Humanoid Robotics Technology
ABLE Human Motion has recently obtained the CE certificate under the new Medical Device Regulation (MDR) for its robotic hip and knee exoskeleton. This regulatory approval permits the device’s marketing in hospitals and spinal cord injury rehabilitation centers across the European Union.
Receiving this certificate marks the culmination of five years of dedication from a “fantastic team of young, talented, and passionate individuals committed to leveraging technology for improving people’s lives,” as acknowledged by company CEO, Alfons Carnicero. Despite facing numerous challenges along the way, this commitment has kept them focused on their mission to “democratize exoskeletons on a global scale.” Carnicero reflects, “Today, we are a step closer.”
Spinal cord injury profoundly impacts individuals, causing sensory and motor impairments often linked with prolonged immobility. Regaining independent ambulation is crucial for sustained engagement in social and professional spheres, making it a top priority in rehabilitation medicine. Exoskeletons offer a solution, enabling individuals with spinal cord injuries to engage in motor learning-based training, involving numerous repetitions of locomotor tasks with reduced physical strain on therapists.
The ABLE Human Motion Exoskeleton is a lightweight exoskeleton for rehabilitation in the clinical setting and helps rehabilitate people with mobility issues in standing, walking, turning and sitting. It is the result of years of collaboration with doctors and patients and as explained by Álex Garcia , the company’s technical director, as she mentioned that “each functionality arises from listening carefully to users’ problems and solving them creatively”.
The ABLE Exoskeleton offers a natural walking pattern to aid in relearning how to walk. It can be easily put on and adjusted in under eight minutes, maximizing therapy time. Clinical trials in Germany and Spain have shown its safety, performance, and additional benefits in gait training tolerance, body motor function, and overall quality of life. In this report on Engineering Sheets, the promoters detail the advancements this new exoskeleton brings.
A recognition project
Industrial Engineers of Catalonia awarded ABLE Human Motion in 2021 with the Project of the Year Award at the Night of Robotics. But this has not been the only prize that the Carnicero project has received. In 2022 he was recognized as one of the 35 MIT Innovator Under 35 Europe 2022 by the MIT Technology Review EmTech Europe and the Círculo Ecuestre designated him as a Relevant Young Person last year, an award for which the company’s willingness to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities by democratizing access to rehabilitation for this type of patient.
SOURCE: ABLE Human Motion
