The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a robotic exoskeleton to assist some people with spinal cord injuries to walk upright again. The devices are set for marketing this summer.
“For years, we’ve seen the FDA make the wrong call on so many drugs and medical devices. It is refreshing to see them finally make a decision that will be helpful to consumers,” commented Mike Papantonio, host of Ring of Fire.
The approved device was developed in Israel and is known as the ReWalk system. It “is the first motorized device intended to act as an exoskeleton for people with lower body paralysis (paraplegia) due to a spinal cord injury.”
The device costs $69,500. Unfortunately, it is not yet covered by insurance but officials with the company told GoodNewsNetwork that they are in talks with insurers and that “with wider usage costs could drop.”
Joshua is a writer and researcher with Ring of Fire. You can follow him on Twitter @Joshual33.
