Allen puts REX through its > paces]<http://www.gizmag.com/rex-robotic-exoskeleton/15736/picture/117934/> > > The no longer wheelchair-bound Hayden Allen puts REX through its paces > *Image > Gallery<http://www.gizmag.com/rex-robotic-exoskeleton/15736/picture/117934/>(4 > images) > * > Multichannel > Verification<http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=l&ai=BwcHjkjNBTJ7DHZrYjQT7tZ3lCrnnmIQB-46YrQrAjbcBoPG1ARABGAEgs9z6ASgEOABQ1N65rf3_____AWDJjvCGyKOgGbIBDnd3dy5naXptYWcuY29tugEKMzAweDI1MF9qc8gBAdoBNGh0dHA6Ly93d3cuZ2l6bWFnLmNvbS9yZXgtcm9ib3RpYy1leG9za2VsZXRvbi8xNTczNi-AAgHIApOJ-RKoAwHoA_UI6AOlBegDL_UDAAAARA&num=1&sig=AGiWqtxh_5c0Ishmo7960y8WamKJWNqzWw&client=ca-pub-1607124478120364&adurl=http://www.artel-usa.com/products/mvs_advanced.aspx%3FWT.mc_id%3Dgoogle2010>- > www.artel-usa.com<http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=l&ai=BwcHjkjNBTJ7DHZrYjQT7tZ3lCrnnmIQB-46YrQrAjbcBoPG1ARABGAEgs9z6ASgEOABQ1N65rf3_____AWDJjvCGyKOgGbIBDnd3dy5naXptYWcuY29tugEKMzAweDI1MF9qc8gBAdoBNGh0dHA6Ly93d3cuZ2l6bWFnLmNvbS9yZXgtcm9ib3RpYy1leG9za2VsZXRvbi8xNTczNi-AAgHIApOJ-RKoAwHoA_UI6AOlBegDL_UDAAAARA&num=1&sig=AGiWqtxh_5c0Ishmo7960y8WamKJWNqzWw&client=ca-pub-1607124478120364&adurl=http://www.artel-usa.com/products/mvs_advanced.aspx%3FWT.mc_id%3Dgoogle2010> > Fast verification of multichannel pipettes, automated liquid handlers > Mobility Power > Chairs<http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=l&ai=BpD3PkjNBTJ7DHZrYjQT7tZ3lCu2pm8UBhb6_jxXAjbcB8O-RARACGAIgs9z6ASgEOABQvLz94AJgyY7whsijoBmyAQ53d3cuZ2l6bWFnLmNvbboBCjMwMHgyNTBfanPIAQHaATRodHRwOi8vd3d3Lmdpem1hZy5jb20vcmV4LXJvYm90aWMtZXhvc2tlbGV0b24vMTU3MzYvgAIBqAMB6AP1COgDpQXoAy_1AwAAAEQ&num=2&sig=AGiWqtwEbf9sIg_ir8l_5oeHYeSkdxQz3Q&client=ca-pub-1607124478120364&adurl=http://www.freshdeals.com/qasearch.php%3Fquery%3Dreclining%2Blift%2Bchair%26fdid%3Dfd-4bc4e162d4649%26fds%3Dadwc%26qakw%3Dreclining%2Blift%2Bchair%26shopkw%3Dreclining%2Blift%2Bchair>- > FreshDeals.com<http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=l&ai=BpD3PkjNBTJ7DHZrYjQT7tZ3lCu2pm8UBhb6_jxXAjbcB8O-RARACGAIgs9z6ASgEOABQvLz94AJgyY7whsijoBmyAQ53d3cuZ2l6bWFnLmNvbboBCjMwMHgyNTBfanPIAQHaATRodHRwOi8vd3d3Lmdpem1hZy5jb20vcmV4LXJvYm90aWMtZXhvc2tlbGV0b24vMTU3MzYvgAIBqAMB6AP1COgDpQXoAy_1AwAAAEQ&num=2&sig=AGiWqtwEbf9sIg_ir8l_5oeHYeSkdxQz3Q&client=ca-pub-1607124478120364&adurl=http://www.freshdeals.com/qasearch.php%3Fquery%3Dreclining%2Blift%2Bchair%26fdid%3Dfd-4bc4e162d4649%26fds%3Dadwc%26qakw%3Dreclining%2Blift%2Bchair%26shopkw%3Dreclining%2Blift%2Bchair> > Find Power Chair Suppliers. 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Sitting > in a wheelchair for extended periods can also lead to the increased risk of > certain infections and blood circulation problems. A robotic exoskeleton > called REX puts wheelchair users back on their feet, enabling a person to > stand, walk and go up and down stairs and slopes. > > Since that’s where the money is, the he main focus of robotic > exoskeletons<http://www.gizmag.com/go/1604/>has generally been in seeking to > increase the capabilities of military > ground personnel – one example being the HULC powered robotic > exoskeleton<http://www.gizmag.com/lockheed-martin-hulc-robotic-exoskeleton/13940/>from > Lockheed Martin. When Robert Irving was diagnosed with Multiple > Sclerosis it was the catalyst for him and his childhood friend, Richard > Little, to put turn their engineering skills to the task of developing an > exoskeleton that was a practical standing and walking alternative to > wheelchairs. > > The result is REX, an exoskeleton made of strong, lightweight materials > that is designed to support and hold a person comfortably as they move. > Users strap themselves in to the robotic legs with a number of Velcro and > buckled straps that fit around the legs along with a belt that fits around > the user’s waist. While most robotic exoskeletons we’ve looked at, such as > the