Powered Exoskeleton Grants Mobility to Patients with Severe Spinal Cord Injuries

Engineers at Vanderbilt University’s Center for Intelligent Mechatronics have developed a powered exoskeleton that enables people with severe spinal cord injuries to stand, walk, sit and climb stairs. Its light weight, compact size and modular design promise to provide users with an unprecedented degree of independence.

Parker Hannifin Corporation – a global leader in motion and control technologies – has signed an exclusive licensing agreement to develop a commercial version of the patents-pending device for release in 2014.

Between 236,000 to 327,000 people in the U.S. are dealing with serious spinal cord injuries, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, and approximately 155,000 people have paraplegia. For more information, click here to read the full release.