10.29.14
Richmond, Calif.-based Ekso Bionics Holdings Inc., a robotic exoskeleton company, has been awarded its first grant from the National Institutes of Health. The P20 exploratory grant will be used to continue development of a pediatric prototype of its Ekso GT robotic exoskeleton. The work will be conducted in collaboration with the pediatric rehabilitation department at the University of California – San Francisco (UCSF) Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland which, according to the company, will allow for the effective integration of advanced robotics into a world-class pediatric rehabilitative practice.
Ekso Bionics is working with Christine Aguilar, M.D., medical director of pediatric rehabilitation medicine and Robert Haining, M.D., associate director of rehabilitation medicine for Benioff Children’s Hospital on suit design and function. They hope to gear these aspects toward children with neurologic disorders that result in gait deficiencies such as spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy. The suit will be developed for children aged five (approximately 42 inches tall and 40 pounds) to about eight years old (approximately 50 inches tall and 56 pounds). Aguilar and Haining are also providing input on potential clinical testing and implementation of the suits. Following the development of an effective pediatric prototype, Ekso and Benioff Children’s Hospital will discuss a sequential phase II grant.
“Our department is very excited to be collaborating with Ekso Bionics,” said Aguilar. “We believe the new prototype of exoskeleton will give children who have difficulty moving their legs the ability to walk.”
Ekso Bionics is working with Christine Aguilar, M.D., medical director of pediatric rehabilitation medicine and Robert Haining, M.D., associate director of rehabilitation medicine for Benioff Children’s Hospital on suit design and function. They hope to gear these aspects toward children with neurologic disorders that result in gait deficiencies such as spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy. The suit will be developed for children aged five (approximately 42 inches tall and 40 pounds) to about eight years old (approximately 50 inches tall and 56 pounds). Aguilar and Haining are also providing input on potential clinical testing and implementation of the suits. Following the development of an effective pediatric prototype, Ekso and Benioff Children’s Hospital will discuss a sequential phase II grant.
“Our department is very excited to be collaborating with Ekso Bionics,” said Aguilar. “We believe the new prototype of exoskeleton will give children who have difficulty moving their legs the ability to walk.”