HAL <http://www.gizmag.com/robot-suit-hal/11471/>, augment human > motion, this is generally not an option for wheelchair-bound users so REX is > controlled using a joystick that sits at the wearer’s waist level. > Upward mobility > > When wearing REX users can stand up, walk, move sideways, turn around, go > up and down steps, as well as walk on flat, hard surfaces including ramps > and slopes. It is powered by a custom-made rechargeable battery that will > typically provide two hours of active use on a full charge. To extend > running time the battery can be easily swapped out for a fully charged one. > > Little and Irving formed a company called Rex Biotics which produces the > REX in Auckland, New Zealand. The company is in the process of concluding > all the tests required prior to putting REX on the market in Europe and > Australia. It will also be seeking FDA approval so that REX can be put on > the market in the USA. > Not for everyone > > Before purchasing the REX, potential customers will need to complete a > medical check with their own physician as well as a series of checks for > range of motion with a qualified physical therapist to ensure they have no > contraindications to standing and walking. To meet REX’s balance and loading > constraints, customers will also need to be between 4’8” (146cm) and 6’4” > (195cm) tall, with a weight of less than 220lb (100kg) and a hip girth of > less than 14.9” (380mm). Rex Biotics will also provide full training and a > customized fitting over the course of approximately two weeks for buyers of > the device. > > The company says REX is only really suitable for manual wheelchair users > who can self-transfer and operate hand controls and REX’s developers are > quick to point out that REX is not intended as a replacement for a > wheelchair, but as a complement to a wheelchair. > Tick of approval > > One of the first people to try REX is Hayden Allen, who suffered a spinal > cord injury and became a full-time wheelchair user with doctors telling him > he would never walk again. > > “I’ll never forget what it was like to see my feet walking under me the > first time I used REX,” says Hayden, who is 6’4” (193cm) tall when standing. > “People say to me, ‘look up when you’re walking’ but I just can’t stop > staring down at my feet moving.” > > Allen can be seen using REX in the video below, and it’s hard to argue > against the potential for the device when looking at the smile on his face. > > Regarding REX, Dr Richard Roxburgh, Auckland neurologist and Medical > Advisor to the Muscular Dystrophy Association says, "For many of my patients > REX represents the first time they’ve been able to stand up and walk for > years. There are obvious immediate benefits in terms of mobility, improved > social interaction and self-image. There are also likely to be major > long-term health and quality of life benefits through reducing the > complications of being in a wheelchair all the time. I think that this will > also enable people to stay well longer; this means that those who have > conditions where disease modifying treatments are coming over the next five > to ten years, will be in better shape when those treatments finally arrive.” > > Rex Bionics <http://www.rexbionics.com/> CEO, Jenny Morel, says the > company expects to conclude internal testing of REX shortly and will then > have a preliminary release in Auckland to allow the company to track what > happens when people take REX home. Sales are expected to commence in New > Zealand by the end of 2010 and elsewhere by the middle of 2011. It is > expected to cost about US$150,000. > > > -- > Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! > Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/ > > > -- "If all the world's a stage and we are merely players, who the bloody hell wrote the script?" -- Charles E Grant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
