Mindwalker Helps Disabled People Back on Their Feet

Mar-15-13 The Mindwalker exoskeleton tackles the problem of helping people with spinal cord injuries walk again by bypassing the damaged cord altogether.

Designed in collaboration between several European countries, the Mindwalker uses brain-neural-computer interface (BNCI) technology, which can convert either EEG signals from the brain or EMG signals from the shoulder muscles to commands that control the exoskeleton attached to the legs. The “dry” technology created to read the EEG signals does not require invasive electrodes, and instead works through an electrode-covered cap that can be worn comfortably. The Mindwalker is lighter than current exoskeletons, weighing only 66 pounds without batteries, and features spring-loaded joints to provide a more natural gait.

The Mindwalker system is currently being tested by able-bodied users and should begin undergoing clinical evaluations at the end of May.

More Info about this Invention:

[GIZMAG.COM]
[CORDIS]

---